The QD-OLED gaming monitor that started it all got a big upgrade | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The QD-OLED gaming monitor that started it all got a big upgradeNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechThe QD-OLED gaming monitor that started it all got a big upgradeAlienware’s kicking off its 30th anniversary with a full range of displays, from Penta Tandem QD-OLEDs to VA LCDs.Alienware’s kicking off its 30th anniversary with a full range of displays, from Penta Tandem QD-OLEDs to VA LCDs.by Cameron FaulknerCloseCameron FaulknerEditor, CommercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Cameron FaulknerMay 31, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftThe AW3426DW familiar specs, updated design language, and a bunch of QD-OLED enhancements. Image: AlienwareCameron FaulknerCloseCameron FaulknerPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Cameron Faulkner is an editor covering deals and gaming hardware. He joined in 2018, and after a two-year stint at Polygon, he rejoined The Verge in May 2025.Alienware is taking to this year’s Computex 2026 in Taipei to announce some cool gaming monitors, most notably two exciting OLED options that are coming at different points this year. First off, the company is debuting the successor to its very first QD-OLED gaming monitor from 2022 with a refreshed design and high-end specs that’s coming in July (price hasn’t yet been shared).The AW3426DW is a 34-inch curved 3,440 x 1,440 resolution with an 1800R curve, just like its predecessor. But the new model has the latest QD-OLED Penta Tandem screen tech that boosts the peak brightness to 1,300 nits from 1,000 nit in the previous version. Its refresh rate has been boosted from 240Hz to 280Hz.Image: AlienwareImage: AlienwarePart of the five-layer Penta Tandem tech is an anti-reflective screen coating that supposedly cuts down glare and boosts deep blacks even in well-lit rooms. That’s great since black sometimes appears purple-ish on previous QD-OLED generations. Something that hasn’t changed model-to-model is pixel density; this one’s still at 110 pixels per inch, which is a bit low for this size (many 27-inch OLED monitors have a similar pixel density).Alienware’s flagship monitor of the show is a 39-inch 5K curved ultrawide monitor coming this fall that uses LG Display’s fourth-generation Primary RGB Tandem screen tech. The AW3926QW is slightly curvier than the QD-OLED model mentioned above, measuring at 1500R, making it more immersive. It can show a peak brightness of 1,300 nits while displaying content at up to 5K at a 165Hz refresh rate, with a pixel density of 143 pixels per inch. It offers a dual mode to knock the resolution down to 1080p, bumping up the refresh rate to 330Hz with support for custom resolutions and aspect ratios.Image: AlienwareImage: AlienwareThe two OLED models have some traits in common with each other, despite using different screen technology. For one, both use RGB stripe subpixels to sharpen text and other details. Color-fringed text has been an issue for some people with previous generations of QD-OLED panels, but not as much with OLEDs. Both have VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, as well as Dolby Vision HDR support, and both support AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. Also, they’re protected by Alienware’s great three-year warranty that covers manufacturer defects along with burn-in coverage, plus enhanced pixel shifting and refreshing algorithms to extend their lifespan.Despite the similarities, the 5K monitor simply offers more features. It has a KVM switch to let you control multiple PCs through the monitor with a single keyboard and mouse, plus a USB-C video port with support for 90W of PD passthrough power. Beyond that, it has two HDMI 2.1 ports with fixed rate link (FRL) to let PCs display its full resolution and refresh rate, one of which supports eARC and ARC. It also boasts a single DisplayPort 2.1 port with fast UHBR20 bandwidth. The 34-inch model has two HDMI 2.1 FRL ports and a DisplayPort 1.4 port. No price has been announced for the 5K display, but these features won’t come cheap.The $399.99 34-inch curved model is pictured here. Image: AlienwareFinally, Alienware has two VA LCD gaming monitors coming in July for well under $500. The $399.99 34-inch ultrawide AW3426DWM and the $299.99 flat AW3226DM have respectable specs. Both go up to 240Hz refresh rate with 1-millisecond response time and display 1440p resolution. They feature similar design language to Alienware’s higher-end options, and they support Dolby Vision HDR.It’s nice to have affordable options, though remember that Alienware’s entry-level 27-inch QD-OLED monitor is $399.99, and by nature of its screen tech, offers much better contrast and color accuracy than either of these upcoming models. It’s a stellar value for the price, as I discovered when I put my own money down on one.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Cameron FaulknerCloseCameron FaulknerEditor, CommercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Cameron FaulknerComputexCloseComputexPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ComputexGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPC GamingClosePC GamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PC GamingTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularUnited flight forced to turn around because of a Bluetooth speaker nameThe SpaceX IPO is great for Elon Musk and terrible for you007 First Light is already discounted for the PS5 and SteamUser-replaceable batteries are coming back in a big wayNASA confirms exploding meteor caused the sonic boom over BostonThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Alienware is advancing its display technology with a new range of monitors, culminating in the Computex 2026 event where they will announce several exciting options, particularly in OLED technology. The company is introducing the successor to its initial QD-OLED gaming monitor, featuring updated designs and high-end specifications. One of these models is the 34-inch AW3426DW, which utilizes Penta Tandem QD-OLED screen technology, which increases peak brightness to 1300 nits from the previous 1000 nits, and boosts the refresh rate to 280Hz from 240Hz. This model incorporates an anti-reflective screen coating designed to reduce glare and enhance deep blacks, addressing previous issues with color shifts in older QD-OLED generations. Although the pixel density remains at 110 pixels per inch, the presentation focuses on improved brightness and refresh rates.

The flagship display announced is a 39-inch 5K curved ultrawide monitor, the AW3926QW, which leverages LG Display’s fourth-generation Primary RGB Tandem screen technology. This monitor achieves a peak brightness of 1300 nits while supporting content at up to 5K resolution at a 165Hz refresh rate, boasting a pixel density of 143 pixels per inch. It offers versatile modes, allowing users to switch between 5K/165Hz and 1080p/330Hz, and features enhanced immersion with a 1500R curve. Both the QD-OLED models share common premium features, including RGB stripe subpixels for improved text and detail sharpness, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, Dolby Vision HDR support, and broad compatibility with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. Furthermore, Alienware provides a comprehensive three-year warranty that includes coverage for manufacturer defects, burn-in protection, and lifespan-extending algorithms.

In addition to the high-end OLED options, Alienware is also releasing more accessible VA LCD gaming monitors. These include the 34-inch ultrawide AW3426DWM and the flat AW3226DM, both priced under five hundred dollars. These models offer respectable performance, featuring a 240Hz refresh rate, a one-millisecond response time, and 1440p resolution. They maintain a design aesthetic consistent with Alienware’s higher-end products and support Dolby Vision HDR. For entry-level options, the 27-inch QD-OLED monitor is available for $399.99, providing superior contrast and color accuracy compared to the emerging budget LCD alternatives. The premium 5K monitor further enhances utility with advanced connectivity, including a KVM switch for multi-PC control, a USB-C port with 90W power delivery, and multiple high-bandwidth video ports, such as HDMI 2.1 with fixed rate link and DisplayPort 2.1 with UHBR20 bandwidth.