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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 26, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, Manufacturer

GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor vs Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor

The GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor is the mid-range choice here, while the Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor targets hardcore gamers wanting top-tier performance. In real-world use, the 360Hz refresh rate of the Alienware model crushes the GIGABYTE's 144Hz, making it the go-to for fast-paced games like CS2 and Valorant. However, if you crave higher resolution for immersive gaming, the GIGABYTE offers a stunning 4K experience at 28 inches. This means sharper images and more detail, especially with a pixel density of 157 PPI compared to the Alienware's lower pixel density due to its FHD resolution. So, it really depends on whether you prioritize refresh rate or resolution in your gaming experience. Key specs: Display: 28" vs 24.5" and Refresh: 144 Hz vs 360 Hz.

Why compare these? The GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor (mid-range) and Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor (high-end) represent different approaches to monitors. While they may appeal to different budgets, many buyers consider both options. This 2026 comparison helps you decide if the differences justify the price gap.

📱 Display: 28" vs 24.5"⚡ Refresh: 144 Hz vs 360 Hz⚖️ Weight: 244.45 oz vs 203.53 oz

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Key Differences at a Glance

AspectGIGABYTE M28UAlienware AW2523HF
User Rating4.3★ (627 reviews)4.5★ (1,530 reviews)
Top StrengthHDMI 2.1 ports support 4K @ 120Hz for PS5 and Xbox Series X (utilizing DSC or chroma subsampling due to 24Gbps bandwidth)360Hz refresh rate (via DisplayPort) offers elite-tier motion clarity for CS2 and Valorant
Main DrawbackUSB-C power delivery is limited to 15W/18W, which is insufficient to charge most laptopsHDMI ports are limited to 255Hz; you must use DisplayPort for the full 360Hz experience
Market PositionMid-rangePremium
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
Screen Size

28" Viewable (28" Class)

Resolution

3840 x 2160 (4K UHD)

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Screen Type

SS IPS (Super Speed IPS)

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Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
Screen Size

24.5" Viewable (25" Class)

Resolution

1920 x 1080 (FHD)

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Screen Type

Fast IPS

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Key spec differences

Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.

Display9 specs
Screen SizeKey
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
28" Viewable (28" Class)
Winner
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
24.5" Viewable (25" Class)
ResolutionKey
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
3840 x 2160 (4K UHD)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Panel TypeKey
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
SS IPS (Super Speed IPS)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
Fast IPS
Refresh RateKey
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
144 Hz (PC) / 120 Hz (Console via HDMI 2.1)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
360 Hz (via DisplayPort) / 255 Hz (via HDMI)
Winner
Response Time
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
1 ms (GtG) / 2 ms (MPRT)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
0.5 ms (GtG Min) / 1 ms (GtG Extreme)
Brightness
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
300 nits (Typical)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
400 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
94% DCI-P3 / 120% sRGB
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
99% sRGB
Color Depth
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
8-bit
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
16.7M (8-bit)
HDR
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
VESA DisplayHDR 400
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
Smart HDR (Accepts signal; not VESA DisplayHDR certified)
Gaming1 specs
Adaptive Sync
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
AMD FreeSync Premium / VESA Adaptive-Sync Certified
Connectivity2 specs
Ports
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
2x HDMI 2.1; 1x DisplayPort 1.4 (DSC); 1x USB-C (DP Alt Mode, Data, 15W PD); 3x USB 3.0 Downstream; 1x USB-B Upstream; 1x 3.5mm Headphone Out
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
1x DisplayPort 1.4; 2x HDMI 2.0; 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 Upstream; 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 Downstream (1x with Battery Charging 1.2); 1x Headphone Out; 1x Audio Line-Out
USB-C
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
Yes (Video + Data + 15W Power Delivery)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
No
Design2 specs
Ergonomics
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
Height (130mm), Tilt (-5° to 20°); No Swivel or Pivot
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
Height (110mm), Swivel (-20° to 20°), Pivot (90°), Tilt (-5° to 21°)
Weight
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
6,930 g (15.28 lbs)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
5,770 g (12.72 lbs)
Winner
Audio1 specs
Speakers
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor
2x 3 W (Stereo)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor
No (None)
+

Full specs, pros, and cons

Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.

