This is nothing special. We already have better options...
LG's 4K OLED TV range (2019) can do 120hz, and unlike this monitor they have HDMI 2.1 and HDR - supporting both HDR10 and Dolby Vision. They also support variable refresh rates (freesync) and can go much brighter than this monitor. You get the same DCI-P3 performance too (98 - 99%).
So why bother with this monitor? It's inferior. We now have TV's that perform better as monitors than actual monitors. This is also probably using the same LG OLED panel that's used in LG's TV's. So you're much better off having an actual LG TV as a monitor instead. There might be no GPU's with HDMI 2.1 (yet) but once they arrive you'll have 4K HDR @ 120hz. So unless this Dell/Alienware monitor is way cheaper i don't see any point in it.
And next year we'll see loads more TV's with HDMI 2.1 and 4K HDR @ 120hz + VRR/freesync.
Welp. The C9 doesn't support Freesync as such, but VRR of the HDMI 2.1 standard. If nvidia and AMD chooses to support VRR on any of their current GPU's is unlikely. Probably, we will have to wait for new GPU's that support HDMI 2.1 fully, before we can get VRR on the C9.
I don't disagree with you, but, if someone wishes to have a 4K 55" OLED display to use with their PC today, or in the very near future to run 120Hz 4K, you still can't do that.
You can still do this with LG monitor, it just lacks Freesync, that's it. So if you are using Nvidia GPU or don't value Freesync at $2000, LG is indeed the best option.
I completely concur, especially with Display 1.4 to HDMI 2.1 converters being imminent (covered by this very site last month).
The marketing & researchers associated with this product needs to be evaluated for malpractice thinking they can charge what they're charging without HDR (not even HDR10? WTF) & HDMI 2.1 when the perception is pretty obvious that it has a panel more or less like the LG C9 which has both those things yet it's 2.6 times more.
It's just seems like pure sabotage or being forced to release this monitor this quarter no matter what when they can add those things w/ a next year release instead. Even if they have plans of a later SKU, this seems like a waste of resources until at minimum being DisplayHDR TrueBlack 500 certified, Dolby Vision HDR (ideally HDR10+), & HDMI 2.1.
HDR 2.1 & HDR should have been MINIMUM requirements for this product. Xbox Scarlett & PS5 PR even gave them a freaking layout to include HDMI 2.1 & HDR to meet their 4K@120hz target.
Never thought a product I was excited about would make me this disappointed & legit sad it got downgraded. I'm concerrned this may push back OLED gaming monitor market back unnecessarily due to the unanimously poor downgrade decisions this OLED monitor.
Some skeptics will point that this monitor failed, but the reality is it seems the management of this product (given its original method) failed it. This definitely ruined my Q4.
I can't justify a C9 either since it now just makes sense to wait for monitors to incorporate USB4 & Displayport 2.0. This monitor was supposed to be the best Displayport 1.4 4K Gaming monitor of all-time and just blew it.
With the FALD 4K monitors & BFGD monitors being horribly over-priced to a OLED HDMI 2.1 LG C9 TV or a Panasonic OLED tv too, never thought I'd say this, but buying a OLED TV for a gaming monitor seems much more sensible for 4K gaming at this point.
The PC monitor businesses managing 4K variants seems to be managed by people who don't seem to understand their audience. Their decisions have been indefensibly moronic.
Microsoft (Xbox Scarlett) & Sony (PS5) gave them a lay-up informing the press that their consoles target & support 4K@120hz. Like the Xbox One X today, they primarily intend to do that via HDMI 2.1
The HDMI 2.1 omission is extremely baffling when the Xbox One X supports HDMI 2.1 & VRR TODAY. Sony & Microsoft even doubled down saying both their consoles will support HDMI 2.1. For home users that means they'll be supporting HDMI 2.1.
It's just frustrating thinking about how that went over the heads of the decision makers associated with this monitor to omit that & HDR (everyone knows that HDR > resolution).
