One thing I want to address as I forgot to cover it in the video is fan noise. Yes, this monitor has an internal fan as it has the G-Sync module, whereas the LG 38GN950-B being G-Sync compatible does not. To be clear: it's not something I noticed at all. And subconsciously, it probably lent a hand in me forgetting to talk about it. However, fan noise is a subjective topic, as some people are more sensitive to it than others - so I can't claim that this will apply to everyone. But I can say that, for me, even in a very quiet room, with little ambient noise, I still can't hear the fan. Not even with my ear next to the monitor listening for it. Another thing that can potentially cause the fan to be louder is ambient temperature. It's Fall as I write this, so it's cool where I am. Since I just got the monitor, I haven't tested this in the heat of the Summer. Extended usage, and even monitor settings can also contribute to slightly louder fan speeds. But these sorts of occurrences usually happen when I'm gaming, and I either have the speakers on, or my headphones on. Again, this is a subjective thing. Some notice it as a faint sound in the room, others don't notice it at all. If you're like me though, and usually have speakers on, headphones on, etc. this shouldn't ever be an issue for you. Hope this helps!
This monitor has to be ready for a refresh. It's down to 800 US on the Alienware site. Thats 1097 CAD. Tempted to get it buy I know if I buy it, they will release a replacement for it within weeks.
Having spent far too long researching monitors, resolutions, ppi density, panel types, aspect ratios, viewing distance, scaling options, comfortable viewing angles and more, I can confirm that this monitor is indeed a sweet spot. I would love to see one released with higher pixel density though.
3840x1600 is a god tier resolution for gaming and productivity. You can use 100% font scaling comfortably. More vertical space than 1440p Ultra wide. Easier to drive than full 4K.
@@BoredInTheComments I think the only OLED monitors at 38 are all 3440 x 1440, rather than the 3840 x 1600 like the AW in the video. I think we've got another year to wait for that form factor
Haven't had a chance to watch yet, but I went from the AW3420DW to the 42" LG C2 and while I was blown away with that panel, I mostly do video editing and normal productivity for work with only occasional gaming, so I ended up snagging the AW3821DW for $900 about a month ago. I actually like the look of IPS panels, and prefer an ultrawide. For me, this is almost the perfect monitor. I do miss the 2160 vertical resolution, so I'd love to see more 5K2K curved G-Sync 144Hz panels in existence, as that would be perfect for me.
Please elaborate on your experience. I’m a Final Cut Pro video editor and I want a good monitor for video editing while occasional console gaming as well.
Coming from an Alienware AW3420DW, I completely agree with the statement that there's a certain urge for this extra vertical space between 34 inch and 38 inch... seriously, I'm stunned that this resolution is still so uncommon... Hopefully, the panel manufacturers like Samsung and LG have a look into this product segment... maybe I will switch to the bigger brother early next year when the prices come down. Anyway, great and awesome review, greetings from Germany :D
Got this for 700$ on black friday, its being shipped, really excited to try it out, though I wish oleds got rid of the burn in issues and Id also like to see true 4K ultrawides with all the HDR and HRR bells and whistles. Maybe in another 6 years.
I am also a monitor flipper and only this Alienware calmed my heart and soul. It is an absolute sweet spot when looking at the offer of used, post-lease panels in Europe priced below 600EUR (900CAD)
Thanks. I've had this monitor for about 6 months. If there was an OLED panel in 38" 21:9 then I wouldn't be an owner if this monitor. My former (still being used) Acer 38" monitor from 2017 is part of the reason I'm sticking with this size of monitor. It's not overkill wide and works well on my desk. I didn't buy this AW3821DW for HDR, but I HAD hopes it may be of some use in various use-cases. I'm basically choosing to take a hit on the refresh rate down to 120Hz in order to have 10Bit. It's a NICE monitor, but really wish a decent OLED and True HDR monitor would come in the 38" form factor.
Only thing I haven’t figured out.. I’m in a mode where I can’t bring brightness up past 70. But the color is nice, I’m still fine tuning. I love it actually.
Top notch review. Better than any others I've seen on this model. I'm looking for a combined productivity/gaming monitor since I work from home, and don't want to risk OLED burn in, so this was really informative.
Somewhat late to the discussion, but I appreciate your review. I've been debating over a choice of three monitors: The new LG 45" W-OLED curved WQHD display (800R curve looks awesome!), the AW3423DWF (I had the 3423DW model, but sold it, unfortunately), and now that I've stumbled across some reviews, the AW3821DW. I love the huge contrast ratio and deep blacks of OLEDs, but as always, fear of burn-in sits in the back of one's mind (I didn't have my AW3423DW long enough to even get close). The primary use case is a mix of standard office productivity work, plus some FPS gaming (CS2, Doom: Eternal, etc). Probably 75+% productivity and 25% gaming, which does have me leaning more towards the AW3821DW, given the higher pixel density and more vertical screen real-estate. Though actually, pixel density for the AW3423DWF and AW3821DW are nearly identical (110 PPI vs 109 PPI). Text is probably clearer on the 38" assuming the Nano-IPS display doesn't use the same triangular sub-pixel arrangement that the QD-OLED panel does. At the end of the day, it's probably one of those decisions in which any choice is a good one, as once it's home and set up, one won't really care about what's not on the display in front of you.
