For centuries, people have debated whether size matters, and as far as the Alienware AW3821DW curved gaming monitor is concerned, it absolutely does. With a panel size of 37.5 inches and a massive width of almost 3 feet, this $1,899 behemoth seems to stake its claim as the Predator at the top of the ultrawide gaming monitor heap.

The Alienware AW3821DW is the bigger, badder sequel to the 34-inch AW3421DW. It uses a nano IPS WQHD panel to reproduce more vivid and accurate colors up to 95% DCI-P3 color gamut and 130.6% sRGB color gamut. Even without the use of a fancy colorimeter, as a graphic designer, I can easily see that this new panel looks much better and more accurate than the old 34 [It supports VESA DisplayHDR 600 and has edge-lit local dimming zones. Tested with a variety of games and videos, we found great contrast, color vibrancy, and detail. However, local dimming is only a few vertical zones, and it is noticeable. The zones are clearly visible when moving the mouse, especially on the black loading screen.

Thankfully, this is not very noticeable in most content and can be reduced by using the monitor's various variable backlight modes. However, contrast is sacrificed.

Content on the AW3821DW is stunningly beautiful, whether I'm playing a game, replaying an episode of WandaVision, or multitasking through a large number of apps. I finally played "Ori & the Will of Wisps" and what an amazing experience the ultrawide HDR is. The immersion is truly breathtaking and worth the high price, and the field of view in games like "Call of Duty Warzone," "Apex Legends," and "Fortnite" is amazing. Sadly, however, it has not made me a better gamer.

The almost 4K resolution of 3840 x 1600 pixels, 21:9 aspect ratio, and 144Hz refresh at ultra-high settings might break even the Nvidia RTX 3080. Thankfully, the Alienware AW3821DW supports G-Sync Ultimate, so you don't have to worry about stuttering or tearing; combined with a fast 1ms response time, you can enjoy smooth gaming all day long. The monitor's native refresh is 4ms, but it can be overdriven to 2ms or 1ms. In most cases, the native 4ms will be perfectly fine.

Looking away from the panel, the AW3821DW features the same gorgeous Legend industrial design as the previous model. It is Alienware's Lunar White in color and has the distinctive O-ring RGB stand. The stand's footprint is ridiculously large, 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep, so it won't fit on smaller desks, but you can VESA mount the monitor on a wall or arm. That is, if either is sturdy enough.

The stand can easily support an 8 kg panel and offers a wide range of motion with swivel, tilt, and height adjustments. The essential cable management is also provided, and the RGB lighting is excellent. There are four customizable lighting zones, including the Alien head logo on the back, the stand, the power button, and a small strip on the bottom bezel. The lighting is bright enough to illuminate the surroundings even in total darkness, but you won't notice it during the day.

The enormous size gives space for a wealth of ports: there is a DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0, an audio output, and four USB-A ports. It may be disappointing that it does not support an HDMI 2.1 port for next-generation game consoles or USB-C for connecting to a laptop with a single cable.

Switching between devices is easy thanks to an intuitive OSD menu accessed via a context-sensitive menu button on the right rear of the monitor. The buttons are easy to find, tactile, and change function depending on which menu page you are on.

The one drawback I found is that the panel is so wide that it is quite cumbersome to reach the menu buttons and I have no idea why Dell does not include a simple Windows OSD app like MSI does. The app is located in the Windows Task Center and allows you to fiddle with the OSD using your mouse.

Still, Alienware has created one of the best ultrawide gaming monitors money can buy. It solves many of the problems I had with the 34" model, and whether you are a gamer, designer, or accountant, this monitor has a lot to offer. If I have any complaints, the lack of USB-C and HDMI 2.1 would be at the top of the list.

Some may feel that the size is too large for their space, and for those who do, I would suggest looking at Alienware's equally excellent 27-inch model. But if size matters to you and money is no object, this is an experience too good to pass up. It's also worth remembering. Dell often offers significant discounts.