Image: dronepicr / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
In short: OLED monitors take a big step in 2026. Samsung Display's new Penta Tandem QD-OLED panels are brighter, and the latest generation renders text more sharply. The MSI MPG 322UR X24 offers 4K at 240 Hz on 31.5 inches, while the Dell Alienware AW3426DW is a curved 34-inch screen at 280 Hz. Older OLED models have also become cheaper.
What is Penta Tandem?
Penta Tandem stacks five light-emitting layers. The panel can get brighter without stressing each layer as much, which should also help lifespan. According to KitGuru, the MSI uses Samsung Display's fourth-generation QD-OLED. The fifth generation in the Alienware AW3426DW uses RGB-stripe subpixels, which TFTCentral says makes text clearly sharper.
The two key models
| MSI MPG 322UR X24 | Alienware AW3426DW | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 31.5 in | 34 in, curved 1800R |
| Resolution | 3840 × 2160 | 3440 × 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 240 Hz | 280 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | 1,300 nits |
| Ports | DP 2.1a UHBR20, 2× HDMI 2.1, USB-C | DP 1.4, 2× HDMI 2.1, USB-C 15 W |
The MSI has an AI Care Sensor that dims the screen when you leave, helping prevent burn-in, and a 36-month warranty. Its UK price is £849 (about £799 in stores). The Alienware's QuantumBlack coating keeps blacks deeper in bright rooms and reduces the purple tint of earlier QD-OLEDs.
MSI details
KitGuru rated the MSI 9 out of 10. The flat panel supports G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium Pro from 48 to 240 Hz, so motion stays smooth even when your graphics card can't reach 240 frames per second. The stand offers 110 mm of height adjustment, tilt and swivel, and there is a 100 × 100 mm VESA mount. Compared with the MPG 321URX from early 2024, which used third-generation QD-OLED, the new model is brighter and has a better coating. It does not get the sharper RGB-stripe layout, which MSI already offers in the ultrawide MPG 341CQR X36.
Buying tips
OLED is ideal for games and films. For heavy text work, look for RGB-stripe panels. 4K at 240 Hz needs a strong graphics card; with a €1,000 gaming PC, 1440p is usually the better match. USB-C is handy for Windows laptops. Check that the warranty covers burn-in. Prices change often, so compare them yourself. More in the monitors section.
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