I have it and I'm satisfied. Huge workspace, great brightness and colors. You can buy a used one for ridiculous money. The only thing it lacks compared to OLED is black, but it's not bad. The screen size completely makes up for it.
I bought one 4 months ago. Returned due to stuck pixel...ordered another one a few hours ago. This is the sweet spot. G sync Ultimate, not compatible....vertical space...high refresh...it is superb. Only thing missing...and I haven't really noticed it...built in speakers
Still relevant since it's the perfect size and curve. Let's hope they make a OLED version for all those OLED fans out there since I doubt there will be anyone new with a IPS panel (imagine they do a 38" UW version of the 32GQ950 panel!) :D
I have three of these, a first generation Acer Predator(IPS, 75HZ) the LG38GN950-B, and a Dell 3818. Im in seattle and they are pennys on the local market... i picked up the acer for $300 3 or 4 years ago, the LG 2 years ago for $500, and the dell a few months ago for $100
Another TwoByteThomas video, another banger! Im definitely leaning towards picking this up eventually, for the price point theres nothing really comparable.
Just managed to get this for ~$950 CAD on Amazon! Was originally going to buy an OLED monitor but I will also be planning to use this for my remote work (which involves static screens like 95% of the time).
I have this monitor. The things I dislike are as follows: - No KVM (like many of the Dell's). - No USB-C input for Laptops. - No Picture in Picture (at least in Canada). - Maybe a bit on the dark side. - The cable input section on the back sucks (LG is way better). I was surprised when you gave up your other 38" monitor for a smaller 32" monitor. Trying to decide on a large Grove Made shelf for this monitor verus the Ergonoffice shelf which is 4" smaller. My speakers are similar to the ones you have (Audio Engine A2+).
So I am looking at this monitor and hope to attach a work laptop to it. How much of an issue is the lack of USB-C? Does it just mean I would have to use the laptop's power supply?
@@garyjaz Yes, I think so. I've got a laptop plugged into docking station. The docking station is plugged into the monitor with HDMI (max 60 FPS). The docking station is plugged into the wall for power.
@@seanerer I have a Dell Latitude 5430. It has an HDMI port and not a display port. So if I'm stuck with 60 fps, that's too bad, as it's the main reason for not going with the U3824DW (use it mostly for work).
SO I looked up the specs for the Dell and it has: 8. 2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort (USB Type-C™). Can the USB-C on the laptop be connected to the AD3821's display port and if so would it get more than 60 fps?
Having LG 38GN950B for almost a year, I bought it for 994 EURO, now it's more than 1050 EURO, & I love it, for work & games, Alienware in my country costs 1300 EURO, but it's the same the LG panel, + LG has RGB, really good RGB, & doesn't have a FAN because of G-SYNC, that some time is loud, many users has this issue, so If you looking for 38inch, consider only LG38GN950B. Expect one thing Alienware build quality is way way better, but still bad RGB & FAN. :)
Still having that gorgeous monitor... Hope that one day we might have the same Monitor with QD-OLED with the same estate 3840X1600... the 34 version lack of height estate.... :-(
So I came from the Alienware 34 inch monitor I upgraded to the new Samsung Super Ultrawide 57 inch 4k monitor, returned it due to flickering issues, and then used the Samsung $500 credit towards the AW3821DW which it was with after sales tax around the $900 due to amazon prime, the design is indeed beautiful and 1600 resolution, BUT I ended up returning it due to it's 2300r curve after going from 34 to 38 I noticed I had to move my neck more even than the 57 inch monitor which had a 1000r the 38 inch one was almost like a big flat panel, other than this everything was great but wasn't for me
So I ended up getting it again during Black Friday deals which were under $2K and compared to the first unit I haven't had any issues with this anymore, no more flickering, and I was able to find a good configuration with HDR turned on for everything, so I guess in the end it's all about gambling with Samsung, so far I had mines close to a month now so hopefully it remains ok, we also hope that later on Samsung releases a firmware with VRR, and also NVIDIA and or Samsung fixes the issues with not getting 240HZ on RTX 4090 using HDMI 2.1, since it wont work with DP 1.4@@dnsean03
What I love most about the LG 38GN950-B is how after a year the fan in the rear has started to make a high-pitched squeeeeeeeeel noise. So it's going to get re-purposed and replaced by probably this Alienware since the market for 38" and higher WQHD+ is extremely narrow.