Dell really needs to clarify whether this monitor is a DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 monitor + has Displayport 1.4.
Otherwise, I'm afraid this monitor is DOA. Why get this instead of a C9 w/ Dolby Vision *and* HDMI for $2500 less? Even more so when Realtek's Displayport 1.4 to HDMI 2.1 converter comes out.
When I say C9, I'm referring to LG's 2019 HDMI 2.1 Dolby Vision HDMi 2.1 C9 TV w/ 4K@120hz. That TV will also be future proof with next gen consoles targeting 4K@120hz. It also uses the SAME panel.
I think the researchers for this product really let this product down if the specs are without typos.
- Dolby Vision & HDMI 2.1 should have been associated with this product at minimum using the same panel as the C9 essentially from LG display. Even if that raised this monitor at $5000, the existing BFGD are DOA'd by this product just as much as they were when LG C9
Wait... Are you really planning to sit at arm's length from a 55" screen, to use it as your desktop monitor?!? Do you have any idea how freakishly large 55" actually is?
haven't had a desktop setup in years. simpit with interchangeable hotas/wheelpedal/mkb setup. currently on 40" 4k and vr. been waiting for decent 55" upgrade for years.
I have a 65inch LG OLED TV. I stream to it occasionally for living room PC gaming. I put it on my desk once before wall-mounting it in my living room; I think 65 inch is too big but not 55inch.
This is also accounting that this monitor & my OLED TV are waaaaaaay thinner than my 34" Asus 1440p G-Sync Ultrawide monitor.
I just think they made a spectacularly bad decision not having Dolby Vision HDR & HDMI 2.1 in a product that won't shake off being compared to LG C9 that has Dolby Vision & HDMI 2.1.
I honestly would've been okay with them charging $5000 like the original BFGD that came out this year if it meant keeping those things intact,but they didn't and the monitor is effectively DOA for most who were looking forward to this monitor.
Sitting just over an arm's length away from a 40" display, seems fine to me. Depends on your workload, I don't like bezels and it allows me to arrange windows however I want.
For gaming or something, I'd say it's more iffy, but won't diss it until I've tried it.
Man this ticks a lot of boxes, but only 400 Nits peak brightness? I don't get it. These are (probably) LG panels, why not match LG's 650-800 nits? 400 barely qualifies for HDR.
Hi, Aegrum: Nits != HDR for OLEDs; note a Dolby Vision HDR OLED > a HDR 1000 LCD everytim w/ only a few special exceptions in the $30,000+ reference monitor market (TBD Apple's FALD Pro Display).
Note that VESA has a specific rating system for OLEDs unrelated to DisplayHDR 1000 & etc. It's called TrueBlack. It's on the homepage of DisplayHDR.org now.
Dell/Alienware should have at least conformed w/ the requirements of TrueBlack 400 (& Dolby Vision TBH). If they didn't… I think this monitor is DOA for most savvy enthusiasts this would've been for. They will get a C9 + a Displayport 1.4 to HDMI 2.1 adapter that was literally revealed (including this site) last month.
At 55 inches, this thing is more of a TV than a PC monitor that would sit on a reasonable desk. And at $4k, this is going to be DOA up against the LG OLED55C9 which is half the price, has HDMI 2.1, supports HDR10+Dolby Vision, and has the neat benefit of being a TV that's sleek and elegant than some l33t g4m3r alien crap. In fact, chances are they're using the exact same panel as the LG.
I agree. I would be much more comfortable with something like this if in the 32"-36" range. In the past I had a 43" LG on my desktop and sold it because of size.
LG probably doesn't have OLED monitors at such sizes; they are only doing ~42" next year.
That said, this monitor is fine at 55 inches for enthusiasts to take advantage of economies of scale at play. They just made spectacularly terrible jobs making most of the panel removing HDR & HDMI 2.1.
