It’s time for the world of esports to leave TN panels in the past, as monitors like the newly-announced Alienware AW2527HX are paving a new path via QD-OLED tech. While we’ve seen other brands throw their hat into the ring with their own upcoming 24.5in 1080p self-emissive screens, this display features design contributions from esports professionals at Team Liquid, certifying its competitive credentials.
At its core, the AW2527HX features at 24.5in Penta Tandem QD-OLED panel. This is the same high-brightness technology we’ve seen on recent 27in and 32in monitors, just on a smaller scale. We’re also working with an RGB Stripe subpixel layout too, meaning you don’t need to worry about text fringing on this display.
Native screen resolution clocks in at FHD (1920×1080), the frequent pixel count of choice of esports professionals in a bid to maximise frame rates. On that note, the refresh rate is also the highest we’ve seen on a QD-OLED screen to date, at 560Hz, pipping past currently available QHD/500Hz displays, such as the MSI MPG 271QR X50.
| Alienware AW2527HX specs | |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 24.5in |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Refresh rate | 560Hz |
| Response time | 0.03 (GtG) |
| Panel technology | QD-OLED |
| Panel coating | Matte |
| Variable refresh rate | Nvidia G-Sync compatible |
| HDR | DisplayHDR True Black 600 |
| Ports | DisplayPort 2.1, UHBR13.5 (x1) HDMI 2.1 (x2) USB-A (x1) USB-B (x1) USB-C (x1) |
| Warranty | Three years (including burn-in) |
| Price | TBC |
There are several TN monitors on the market that match or exceed the AW2527HX’s core specifications, but being a QD-OLED panel comes with appreciable advantages. For example, response times clock in at 0.03ms (GtG) without any need for overdrive, removing the risk of ghosting and other potentially distracting artefacts.
There’s greater colour reproduction and contrast to consider too, thanks to per-pixel dimming and a naturally wide gamut. While these qualities aren’t always top priorities for esports, they naturally make the AW2527HX a more versatile display, with imagery that’s likely to be far more pleasing to the eye than TN panels.
Most QD-OLED panels arrive with a glossy anti-reflective coating, but Alienware has opted for a matte finish with the AW2527HX. While this does diminish perceived colour saturation, this choice will diffuse ambient light and reflections, making for a less distracting gameplay experience.
Alienware is confident the potential for burn-in shouldn’t worry anyone considering the AW2527HX. The firm is offering three-year warranty coverage of this potential issue as part of its standard broader warranty, and has deployed an AI algorithm on the display, which aims to keep the problem at bay.
Team Liquid’s influence is readily apparent across the monitor’s design. The telescopic stand features height markers that cover its 155m height adjustment range, making it easy to line up the screen exactly how you want it, whether you’re at home or in a tournament.
The AW2527HX also has a rotatable base, accommodating those who prefer to rock their keyboard in a diagonal orientation, and there’s 45° of rear tilt available too. Finally, those that prefer to play with stretched aspect ratios have a dedicated button at their disposal to quickly shift from 16:9.
We should expect the AW2527HX to hit store shelves in early Q1 2027, but there’s no word on how much this display will cost us. While we wait for the screen to see the light of day, check out our picks of the best gaming monitors on the market now.