An alternative you might try since these monitors generally have poor HDR and are expensive. Try a 48"-55" mini-led 4k Smart television. Mini-led so no oled burn in and very good blacks and contrast ratios. Now the important part... Set a custom resolution in windows and in your games play with windowed borderless and bam! on a 55" panel you get 32:9 3840x1080, 21:9 3840x1600, and 16:9 3840x2160. Best of all worlds with fantastic HDR support. On a 55" panel like mine, the 21:9 res gets you a 51" ultrawide monitor equivalent. Just make sure to get a 2.1 hdmi compatible TV to ensure higher bandwidth/framerates however I can confirm that it's not necessary if 60hz is okay. Just like with monitors do research on the TV to ensure a good panel response time.
Hi thomas. Great review i really like it. Just a question, is there another monitor that is slightly better than this which is 38 inches and ips display? I mainly like to use it for gaming, and i really appreciate a good quality picture combined with high refresh rate. Regards, Izaak.
Hey Izaak, the only other monitors I'm currently aware of that is 38", IPS, high refresh rate etc. is the LG38GN950-B and the Acer Predator X38. I did touch on the LG panel a little in this video, and I did do a dedicated review on that monitor as well (link in the description). Since I have first hand experience with the LG panel, I can vouch that it's very, very similar to the Alienware as far as performance and specs. Is it better than the Alienware? It depends who you ask. The LG panel doesn't have an internal fan which can be a big deal, depending on the person, but it does have the external power brick. It also has the Sphere Lighting 2.0 which is really nice if you want some ambient light behind your monitor. But at current pricing, I'd go for the Alienware over all of them (and this time, I did). Hope that helps!
@@TwoByteThomas Hey, thanks for your reply! Will surely check out the other video regards the LG monitor you mentioned. I have also came across this monitor SAMSUNG 34" Odyssey G85SB, its 34 inches and its oled. Specs look decent, though the alienware monitor as you mentioned in your video is 21:10 3440x1600. What are your thoughts on this samsung monitor, if you have any?
Just FYI: I grabbed this monitor yesterday for $800 USD yesterday + Dell is doing a $200 Dell gift card promo on top of that. Net $600 for this monitor is a STEAL! Planning on getting something to compliment it with that $200; any recommendations?
I probably got this monitor back in 2021 and it's been great for everything on my desktop (windows). However for the life of me I can't seem to get my macbook air (M2) working on anything other than 30Hz via HDMI which make it almost unusable when switching from 144Hz I saw in your video you had both windows and osx. How did you get your mac working did you go via the display port interface? I've been reluctant to buy a DP switch and additional cables in case it doesn't work. Know this video is over 7 months old but thought I'll ask the question Great content by the way!
Hey there! It’s hard to tell from here, but since the M2 MacBook Air doesn’t have an HDMI port, you’re likely using some kind of thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. If that’s the case, it’s likely the adapter itself that’s the issue. Some adapters aren’t capable of 4K 60 and only output 4K 30, so you’ll need a different adapter. In my case I’m using the CalDigit TS4 with a DP to HDMI adapter that’s capable of 4K 60. IIRC on this specific monitor it’s outputting at around 75Hz due to the resolution. Hope this helps!
@@TwoByteThomas Thanks! I’ve taken a look at the CalDigit TS4 might give it a whirl as it for sure is a lot more beefy than what I was trying. I initially used the USB-C to HDMI adapter and a HDMI cable and when that didn’t work tried a USB-C to HDMI cable. The CalDigit is reassuringly expensive compared to those so suspect it would work! Thanks for coming back to me!
@@tomateka No problem! As a note, if all you're looking for is 4K 60 (~75Hz) on this monitor, the TS4 or even any other dock is likely overkill, so I wouldn't waste your money on it if you don't require its capabilities. I'd just go for a quality thunderbolt 3/4 (can't remember which one that specific model is) to HDMI cable capable of 4K 60. If you are looking to get a simple thunderbolt to HDMI adapter instead of the cable, Plugable makes some good ones (I'm using the Plugable DP to HDMI adapter on the TS4).
Hey Gary, it depends on the laptop. Some have HDMI out so you can just do a straight connection to the monitor. In my specific case with Thunderbolt only, what I do is use the CalDigit dock. The TS4 has a DP out, so I use a DP to HDMI adapter as I want the DP input for my PC and not my laptop, since this monitor is only HDMI 2.0. I don't really need the high refresh rates for the laptop. If you don't need the extra ports from the TS4 and you're on the Thunderbolt plan, a simple dock with DP/HDMI out should suffice. Hope this helps!
Watching this video on my own AW3821DW approaching 2024 is pretty fun. A friend owns the first AW OLED screen 34 INCH. TBH I dont like fact its smaller and has a "GLOSSY" screen. Glossy GTFO
Is that a quntis light bar pro+ on your alienware? Asking because I have the exact light bar + looking to buy the alienware and wonders does the quntis put any pressure on the screen? And have you noticed any defect from having the light bar mounted on there? Any tips also
It's the original BenQ screenbar! And no, I have never had an issue with it on this monitor, though it didn't fit properly on my previous 34GN850. Screenbars and widescreen monitors can be iffy so it's sometimes luck of the draw if they fit or not. As far as putting pressure on the screen, I wouldn't worry about that.
