Several firmware updates have been released for the Alienware AW3225QF monitor to improve its handling of HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, addressing significant issues, adding controls, and refining HDR experience particularly for PC users.
Initially, when the AW3225QF launched, it supported Dolby Vision along with HDR10, but there were problematic behaviors on PC platforms, especially with Windows and Nvidia GPUs. Dolby Vision was always activated by default due to how Windows detected the HDR signal, forcing the monitor into Dolby Vision mode even for HDR10 or standard HDR content. This meant users were unable to use HDR Peak 1000 or other Smart HDR options in HDR10 modes because Dolby Vision was essentially forced on. The forced Dolby Vision mode caused brightness limitations and restricted HDR modes to a maximum peak brightness around 450 nits, considerably lower than the monitor's HDR10 peak brightness capability of up to 1000 nits. Users had to downgrade Nvidia drivers to older versions to avoid this issue temporarily.
Dell responded to these issues with firmware updates that introduced important new features. A critical firmware update, version M0B103 (also referenced as M2B103), added a user toggle in the on-screen display (OSD) to turn Dolby Vision mode on or off. This gave users the ability to disable Dolby Vision when they didn't want it engaged, forcing the monitor to use HDR10 mode instead. Turning off Dolby Vision in this update allowed Windows and Nvidia drivers to send an HDR10 signal, restoring access to full HDR10 feature sets, including the Peak 1000 brightness mode, smart HDR options, and proper HDR behavior on PC gaming and desktop use. When Dolby Vision is off, the monitor no longer signals itself as a Dolby Vision device to Windows, resolving the issue with forced Dolby Vision engagement. Users can toggle Dolby Vision back on when watching Dolby Vision content, ensuring compatibility for dynamic tone-mapped movies and shows.
The firmware update was not just a bug fix but more of a workaround for the poor Dolby Vision implementation in Windows. As of early 2024, Microsoft's approach to Dolby Vision HDR in Windows was still not mature, causing this mismatch and forcing Dell to provide a firmware level toggle as a solution. This toggle has proven useful in achieving a brighter and much better HDR experience under Windows PCs, while Dolby Vision itself remains beneficial for specific video content and streaming.
Other issues addressed in firmware updates include fixing a firmware bug related to gamma adjustments in HDR Creator mode where changing gamma settings did not immediately reflect until toggling HDR on and off. The update made gamma changes appear instantly without needing to switch HDR modes manually.
In June 2025, Dell released a further firmware update package, version M2B107, which likely continued improvements in HDR modes and overall firmware stability, though detailed patch notes on this most recent release remain scarce. The firmware update process for the AW3225QF typically takes about 10 minutes.
Regarding HDR10+ support, explicit details on specific firmware improvements for HDR10+ as distinct from Dolby Vision are less documented, but the main focus of the updates has been on resolving issues around Dolby Vision on PC and improving HDR10 display quality. The monitor supports HDR10 content correctly when Dolby Vision is disabled, and the firmware toggle was key in enabling that proper HDR10 functionality on Windows.
In summary, the key firmware developments for the Alienware AW3225QF related to HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are:
- Early firmware versions had no option to disable Dolby Vision, causing it to be forced on for all HDR content from Windows PCs, which limited brightness and HDR mode flexibility.
- Firmware update M0B103/M2B103 added a crucial toggle in the monitor OSD to turn Dolby Vision off, allowing proper HDR10 modes and peak brightness (up to 1000 nits) on PC.
- Gamma adjustment bugs in HDR Creator mode were fixed, improving HDR visual experience.
- The most recent update M2B107 in mid-2025 likely includes further stability and HDR improvements.
- The firmware updates do not fundamentally change Dolby Vision or HDR10+ technology but enable better user control and workaround Microsoft Windows HDR implementation flaws.