Maximum PC - USA (2022-06)

So, why isn’t

MicroLED coming to

the PC soon? In a word,

money. MicroLED

remains very expensive,

as in $80,000 for the

cheapest currently

available MicroLED TV.

There are numerous

reasons why, but

one of the most

intractable involves

the existing ‘pick and

place’ manufacturing

technique for MicroLED

panels. It essentially

means each MicroLED

subpixel is being

individually installed

on the MicroLED

backplane. On a

4K panel, that’s no

fewer than 24 million

MicroLEDs.

It’s one reason why

existing MicroLED

screens are currently

made up of multiple

panels. That makes

broken pixels less of an

issue if part of the panel

can be replaced. That

‘pick and place’ method

also puts a lower

limit on pixel density.

Consequently, the

smallest 4K MicroLED

screen produced so far

is a Samsung 75-inch

model.

Looking to the future,

the great hope is that

inkjet-like printing

processes can be used

to lay down MicroLED

pixels, en masse. If

that happens, costs will

plummet dramatically.

But even taking

the most optimistic

view of MicroLED

manufacturing tech,

we’re at least five years

away from moderately

affordable TVs.

MicroLED PC monitors

with sufficient pixel

density to replace LCD

technology and cheap

enough that normal

people can afford them?

They’re even further out

than that. What a pity.

PC monitor based on OLED

technology. But everything that’s

come before has either been the

equivalent of that early Eizo LCD

panel—a glorified beta test at the

buyer’s expense—or a mega-

money monitor aimed at narrow

professional applications. The

Alienware is the first consumer-

ready, minimal compromise,

affordable OLED PC monitor.

It’s also miles faster, in terms

of pixel response, than any LCD

monitor. It has essentially perfect

contrast, thanks to each pixel

containing its own independent

light source, plus with none of

the blooming, and thus incredible

low range HDR performance. And

its viewing angles are virtually

flawless. It is, surely, the best

gaming monitor we’ve ever seen,

but that doesn’t make it the best

all-round monitor you can buy.

It isn’t even close to being the

best option for most productivity

tasks. As you’ll see from our review on

page 78, the AW3423DW isn’t perfect.

Some of the ways in which OLED

panels aren’t perfect will ensure that LCD

monitors remain relevant for some time.

The first is resolution. At 3,440x1,440

pixels and under 110dpi, the Alienware

AW3423DW has decent pixel density for

gaming. Some would argue it’s pretty

much perfect for a 34-inch ultrawide

gaming monitor, just the right balance

between visual detail and allowing for

Cheap at $80,000: Samsung Wall MicroLED TV is far from mainstream adoption.

The Gigabyte M32U delivers 4K and 144Hz in a relatively affordable 32-inch, IPS package.

JUN 2022 MAXIMU MPC 51

© SAMSUNG, GIGABYTE