I have a question to you, I am considering to switch my 38inch to 4K 32inch for pixel density, is it worth it, is it big difference, what you can actually see every time?
I can definitely notice the difference. It's not a huge difference, but it's noticeable, especially with the PPI at 4K 32" . I will say I found it more noticeable outside of gaming. So I'd say it is worth it if you're going for pixel density for productivity reasons. Hope this helps!
@@TwoByteThomas awesome. Thanks because I wasn’t sure which ultra wide to decide on. The pled version is out of my price range and right now this model is on sale. I heard it’s one of the best ultrawides still on the market
Thanks for the review. Like and subscribed. I know the HDR is not stellar, but how is it compared to a monitor that does not even support HDR? Like is it that bad that it's better to just keep it off? Or is it better than having no HDR. I'm coming from first gen Acer x34 w/ 100Hz max refresh.
Hey Mohammed, thanks for watching - the best answer I can give to that is - the HDR is purely "OK" - it's just not a strong suit of this monitor, especially with mini LED tech and OLED panels these days. Personally, it works well enough for me, but I wouldn't consider this monitor at all if HDR is a priority. I'd recommend thinking of it more as "oh, it has HDR600 as well, that's nice to have." This one would definitely be an upgrade on the X34 in many ways though! Hope this helps.
@@TwoByteThomas ended up getting it and absolutely LOVE IT! Yes a huge improvement over the x34 and the extra 4 inches is noticeable but at the same time not overly massive. Really I think this is the perfect size.
I have this and the AW3432DWF, and tbh it's hard to choose which one I like using better sometimes. The size and aspect of the 38" is amazing, it really is the perfect format. However - the backlight bleed on the AW3821DW is miserable. The HDR is not as bad as people make it out to be - I used the Windows HDR calibration tool and it's really pretty good HDR and gets very bright. But the backlight bleed from the panel is really notable. Between this and the OLED, I find myself using the OLED more and more, primarily bc of the clarity of the image and the response time. The HDR implementation is close enough between them that it's not the deal breaking feature for me - however, the clarity of the image you get by having per pixel lighting with no bleed and the nearly instant response times are absolutely amazing. That combined with no backlight bleed is really making the OLED panel outshine the nano IPS.
@@seanmulhern2207 I honestly don't notice any color fringing and text is perfectly fine. It seems like it's the bigger models with a lower DPI for the resolution that have the fringing issues the most. I compared it to the LG ones before I bought it and they were terrible comparatively. I noticed the fringing and color bleed on the models I looked at on display in the LG. Haven't had it with this.
One thing I want to address as I forgot to cover it in the video is fan noise.
Yes, this monitor has an internal fan as it has the G-Sync module, whereas the LG 38GN950-B being G-Sync compatible does not. To be clear: it's not something I noticed at all. And subconsciously, it probably lent a hand in me forgetting to talk about it. However, fan noise is a subjective topic, as some people are more sensitive to it than others - so I can't claim that this will apply to everyone. But I can say that, for me, even in a very quiet room, with little ambient noise, I still can't hear the fan. Not even with my ear next to the monitor listening for it.
Another thing that can potentially cause the fan to be louder is ambient temperature. It's Fall as I write this, so it's cool where I am. Since I just got the monitor, I haven't tested this in the heat of the Summer. Extended usage, and even monitor settings can also contribute to slightly louder fan speeds. But these sorts of occurrences usually happen when I'm gaming, and I either have the speakers on, or my headphones on.
Again, this is a subjective thing. Some notice it as a faint sound in the room, others don't notice it at all. If you're like me though, and usually have speakers on, headphones on, etc. this shouldn't ever be an issue for you. Hope this helps!
This monitor has to be ready for a refresh. It's down to 800 US on the Alienware site. Thats 1097 CAD. Tempted to get it buy I know if I buy it, they will release a replacement for it within weeks.
They just added a 200 e-gift card plus Amex has a promo for 120 off 800 or more. USA data though. @@orlfane1622
@@orlfane1622Judging by every company's roadmaps, it doesn't look like proper replacements will arrive until essentially 2026
I have sensitive ears, but I never heard the fan noise from my AW3821DW
Having spent far too long researching monitors, resolutions, ppi density, panel types, aspect ratios, viewing distance, scaling options, comfortable viewing angles and more, I can confirm that this monitor is indeed a sweet spot. I would love to see one released with higher pixel density though.
40 5K2K "Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW)"
@@MrSkipLim terrible for gaming
3840x1600 is a god tier resolution for gaming and productivity.
You can use 100% font scaling comfortably.
More vertical space than 1440p Ultra wide.
Easier to drive than full 4K.
Still very impressed with the quality of your videos! thanks for the effort you put into them
Thank you very much! I appreciate it, thank you for the continued support!