The size is particularly not an issue w/ a VESA mount set-up that it supports.
Brightness of 400 nits max, and no Freesync 2... then bloody use it ya wanks?
$4k for this is just robbery, hoping people will look at the Alienware logo and no further as they open their wallet. As other have pointed out, the LG C9 is a far, faaaar better buy than this junk.
I was sold until I saw the price tag. It's definitely better to have a monitor designed as a monitor than to repurpose a 4K TV, but not *that* much better.
I can't be the only one wondering where a normal-sized desktop monitor is. Shouldn't the 30" version be easier and cheaper than the 55" version? Why not start at 30"?
LG makes all the OLED panels for TVs and monitors right now. There's economies of scale producing the same size panel for both TV and monitor use (55, 65, 77").
I feel sorry for anyone using this as a desktop monitor. I hope you enjoy seeing your taskbar and desktop icons burned into the monitor. OLED is fine for TV and most gaming, but terrible for static desktops.
That's BS. Can you clarify for us readers what experience you have using OLED monitors for desktop use?
Also, even Dell OLED monitors before this long ago had plenty of safeguards for this problem. I think you're echoing urban myths as though they are fact.
It's still a fact last time I checked, especially taskbar. Most work-around right now revolve around having a bad max brightness, otherwise they all burn in.
No, the most effective workaround is exercise common sense to auto-hide the taskbar & have. A screensaver; a persistent task bar takes away valuable real estate from focusing on the content
Overpriced, LG offers better specs (HDMI 2.1) for basically half the price, and if you get a Sony you'll get a little more accurate image but still much less than the Dell.
No VESA mounting options? I expect that kind of omission by Apple on their $4000 monitor (gotta sell those $1000 stands), but this thing is way too big to be front and center on a desk.
Fairly unattractive offering--where's the screen warranty info?--hope it's more than 12 months...;) Just bought a 32" BenQ (EW-3207U) DP 1.4, .18 pixel pitch, 140 PPI, UHD, HDR 10, 10-bit panel, Freesync, and more--$449 via Amazon. (Prices on decent ~32" 4k, 10-bit + monitors in the last couple of years are really getting nice!) Beautiful at 1/10th the price of this Dell monitor and at least 300% longer on the screen warranty, I'll guess. This giant Alienware strikes me as more of an overpriced TV than an actual monitor, really. LG and others moving into OLED in a big way need to at least *triple* the factory warranties on the screens without tripling the price, etc.--just my two cents.
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quiksilvr - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
*presses NUT button*Devo2007 - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
NUT! NUT! NUT! NUT!(Austin's NUT button would probably get worn out if this appeared on the table)
B3an - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
This is nothing special. We already have better options...LG's 4K OLED TV range (2019) can do 120hz, and unlike this monitor they have HDMI 2.1 and HDR - supporting both HDR10 and Dolby Vision. They also support variable refresh rates (freesync) and can go much brighter than this monitor. You get the same DCI-P3 performance too (98 - 99%).
So why bother with this monitor? It's inferior. We now have TV's that perform better as monitors than actual monitors. This is also probably using the same LG OLED panel that's used in LG's TV's. So you're much better off having an actual LG TV as a monitor instead. There might be no GPU's with HDMI 2.1 (yet) but once they arrive you'll have 4K HDR @ 120hz. So unless this Dell/Alienware monitor is way cheaper i don't see any point in it.
And next year we'll see loads more TV's with HDMI 2.1 and 4K HDR @ 120hz + VRR/freesync.
drgigolo - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
Welp. The C9 doesn't support Freesync as such, but VRR of the HDMI 2.1 standard. If nvidia and AMD chooses to support VRR on any of their current GPU's is unlikely. Probably, we will have to wait for new GPU's that support HDMI 2.1 fully, before we can get VRR on the C9.remosito - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
i buy my monitors to last me 5+ years. Next year those lg with hdmi 2.1 will be 1500 and gpus will have hdmi 2.1.Basically I'll be able to get 4k@120 with 10bpc, vrr, hdr, dolby vision and save 2500 bucks....
