Not every monitor needs to push bleeding-edge display tech to stand out. Alienware’s AW2525HM proves that going all-in on core performance (speed, colour, and comfort), can be more than enough.
Designed for the competitive crowd but accessible to anyone chasing a high-refresh experience, this 25-inch Full HD panel delivers blistering speed, accurate colours, and a gamer-first design, starting at just $349.80AUD. It doesn’t chase OLEDs or 4K bragging rights, but it does one thing extremely well: make your gaming experience feel incredible.
If you’re after a responsive, focused monitor that does what it says on the tin, this one earns its stripes.
Performance: 320 reasons to care
The AW2525HM’s headline spec is impossible to miss. With a 320Hz refresh rate and a 0.5ms (GtG) response time, it’s in elite territory particularly at this price point. Gamers will appreciate the silky-smooth motion and snappy response, while the suite of adaptive sync (NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and VESA AdaptiveSync) support ensures screen tearing is virtually a non-issue regardless of your GPU.
It’s a Fast IPS panel too, meaning you’re not trading speed for washed-out colour. Colours are bright, punchy, and impressively accurate, with 99% sRGB coverage. That won’t rival HDR-grade colour depth, but for its class, it’s excellent, especially for a monitor focused on high FPS performance over cinematic fidelity.
Design: compact, comfortable, and competitive
Alienware’s AW30 design language continues here, with a cleaner, more understated vibe. The Interstellar Indigo finish is subtle but sharp, and the logo on the back is a nice touch. There’s a real sense of quality here, even if the RGB frills of old are left behind.
The stand is excellent, offering tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments. Crucially, the reduced footprint gives your mouse and keyboard more space to breathe, which is an understated bonus. Alienware has also added a retractable headset hanger, which is one of those features you never knew you needed until it’s there. For smaller desks or tight setups, this kind of thoughtful design matters.
Setup & Connectivity: simple and sorted
Like other recent Alienware displays, this one supports tool-less stand setup, which is always a win. The included cables (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A to B, power) are long enough and good quality, meaning you’re up and running quickly.
Port-wise, you’re covered:
- 2x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS)
- 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (one with 15W power delivery)
- 1x USB-B upstream
That’s enough for a gaming PC, a console, and a few accessories plus charging power for a headset or phone. No built-in speakers here, but that’s par for the course in this category.
Real-world use: laser-focused
This is a monitor with a clear purpose. It’s not a media multitasker or a wide screen creative powerhouse. It exists to make your games feel lightning-fast and responsive, and it nails that brief.
During my time with the AW2525HM, games felt ultra-smooth, and fast motion stayed sharp thanks to minimal ghosting. The only downside is that once you’re used to 300+Hz, going back feels sluggish.
That said, this isn’t a productivity-first display. The 1080p resolution on a 25-inch panel is perfectly suited to gaming, but for everyday tasks like document editing or spreadsheet work, the smaller screen real estate and focus on speed over sharpness means it’s less compelling. It’ll get the job done, but it wouldn’t be my first pick for long work sessions.
Verdict & Value
Alienware’s AW2525HM doesn’t try to be everything, and that’s exactly why it works. It doubles down on speed, accuracy, and usability, wrapped in a tidy design and priced to compete.
At a starting price of $349.80AUD, it’s an incredibly capable 1080p monitor for gamers who care about competitive performance above all else. It won’t appeal to every type of user, but if you’re chasing ultra-smooth gameplay with rock-solid colour and a no-nonsense setup, this is a winner. This monitor gets it right where it matters.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Lightning-fast 320Hz refresh; accurate colour; excellent stand and design; competitive price
Lowlights: 1080p resolution limits productivity use; no built-in speakers
Manufacturer: Alienware / Dell
Price: $349.80
Available: Now via Dell and authorised retailers
Review unit provided by Dell.