Man, I wish there was a 38in QD-OLED model
This model exists in 38inch for $100 more
I search for a 38" QD-OLED, but shows only available on the 34".@@BoredInTheComments
@@BoredInTheComments I think the only OLED monitors at 38 are all 3440 x 1440, rather than the 3840 x 1600 like the AW in the video. I think we've got another year to wait for that form factor
Haven't had a chance to watch yet, but I went from the AW3420DW to the 42" LG C2 and while I was blown away with that panel, I mostly do video editing and normal productivity for work with only occasional gaming, so I ended up snagging the AW3821DW for $900 about a month ago. I actually like the look of IPS panels, and prefer an ultrawide. For me, this is almost the perfect monitor. I do miss the 2160 vertical resolution, so I'd love to see more 5K2K curved G-Sync 144Hz panels in existence, as that would be perfect for me.
Please elaborate on your experience. I’m a Final Cut Pro video editor and I want a good monitor for video editing while occasional console gaming as well.
Coming from an Alienware AW3420DW, I completely agree with the statement that there's a certain urge for this extra vertical space between 34 inch and 38 inch... seriously, I'm stunned that this resolution is still so uncommon... Hopefully, the panel manufacturers like Samsung and LG have a look into this product segment... maybe I will switch to the bigger brother early next year when the prices come down. Anyway, great and awesome review, greetings from Germany :D
Thank you very much for the kind words - I appreciate it! Thank you for watching, and greetings to you in Germany!
Got this for 700$ on black friday, its being shipped, really excited to try it out, though I wish oleds got rid of the burn in issues and Id also like to see true 4K ultrawides with all the HDR and HRR bells and whistles. Maybe in another 6 years.
I went back and forth...but..lack of g sync Ultimate and the burn in/retention issue sees IPS is only option for me
@@superamario6464same. Just returned the AW34 OLED cause the text clarity sucks and I don’t wanna deal with burn in
I am also a monitor flipper and only this Alienware calmed my heart and soul. It is an absolute sweet spot when looking at the offer of used, post-lease panels in Europe priced below 600EUR (900CAD)
Thanks. I've had this monitor for about 6 months.
If there was an OLED panel in 38" 21:9 then I wouldn't be an owner if this monitor.
My former (still being used) Acer 38" monitor from 2017 is part of the reason I'm sticking with this size of monitor.
It's not overkill wide and works well on my desk.
I didn't buy this AW3821DW for HDR, but I HAD hopes it may be of some use in various use-cases.
I'm basically choosing to take a hit on the refresh rate down to 120Hz in order to have 10Bit.
It's a NICE monitor, but really wish a decent OLED and True HDR monitor would come in the 38" form factor.
this is the perfect resolution and size for both work and gaming
i just ordered this today for $799.99 from Dell direct.
Only thing I haven’t figured out.. I’m in a mode where I can’t bring brightness up past 70. But the color is nice, I’m still fine tuning. I love it actually.
Why would you order it so close to Black Friday? It’s $699 now.
Got this for 550. You just couldnt wait lmao
@@cilentchiefhow’d you get this price? I saw $699 on Amazon and $799 on dell.
@@AznEn4cer amazon offers a $200 giftcard for qualifying for their credit card. brings it down to 550 with taxes
Top notch review. Better than any others I've seen on this model. I'm looking for a combined productivity/gaming monitor since I work from home, and don't want to risk OLED burn in, so this was really informative.
Thanks Simon!! I really appreciate that - thanks for watching, glad this video was helpful!
Somewhat late to the discussion, but I appreciate your review. I've been debating over a choice of three monitors: The new LG 45" W-OLED curved WQHD display (800R curve looks awesome!), the AW3423DWF (I had the 3423DW model, but sold it, unfortunately), and now that I've stumbled across some reviews, the AW3821DW. I love the huge contrast ratio and deep blacks of OLEDs, but as always, fear of burn-in sits in the back of one's mind (I didn't have my AW3423DW long enough to even get close). The primary use case is a mix of standard office productivity work, plus some FPS gaming (CS2, Doom: Eternal, etc). Probably 75+% productivity and 25% gaming, which does have me leaning more towards the AW3821DW, given the higher pixel density and more vertical screen real-estate. Though actually, pixel density for the AW3423DWF and AW3821DW are nearly identical (110 PPI vs 109 PPI). Text is probably clearer on the 38" assuming the Nano-IPS display doesn't use the same triangular sub-pixel arrangement that the QD-OLED panel does. At the end of the day, it's probably one of those decisions in which any choice is a good one, as once it's home and set up, one won't really care about what's not on the display in front of you.
I have it and I'm satisfied. Huge workspace, great brightness and colors. You can buy a used one for ridiculous money. The only thing it lacks compared to OLED is black, but it's not bad. The screen size completely makes up for it.
I bought one 4 months ago. Returned due to stuck pixel...ordered another one a few hours ago.
This is the sweet spot.
G sync Ultimate, not compatible....vertical space...high refresh...it is superb.