This monitor is a truly terrible value proposition.
drgigolo - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
I don't disagree with you, but, if someone wishes to have a 4K 55" OLED display to use with their PC today, or in the very near future to run 120Hz 4K, you still can't do that.patel21 - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
You can still do this with LG monitor, it just lacks Freesync, that's it.So if you are using Nvidia GPU or don't value Freesync at $2000, LG is indeed the best option.
patel21 - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
*LG monitor ==> LG TV.lilkwarrior - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
I completely concur, especially with Display 1.4 to HDMI 2.1 converters being imminent (covered by this very site last month).The marketing & researchers associated with this product needs to be evaluated for malpractice thinking they can charge what they're charging without HDR (not even HDR10? WTF) & HDMI 2.1 when the perception is pretty obvious that it has a panel more or less like the LG C9 which has both those things yet it's 2.6 times more.
It's just seems like pure sabotage or being forced to release this monitor this quarter no matter what when they can add those things w/ a next year release instead. Even if they have plans of a later SKU, this seems like a waste of resources until at minimum being DisplayHDR TrueBlack 500 certified, Dolby Vision HDR (ideally HDR10+), & HDMI 2.1.
HDR 2.1 & HDR should have been MINIMUM requirements for this product. Xbox Scarlett & PS5 PR even gave them a freaking layout to include HDMI 2.1 & HDR to meet their 4K@120hz target.
Never thought a product I was excited about would make me this disappointed & legit sad it got downgraded. I'm concerrned this may push back OLED gaming monitor market back unnecessarily due to the unanimously poor downgrade decisions this OLED monitor.
Some skeptics will point that this monitor failed, but the reality is it seems the management of this product (given its original method) failed it. This definitely ruined my Q4.
I can't justify a C9 either since it now just makes sense to wait for monitors to incorporate USB4 & Displayport 2.0. This monitor was supposed to be the best Displayport 1.4 4K Gaming monitor of all-time and just blew it.
With the FALD 4K monitors & BFGD monitors being horribly over-priced to a OLED HDMI 2.1 LG C9 TV or a Panasonic OLED tv too, never thought I'd say this, but buying a OLED TV for a gaming monitor seems much more sensible for 4K gaming at this point.
The PC monitor businesses managing 4K variants seems to be managed by people who don't seem to understand their audience. Their decisions have been indefensibly moronic.
lilkwarrior - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
Microsoft (Xbox Scarlett) & Sony (PS5) gave them a lay-up informing the press that their consoles target & support 4K@120hz. Like the Xbox One X today, they primarily intend to do that via HDMI 2.1lilkwarrior - Saturday, September 28, 2019 - link
With the LG 2019 OLED TVs now having G-Sync; this monitor is DOA.lilkwarrior - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
The HDMI 2.1 omission is extremely baffling when the Xbox One X supports HDMI 2.1 & VRR TODAY. Sony & Microsoft even doubled down saying both their consoles will support HDMI 2.1. For home users that means they'll be supporting HDMI 2.1.It's just frustrating thinking about how that went over the heads of the decision makers associated with this monitor to omit that & HDR (everyone knows that HDR > resolution).
zodiacfml - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
Sigh. Beaten me to this comment and better.lilkwarrior - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
Dell really needs to clarify whether this monitor is a DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 monitor + has Displayport 1.4.Otherwise, I'm afraid this monitor is DOA. Why get this instead of a C9 w/ Dolby Vision *and* HDMI for $2500 less? Even more so when Realtek's Displayport 1.4 to HDMI 2.1 converter comes out.
lilkwarrior - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
When I say C9, I'm referring to LG's 2019 HDMI 2.1 Dolby Vision HDMi 2.1 C9 TV w/ 4K@120hz. That TV will also be future proof with next gen consoles targeting 4K@120hz. It also uses the SAME panel.I think the researchers for this product really let this product down if the specs are without typos.
