The annual Computex trade show in Taiwan has always been a great place to see cutting-edge PC monitors based on the latest display technologies, and this year’s event did not disappoint.
This week, brands including Asus, MSI and Dell all took the wraps off of their newest premium gaming monitors, showcasing some of the most advanced new OLED panels from LG Display and Samsung Display.
First up is Asus, which is targeting esports fanatics that demand a smaller form-factor with the launch of the all-new Asus ROG Strix OLED XG259QWPG Ace (pictured above). According to the company, it will be the world’s first 25-inch OLED monitor.
Although OLED is widely regarded as the superior display technology, many esports gamers have refused to let go of their inferior LCD-based monitors due to their size preferences and their need for speed. And it’s exactly these things that Asus is targeting, combining a blistering 540Hz refresh rate and 0.02ms response time with 1080p resolution and a smaller display to try and convince pro gamers to finally throw out their washed-out LCD screens.
Asus said the ROG Strix OLED XG259QWPG Ace was developed in partnership with the pro esports teams Blast and PGL to ensure it meets the insanely high demands of the world’s best pro gamers. Based on LG Display’s most advanced Tandem WOLED panel technology, the new monitor delivers a 15% brightness boost and a 60% longer lifespan compared to previous-generation OLED displays. There’s also a new GaNFET power technology that helps to mitigate the heat generated by pushing the panel’s refresh rate so high, helping to reduce the monitor’s internal temperature by up to 10%.
Not to be outdone, MSI showed up with its own engineering marvel in the shape of the 32-inch MPG OLED 322URDX36, which is based on Samsung Display’s new 4K 360Hz QD-OLED panel.
What really sets this monitor apart is that it’s the first in the world to come with “triple-mode” functionality, with users able to choose between running at the monitor’s native speed of 360Hz at 4K, 520Hz at 1440p, or crank the speed up even further to a staggering 680Hz at 1080p.
The monitor comes with Samsung Display’s 5th generation Pental Tandem QD-OLED panel, which delivers 1,500 nits brightness and has an improved anti-reflective film that aims to prevent reflections caused by external light. It also prevents raised blacks in brighter environments, the company said. In addition, it will be one of the first monitors in the world using a V-Stripe RGB sub-pixel layout, which should make the display useful for productive work too, because it helps to eliminate the problem of “fringing” around text that plagues older QD-OLED panels.
Last but not least, there were a couple of new monitors on show from Dell’s Alienware sub-brand, which specializes in gaming displays. The company has opted to go with both LG Display’s Tandem WOLED and Samsung Display’s QD-OLED technologies, so fans of the brand can choose their preference.
The first we saw was the AW3926QW, which is a massive 39-inch ultrawide monitor that features 5K2K or 5120x2160 resolution. It has a native 165Hz refresh rate that goes up to 330Hz in dual-mode, and a 21:9 aspect ratio. According to Dell, it will be the first monitor to use an LG panel featuring its RGB Stripe sub-pixel arrangement, which is also designed to eliminate fringing.
The company also showcased its upcoming 34-inch Alienware AW3426DW monitor, which comes with a 280Hz native refresh rate and has 3440x1440p resolution. It’s also based on Samsung’s Penta Tandem QD-OLED panel. Both of the new Dell monitors can hit 1,300 nits peak HDR brightness, the company said, and around 300 nits full-screen brightness.
Gamers will have to wait a while before they can get their hands on these monitors, though. Dell’s AW3426DW will go on sale first in July, with the AW3926QW set to hit the stores in the autumn. Asus has not yet confirmed when it will release the new ROG Strix OLED XG259QWPG Ace monitor, though we do expect it to land before the end of the year. Finally MSI is asking for patience, with its novel triple-mode MPG OLED 322URDX36 not expected to arrive until early 2027.