Only thing missing...and I haven't really noticed it...built in speakers
Awesome - wishing you better luck with the newer one! Thank you for watching!
16:46 wow, the text clarity on the 32 inch is insane! I want that for work..,
Still relevant since it's the perfect size and curve. Let's hope they make a OLED version for all those OLED fans out there since I doubt there will be anyone new with a IPS panel (imagine they do a 38" UW version of the 32GQ950 panel!) :D
Bruh, these kids don't know the CRT struggle.
I still get nostalgic for them, but you almost needed a forklift to move them around. 😂
Keep up the good quality videos and production - great work and detail.
I have three of these, a first generation Acer Predator(IPS, 75HZ) the LG38GN950-B, and a Dell 3818. Im in seattle and they are pennys on the local market... i picked up the acer for $300 3 or 4 years ago, the LG 2 years ago for $500, and the dell a few months ago for $100
$100 for U3818dw? Can you ship one to me 😂
Another TwoByteThomas video, another banger! Im definitely leaning towards picking this up eventually, for the price point theres nothing really comparable.
Good information and review. Thanks for this cheers.
Thank you for watching!
Just managed to get this for ~$950 CAD on Amazon! Was originally going to buy an OLED monitor but I will also be planning to use this for my remote work (which involves static screens like 95% of the time).
I have this monitor. The things I dislike are as follows:
- No KVM (like many of the Dell's).
- No USB-C input for Laptops.
- No Picture in Picture (at least in Canada).
- Maybe a bit on the dark side.
- The cable input section on the back sucks (LG is way better).
I was surprised when you gave up your other 38" monitor for a smaller 32" monitor. Trying to decide on a large Grove Made shelf for this monitor verus the Ergonoffice shelf which is 4" smaller. My speakers are similar to the ones you have (Audio Engine A2+).
So I am looking at this monitor and hope to attach a work laptop to it. How much of an issue is the lack of USB-C? Does it just mean I would have to use the laptop's power supply?
@@garyjaz Yes, I think so. I've got a laptop plugged into docking station. The docking station is plugged into the monitor with HDMI (max 60 FPS). The docking station is plugged into the wall for power.
@@seanerer I have a Dell Latitude 5430. It has an HDMI port and not a display port. So if I'm stuck with 60 fps, that's too bad, as it's the main reason for not going with the U3824DW (use it mostly for work).
SO I looked up the specs for the Dell and it has: 8. 2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort (USB Type-C™). Can the USB-C on the laptop be connected to the AD3821's display port and if so would it get more than 60 fps?
@@garyjaz I think so, but its always best to check with Dell.
Having LG 38GN950B for almost a year, I bought it for 994 EURO, now it's more than 1050 EURO, & I love it, for work & games, Alienware in my country costs 1300 EURO, but it's the same the LG panel, + LG has RGB, really good RGB, & doesn't have a FAN because of G-SYNC, that some time is loud, many users has this issue, so If you looking for 38inch, consider only LG38GN950B. Expect one thing Alienware build quality is way way better, but still bad RGB & FAN. :)
Have this for my racing sim , couldn't be more happy
Awesome!
Still having that gorgeous monitor... Hope that one day we might have the same Monitor with QD-OLED with the same estate 3840X1600... the 34 version lack of height estate.... :-(
So I came from the Alienware 34 inch monitor I upgraded to the new Samsung Super Ultrawide 57 inch 4k monitor, returned it due to flickering issues, and then used the Samsung $500 credit towards the AW3821DW which it was with after sales tax around the $900 due to amazon prime, the design is indeed beautiful and 1600 resolution, BUT I ended up returning it due to it's 2300r curve after going from 34 to 38 I noticed I had to move my neck more even than the 57 inch monitor which had a 1000r the 38 inch one was almost like a big flat panel, other than this everything was great but wasn't for me
doesnt that suck, the 57 does not have vrr on its osd which would have solved the gsync flickering heh.. still too expensive though
So I ended up getting it again during Black Friday deals which were under $2K and compared to the first unit I haven't had any issues with this anymore, no more flickering, and I was able to find a good configuration with HDR turned on for everything, so I guess in the end it's all about gambling with Samsung, so far I had mines close to a month now so hopefully it remains ok, we also hope that later on Samsung releases a firmware with VRR, and also NVIDIA and or Samsung fixes the issues with not getting 240HZ on RTX 4090 using HDMI 2.1, since it wont work with DP 1.4@@dnsean03
What I love most about the LG 38GN950-B is how after a year the fan in the rear has started to make a high-pitched squeeeeeeeeel noise. So it's going to get re-purposed and replaced by probably this Alienware since the market for 38" and higher WQHD+ is extremely narrow.
🤔.... Merci pour l`information
Oulaaa... Your comment contradicts that of
ToMmYonn, who explains that there is no fan in the LG.... unlike alienware 😐
Great review. Liked and subscribed.
Thanks for subscribing, Joe! Glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers!