- Dolby Vision & HDMI 2.1 should have been associated with this product at minimum using the same panel as the C9 essentially from LG display. Even if that raised this monitor at $5000, the existing BFGD are DOA'd by this product just as much as they were when LG C9
- No Thunderbolt 3 port for modern laptops? WTF!
crimsonson - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
I agree with everything you said except the TB part. TB is easily adaptable to other ports and not all laptops carry it.smithg5 - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
TB3 monitors let you use the monitor like a desktop hub with a single cable - connecting a laptop to video, USB peripherals and sometimes even power.drgigolo - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
I think most Ice Lake laptops will in fact have USB4 (meaning TB3).boeush - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
Wait... Are you really planning to sit at arm's length from a 55" screen, to use it as your desktop monitor?!? Do you have any idea how freakishly large 55" actually is?remosito - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
desktop?haven't had a desktop setup in years. simpit with interchangeable hotas/wheelpedal/mkb setup. currently on 40" 4k and vr. been waiting for decent 55" upgrade for years.
lilkwarrior - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
I have a 65inch LG OLED TV. I stream to it occasionally for living room PC gaming. I put it on my desk once before wall-mounting it in my living room; I think 65 inch is too big but not 55inch.This is also accounting that this monitor & my OLED TV are waaaaaaay thinner than my 34" Asus 1440p G-Sync Ultrawide monitor.
I just think they made a spectacularly bad decision not having Dolby Vision HDR & HDMI 2.1 in a product that won't shake off being compared to LG C9 that has Dolby Vision & HDMI 2.1.
I honestly would've been okay with them charging $5000 like the original BFGD that came out this year if it meant keeping those things intact,but they didn't and the monitor is effectively DOA for most who were looking forward to this monitor.
RSAUser - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
Sitting just over an arm's length away from a 40" display, seems fine to me. Depends on your workload, I don't like bezels and it allows me to arrange windows however I want.For gaming or something, I'd say it's more iffy, but won't diss it until I've tried it.
Aegrum - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
Man this ticks a lot of boxes, but only 400 Nits peak brightness? I don't get it. These are (probably) LG panels, why not match LG's 650-800 nits? 400 barely qualifies for HDR.lilkwarrior - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
Hi, Aegrum: Nits != HDR for OLEDs; note a Dolby Vision HDR OLED > a HDR 1000 LCD everytim w/ only a few special exceptions in the $30,000+ reference monitor market (TBD Apple's FALD Pro Display).Note that VESA has a specific rating system for OLEDs unrelated to DisplayHDR 1000 & etc. It's called TrueBlack. It's on the homepage of DisplayHDR.org now.
Dell/Alienware should have at least conformed w/ the requirements of TrueBlack 400 (& Dolby Vision TBH). If they didn't… I think this monitor is DOA for most savvy enthusiasts this would've been for. They will get a C9 + a Displayport 1.4 to HDMI 2.1 adapter that was literally revealed (including this site) last month.
r3loaded - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
At 55 inches, this thing is more of a TV than a PC monitor that would sit on a reasonable desk. And at $4k, this is going to be DOA up against the LG OLED55C9 which is half the price, has HDMI 2.1, supports HDR10+Dolby Vision, and has the neat benefit of being a TV that's sleek and elegant than some l33t g4m3r alien crap. In fact, chances are they're using the exact same panel as the LG.Lolimaster - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
Too big for a monitor, 27 1440p and 32-36 4k should be the target.tokyojerry - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
I agree. I would be much more comfortable with something like this if in the 32"-36" range. In the past I had a 43" LG on my desktop and sold it because of size.lilkwarrior - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
LG probably doesn't have OLED monitors at such sizes; they are only doing ~42" next year.That said, this monitor is fine at 55 inches for enthusiasts to take advantage of economies of scale at play. They just made spectacularly terrible jobs making most of the panel removing HDR & HDMI 2.1.
