Key Points
- The Apple Studio Display and Alienware 34 QD-OLED are high-powered monitors with different capabilities.
- The Apple Studio Display has a 5K Retina resolution and a standard 60Hz refresh rate, while the Alienware 34 QD-OLED has a 1440p Ultrawide resolution and a 175Hz refresh rate.
- The Apple Studio Display has color calibration and superb clarity, while the Alienware 34 QD-OLED features rich colors with vibrant contrast.
- The Apple Studio Display has built-in speakers and microphones, while the Alienware 34 QD-OLED prioritizes its function as a high-end monitor and lacks explicit audio support.
Which displays win between the Apple Studio Display vs. Alienware 34 QD-OLED? These are both high-powered monitors meant to bring the absolute best to your computing experience.
However, they are very different monitors in terms of overall capabilities. The Apple Studio Display has made waves for being a high-end costly monitor for Apple products, but the Alienware OLED panel resides in the same price bracket.
If you’re on the hunt for a high-end monitor, it is definitely worth looking at these two options a bit closer. The point of today’s guide is to give an overview of the specs, and how they directly compare, and to inform your purchase decision so you make the right choice for your needs.
Apple Studio Display vs. Alienware 34 QD-OLED: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Apple Studio Display | Alienware 34 QD-OLED | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 5120 x 2880 | 3440 x 1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 175Hz |
| Screen Size | 27 inches | 34 inches |
| Connectivity | Thunderbolt and USB Type-C connectors | USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, 3.5mm Audio |
| Panel Type | IPS | OLED |
| Brightness | 600 nits | 250 nits |
| Webcam | Yes | No |
| Speakers | Yes | No |
Beyond just the screen size, there are some noticeable differences at play when looking at these two monitors. Despite residing in the same price bracket, they have very different capabilities.
Apple Studio Display vs. Alienware 34 QD-OLED: What’s the Difference?
Now that you have a grasp on the specs, it is time to go a little more in-depth into how these monitors directly perform.
Performance
- Immersive 27-inch 5K Retina display with 600 nits of brightness, support for one billion colors, and P3 wide color
- 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage for more engaging video calls
- Studio-quality three-mic array for crystal-clear calls and voice recordings
- Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio for an unbelievable listening experience
- One Thunderbolt 3 port, three USB-C ports
The Apple Studio Display is functionally identical to the 27-inch iMac’s screen with a few noticeable departures. It is an overall brighter display still using the same 5K retina resolution seen in the iMac for a few years now. Apple’s high-end monitor lacks HDR support and still bears a standard 60Hz resolution.
It is one of the pricier options on the market for a Mac-compatible external display, costing as much as a standard 24-inch M1 iMac at the time of this writing. It does boast color calibration and superb clarity on compatible systems.
The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is a very different beast, featuring an OLED screen reminiscent of a smart TV rather than a PC monitor. It is a lower-resolution alternative to the Studio Display, clocking in only at 3440 x 1440. However, it does have a higher refresh rate and presents a much larger screen.
Alienware’s high-end monitor measures 34 inches diagonally, which is plenty of real estate for handling 3440 x 1440. Most importantly, it is curved, so you have got a superb field of view whether you’re playing games or working on some designs.
Image Quality
Apple displays have long been renowned for their color accuracy. The Apple Studio Display is no different in this regard and features options for color calibration. The image is sharp and clean, and MacOS looks great in motion while using it.
The Apple Studio Display doesn’t have any noticeable bleed or blooming when watching videos. This alone makes for a very dependable and accurate IPS display. Apple curiously has omitted HDR support from the Studio Display, but it does handle HD content just fine in motion.
Alienware’s 34 QD-OLED is a very different beast when it comes to colors. It may not be capable of directly calibrating your colors, but it features the same sharp display in use by Samsung’s OLED displays. You get rich colors with vibrant contrast.
The only downfall to the 34 QD-OLED is you’ll likely have to resort to black bars when watching 1080p content. This isn’t a huge drawback, as the video quality itself is stunning and greatly benefits from the higher refresh rate.
Audio Support
- NVIDIA G-Sync Ultimate compatible
- Quantum Dot display technology
- 0.1 ms response time
- 34-inch display at 3,440 x 1,440 resolution
The Alienware 34 QD-OLED doesn’t have any explicit support for audio protocols. Its primary function first and foremost is a high-end monitor. As such, it doesn’t have connectors for 3.5mm audio like on a pair of headphones. However, this isn’t a primary draw to this particular display.
The Apple Studio Display comes with the same six-speaker array you’d expect from an iMac display. These speakers sound great, and can even take advantage of Dolby Atmos media like you’d find on Apple Music or Apple TV+.
It also comes with three individual microphones. These feature active noise cancellation and beamform to get an ideal signal when using it for voice calls. It isn’t as good as a dedicated microphone, but that’s also one less thing you need to slap on your desk.
Inputs and Outputs
©SantoriniLove/Shutterstock.com
The Alienware 34 QD-OLED has a distinct edge when it comes to its port arrangement. You have access to HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB connectors. These aren’t the faster Type-C connectors that are catching on with modern computing but should be more than enough for powering some external accessories.
HDMI support is set only at 2.0, so you’re not getting the inherent advantages seen with HDMI 2.1. However, it works quite well and should be more than enough for gaming, media, and productivity work.
The Apple Studio Display has noticeably fewer options, with a Thunderbolt connection and three Type-C connectors. The Thunderbolt connection acts as both a charging port for your MacBook as well as the primary means of establishing a connection for the display itself.
You can use the Studio Display as an erstwhile USB hub for your Mac of choice, but it would be nice to see more options like HDMI. When you consider the Mac Mini and Mac Studio both have HDMI ports, it seems an odd omission on Apple’s part.
System Compatibility
Both of these monitors are compatible with all major operating systems. Just because the Apple Studio Display is built explicitly with Macs doesn’t exclude it from being used on Windows.
You will need a compatible Thunderbolt port on your PC, which is starting to become more common with the new standards. It does work best with Apple products, where there is certainly enough power on tap to drive those 5K displays to their absolute best.
The Alienware 34 QD-OLED connects readily to Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. If your PC has an HDMI or DisplayPort output, you are more than ready to use this monitor. There is enough pixel density on the display itself for it to work out of the box with Mac computers.
You might need to adjust the font smoothing and scaling, but that is a minor configuration that takes mere moments to get up and rolling.
Apple Studio Display vs. Alienware 34 QD-OLED: 6 Must-Know Facts
- The Apple Studio Display uses the same Retina display as the 27-inch iMac.
- The Apple Studio Display has six speakers for Dolby Atmos compatibility.
- The Apple Studio Display has a lackluster webcam.
- The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is a curved display that uses Samsung’s display technology.
- The Alienware 34 QD-OLED has special modes for adjusting colors when creating content.
- The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is a great choice for gaming with its 0.1ms response time.
Apple Studio Display vs. Alienware 34 QD-OLED: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Choose?
So, which of these monitors is the best choice for you? In all honesty, it is quite hard to recommend the Apple Studio Display when the Alienware option has so many great features. Sure, you lose out on Thunderbolt connectivity, but you gain DisplayPort and HDMI functionality.
As such, the Alienware 34 QD-OLED is a great solution for just about everyone’s needs. Sure, you’ll likely need external speakers if you’re looking to use your PC for media.
However, it does great with Windows, Linux, and MacOS. The curved display makes quite the impression, especially when you take into consideration how rich and vibrant the OLED display looks.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Jack Skeens/Shutterstock.com.