I paid last year (2022 Christmas) 899.00 from Microcenter and I love it..
that is perfect monitor in 2024
God i want one of these, wish i got one of these a few years ago when I upgraded but it wasn't in the cards.
watching this on my 3 yr old AW3821DW monitor
An alternative you might try since these monitors generally have poor HDR and are expensive. Try a 48"-55" mini-led 4k Smart television. Mini-led so no oled burn in and very good blacks and contrast ratios. Now the important part... Set a custom resolution in windows and in your games play with windowed borderless and bam! on a 55" panel you get 32:9 3840x1080, 21:9 3840x1600, and 16:9 3840x2160. Best of all worlds with fantastic HDR support. On a 55" panel like mine, the 21:9 res gets you a 51" ultrawide monitor equivalent. Just make sure to get a 2.1 hdmi compatible TV to ensure higher bandwidth/framerates however I can confirm that it's not necessary if 60hz is okay. Just like with monitors do research on the TV to ensure a good panel response time.
Does it have auto switch for input? Thanks for the video!
Hi thomas. Great review i really like it. Just a question, is there another monitor that is slightly better than this which is 38 inches and ips display? I mainly like to use it for gaming, and i really appreciate a good quality picture combined with high refresh rate.
Regards,
Izaak.
Hey Izaak, the only other monitors I'm currently aware of that is 38", IPS, high refresh rate etc. is the LG38GN950-B and the Acer Predator X38. I did touch on the LG panel a little in this video, and I did do a dedicated review on that monitor as well (link in the description). Since I have first hand experience with the LG panel, I can vouch that it's very, very similar to the Alienware as far as performance and specs.
Is it better than the Alienware? It depends who you ask. The LG panel doesn't have an internal fan which can be a big deal, depending on the person, but it does have the external power brick. It also has the Sphere Lighting 2.0 which is really nice if you want some ambient light behind your monitor. But at current pricing, I'd go for the Alienware over all of them (and this time, I did). Hope that helps!
@@TwoByteThomas Hey, thanks for your reply! Will surely check out the other video regards the LG monitor you mentioned. I have also came across this monitor SAMSUNG 34" Odyssey G85SB, its 34 inches and its oled. Specs look decent, though the alienware monitor as you mentioned in your video is 21:10 3440x1600.
What are your thoughts on this samsung monitor, if you have any?
Pleaseeeeee can we get a QD-OLED of this 38" 3840x1600 Ultrawide with 240hz and 0.03 gtg response time? I would buy instantly.
Just FYI: I grabbed this monitor yesterday for $800 USD yesterday + Dell is doing a $200 Dell gift card promo on top of that. Net $600 for this monitor is a STEAL! Planning on getting something to compliment it with that $200; any recommendations?
I think the original BenQ screenbar would be nice - it’s same one I’m using in this video!
Nest hub max, random tech stuff like that. Doesn't have to be all PC stuff :)
I wish this monitor would work with Dell Display Manager. Any work around to get features similar to DDM?
it's just $699 on amazon right now!
I probably got this monitor back in 2021 and it's been great for everything on my desktop (windows). However for the life of me I can't seem to get my macbook air (M2) working on anything other than 30Hz via HDMI which make it almost unusable when switching from 144Hz
I saw in your video you had both windows and osx. How did you get your mac working did you go via the display port interface?
I've been reluctant to buy a DP switch and additional cables in case it doesn't work.
Know this video is over 7 months old but thought I'll ask the question
Great content by the way!
Hey there! It’s hard to tell from here, but since the M2 MacBook Air doesn’t have an HDMI port, you’re likely using some kind of thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. If that’s the case, it’s likely the adapter itself that’s the issue. Some adapters aren’t capable of 4K 60 and only output 4K 30, so you’ll need a different adapter. In my case I’m using the CalDigit TS4 with a DP to HDMI adapter that’s capable of 4K 60. IIRC on this specific monitor it’s outputting at around 75Hz due to the resolution. Hope this helps!
@@TwoByteThomas Thanks! I’ve taken a look at the CalDigit TS4 might give it a whirl as it for sure is a lot more beefy than what I was trying. I initially used the USB-C to HDMI adapter and a HDMI cable and when that didn’t work tried a USB-C to HDMI cable. The CalDigit is reassuringly expensive compared to those so suspect it would work!
Thanks for coming back to me!
@@tomateka No problem! As a note, if all you're looking for is 4K 60 (~75Hz) on this monitor, the TS4 or even any other dock is likely overkill, so I wouldn't waste your money on it if you don't require its capabilities. I'd just go for a quality thunderbolt 3/4 (can't remember which one that specific model is) to HDMI cable capable of 4K 60. If you are looking to get a simple thunderbolt to HDMI adapter instead of the cable, Plugable makes some good ones (I'm using the Plugable DP to HDMI adapter on the TS4).
So what's the best way to attach a laptop to this monitor?