The size is particularly not an issue w/ a VESA mount set-up that it supports.
Frenetic Pony - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
Brightness of 400 nits max, and no Freesync 2... then bloody use it ya wanks?$4k for this is just robbery, hoping people will look at the Alienware logo and no further as they open their wallet. As other have pointed out, the LG C9 is a far, faaaar better buy than this junk.
JDG1980 - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
I was sold until I saw the price tag. It's definitely better to have a monitor designed as a monitor than to repurpose a 4K TV, but not *that* much better.lilkwarrior - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
I'm confused; this monitor is overall worse than OLED TVs released this year (LG's Dolby Vision HDMI 2.1 4K@120hz TV)Only things this monitor does meaningfully better is have a 0.5ms response time & a DP 1.4 port oriented for gaming.
jseliger2 - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
I can't be the only one wondering where a normal-sized desktop monitor is. Shouldn't the 30" version be easier and cheaper than the 55" version? Why not start at 30"?DigitalFreak - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
LG makes all the OLED panels for TVs and monitors right now. There's economies of scale producing the same size panel for both TV and monitor use (55, 65, 77").jabber - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
So it's an expensive rebranded TV with some gaming ability. Hmmm I prefer one or the other. Not a compromise if I'm spending that much.DigitalFreak - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
I feel sorry for anyone using this as a desktop monitor. I hope you enjoy seeing your taskbar and desktop icons burned into the monitor. OLED is fine for TV and most gaming, but terrible for static desktops.lilkwarrior - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
That's BS. Can you clarify for us readers what experience you have using OLED monitors for desktop use?Also, even Dell OLED monitors before this long ago had plenty of safeguards for this problem. I think you're echoing urban myths as though they are fact.
RSAUser - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
It's still a fact last time I checked, especially taskbar.Most work-around right now revolve around having a bad max brightness, otherwise they all burn in.
lilkwarrior - Thursday, August 22, 2019 - link
No, the most effective workaround is exercise common sense to auto-hide the taskbar & have. A screensaver; a persistent task bar takes away valuable real estate from focusing on the contentAlex Topfer - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
does anyone buy a $4k monitor and use the built in speakers?Eliadbu - Monday, August 19, 2019 - link
Wait for burnins especially if you display static images on high brightness.Xex360 - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
Overpriced, LG offers better specs (HDMI 2.1) for basically half the price, and if you get a Sony you'll get a little more accurate image but still much less than the Dell.kaidenshi - Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - link
No VESA mounting options? I expect that kind of omission by Apple on their $4000 monitor (gotta sell those $1000 stands), but this thing is way too big to be front and center on a desk.lilkwarrior - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
It has VESA mount functionality without a $200 Vesa mount adapter like Apple's upcoming $5K display.Vitor - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
The lack of hdmi 2.1 is ridiculous. Its by far the best video connection until DP 2 arrives.zodiacfml - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
Price is worse than I expected. I'd rather take the LG OLED with Freesync.WaltC - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
Fairly unattractive offering--where's the screen warranty info?--hope it's more than 12 months...;) Just bought a 32" BenQ (EW-3207U) DP 1.4, .18 pixel pitch, 140 PPI, UHD, HDR 10, 10-bit panel, Freesync, and more--$449 via Amazon. (Prices on decent ~32" 4k, 10-bit + monitors in the last couple of years are really getting nice!) Beautiful at 1/10th the price of this Dell monitor and at least 300% longer on the screen warranty, I'll guess. This giant Alienware strikes me as more of an overpriced TV than an actual monitor, really. LG and others moving into OLED in a big way need to at least *triple* the factory warranties on the screens without tripling the price, etc.--just my two cents.WaltC - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
Sorry--should be BenQ EW-3270U...! (How about an edit button guys?...;))