Comparison: GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor vs Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor

GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor

GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor

4.3(627)Amazon
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor

Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor

4.5(1,530)Amazon
GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor

GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor

4.3(627)Amazon
Screen Size

28" Viewable (28" Class)

Resolution

3840 x 2160 (4K UHD)

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Screen Type

SS IPS (Super Speed IPS)

Refresh Rate

144 Hz (PC) / 120 Hz (Console via HDMI 2.1)

Response Time

1 ms (GtG) / 2 ms (MPRT)

Pros

  • HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K @ 120Hz for PS5 and Xbox Series X (utilizing DSC or chroma subsampling due to 24Gbps bandwidth)
  • Built-in KVM switch allows controlling two devices (e.g., PC and Laptop) with one keyboard/mouse

Cons

  • USB-C power delivery is limited to 15W/18W, which is insufficient to charge most laptops
  • HDMI 2.1 bandwidth is capped at 24Gbps (relies on DSC for full 4K 144Hz 4:4:4)
Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor

Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor

4.5(1,530)Amazon
Screen Size

24.5" Viewable (25" Class)

Resolution

1920 x 1080 (FHD)

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Screen Type

Fast IPS

Refresh Rate

360 Hz (via DisplayPort) / 255 Hz (via HDMI)

Response Time

0.5 ms (GtG Min) / 1 ms (GtG Extreme)

Pros

  • 360Hz refresh rate (via DisplayPort) offers elite-tier motion clarity for CS2 and Valorant
  • Fast IPS panel combines speed (0.5ms) with much better colors/viewing angles than TN panels

Cons

  • HDMI ports are limited to 255Hz; you must use DisplayPort for the full 360Hz experience
  • Lacks VESA DisplayHDR certification; 'Smart HDR' is largely software-based with no local dimming

Which one is better?

The Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor is the better buy for most people - its blistering 360Hz refresh rate crushes the GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor's 144Hz. That said, grab the GIGABYTE if you need stunning 4K visuals for gaming or photography.

Who should buy each?

Choose the GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor if: you want stunning 4K resolution for immersive gaming, you frequently multitask between devices thanks to the built-in KVM, or you enjoy playing on next-gen consoles with HDMI 2.1 support.
Choose the Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor if: you play competitive esports titles that require ultra-fast response times, you prefer a lightweight monitor for easy setup, or you need a compact design with a rich USB hub for peripherals. (24.5" display, 360 Hz refresh)

B

Quality Seekers

Higher user rating (4.5★ vs 4.3★) indicates better overall satisfaction

→ Choose Alienware AW2523HF

B

Safe Choice Buyers

More widely tested with 1,530 reviews vs 627

→ Choose Alienware AW2523HF

B

Premium Buyers

Higher-tier option with more premium features and build quality

→ Choose Alienware AW2523HF

A

Value Seekers

Better value proposition for buyers who don't need top-tier features

→ Choose GIGABYTE M28U

Conclusion

GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor and Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.

Bottom line: The Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor leads with a 4.5★ rating versus 4.3★. That said, GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor could still be the right pick depending on your specific priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

+Which is better: GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor or Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor?

GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor is the better choice if you prioritize hdmi 2.1 ports support 4k @ 120hz for ps5 and xbox series x (utilizing dsc or chroma subsampling due to 24gbps bandwidth). Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor wins if you value 360hz refresh rate (via displayport) offers elite-tier motion clarity for cs2 and valorant. Both are rated highly (4.3★ vs 4.5★), so consider your specific needs and budget.

+What are the main differences between GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor and Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor?

Key differences: GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor offers hdmi 2.1 ports support 4k @ 120hz for ps5 and xbox series x (utilizing dsc or chroma subsampling due to 24gbps bandwidth), while Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor stands out with 360hz refresh rate (via displayport) offers elite-tier motion clarity for cs2 and valorant. Consider that GIGABYTE M28U 28" 4K 144Hz KVM Gaming Monitor usb-c power delivery is limited to 15w/18w, which is insufficient to charge most laptops. Meanwhile, Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" FHD 360Hz Gaming Monitor hdmi ports are limited to 255hz; you must use displayport for the full 360hz experience. Check the detailed specs table above for a complete comparison.

+Where can US buyers get the best price?

For US buyers, Amazon typically offers competitive pricing with Prime shipping, easy returns, and reliable warranty support. We recommend comparing prices on both products using our affiliate links above—prices fluctuate regularly, and you may find sales or deals.

+Is this comparison up to date?

Yes, this comparison is current for 2026. We regularly verify specs, ratings, and availability. Last verified: January 26, 2026. PageBen uses affiliate links for monetization, but our recommendations are research-driven and independent.

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