Hey Gary, it depends on the laptop. Some have HDMI out so you can just do a straight connection to the monitor. In my specific case with Thunderbolt only, what I do is use the CalDigit dock. The TS4 has a DP out, so I use a DP to HDMI adapter as I want the DP input for my PC and not my laptop, since this monitor is only HDMI 2.0. I don't really need the high refresh rates for the laptop.
If you don't need the extra ports from the TS4 and you're on the Thunderbolt plan, a simple dock with DP/HDMI out should suffice. Hope this helps!
Watching this video on my own AW3821DW approaching 2024 is pretty fun. A friend owns the first AW OLED screen 34 INCH. TBH I dont like fact its smaller and has a "GLOSSY" screen. Glossy GTFO
MTG is also one of my guilty pleasures 🙂
Hi there, any serious IPS glow on different angles? have a c2 but is slowly destroying my eyes as a daily pc monitor. Thank you, GT.
🤨🤔 How far are you from the screen??
What kind of speakers is this does anyone know?
Hey there, if you’re asking about the desktop speakers, they’re the Kanto YU2s in the walnut finish. Hope this helps!
Is that a quntis light bar pro+ on your alienware? Asking because I have the exact light bar + looking to buy the alienware and wonders does the quntis put any pressure on the screen? And have you noticed any defect from having the light bar mounted on there? Any tips also
It's the original BenQ screenbar! And no, I have never had an issue with it on this monitor, though it didn't fit properly on my previous 34GN850. Screenbars and widescreen monitors can be iffy so it's sometimes luck of the draw if they fit or not. As far as putting pressure on the screen, I wouldn't worry about that.
I have a question to you, I am considering to switch my 38inch to 4K 32inch for pixel density, is it worth it, is it big difference, what you can actually see every time?
I can definitely notice the difference. It's not a huge difference, but it's noticeable, especially with the PPI at 4K 32" . I will say I found it more noticeable outside of gaming. So I'd say it is worth it if you're going for pixel density for productivity reasons. Hope this helps!
@@TwoByteThomas Thanks a lot, yes I read what in games 3840x1600 looks same sharp and clear almost as 4k
This is on sale for $720. Still worth it going into 2024?
Yup 🙂
$699.99 (USD) on Amazon today!
Nice!
Should i pick one up today for 300? 😅
I hope you picked one up at that price! 😄
Man, I wish this had HDMI 2.1.
Me too.
So display port can do 144hz
Yup! Display Port 1.4 added support for display stream compression so it can go even higher than 144Hz - DP 1.3 also supports 4K at 144Hz
@@TwoByteThomas awesome. Thanks because I wasn’t sure which ultra wide to decide on. The pled version is out of my price range and right now this model is on sale. I heard it’s one of the best ultrawides still on the market
I hate this monitor, I can't wait to sell it
Embarrassing contrast ratio
ips though heh
Is not 4k👎
You don't know how 4k works in monitors. It's not the most important.
One ugly monitor
Thanks for the review. Like and subscribed. I know the HDR is not stellar, but how is it compared to a monitor that does not even support HDR? Like is it that bad that it's better to just keep it off? Or is it better than having no HDR. I'm coming from first gen Acer x34 w/ 100Hz max refresh.
Hey Mohammed, thanks for watching - the best answer I can give to that is - the HDR is purely "OK" - it's just not a strong suit of this monitor, especially with mini LED tech and OLED panels these days. Personally, it works well enough for me, but I wouldn't consider this monitor at all if HDR is a priority. I'd recommend thinking of it more as "oh, it has HDR600 as well, that's nice to have." This one would definitely be an upgrade on the X34 in many ways though! Hope this helps.
@@TwoByteThomas ended up getting it and absolutely LOVE IT! Yes a huge improvement over the x34 and the extra 4 inches is noticeable but at the same time not overly massive. Really I think this is the perfect size.
I have this and the AW3432DWF, and tbh it's hard to choose which one I like using better sometimes. The size and aspect of the 38" is amazing, it really is the perfect format. However - the backlight bleed on the AW3821DW is miserable. The HDR is not as bad as people make it out to be - I used the Windows HDR calibration tool and it's really pretty good HDR and gets very bright. But the backlight bleed from the panel is really notable.
Between this and the OLED, I find myself using the OLED more and more, primarily bc of the clarity of the image and the response time. The HDR implementation is close enough between them that it's not the deal breaking feature for me - however, the clarity of the image you get by having per pixel lighting with no bleed and the nearly instant response times are absolutely amazing. That combined with no backlight bleed is really making the OLED panel outshine the nano IPS.
How is the 34 for office use? Text clear and okay in brighter rooms? Color fringing etc? 90% office use 10% gaming
@@seanmulhern2207 I honestly don't notice any color fringing and text is perfectly fine. It seems like it's the bigger models with a lower DPI for the resolution that have the fringing issues the most. I compared it to the LG ones before I bought it and they were terrible comparatively. I noticed the fringing and color bleed on the models I looked at on display in the LG. Haven't had it with this.