AW3225QF, keeps changing screen light/dimming

I am assuming you are using HDR mode. I that mode, the brightness level will change pending the window size, which is normal behavior for an OLED panel in HDR mode.

It cannot be disabled.

If you are talking about something else, feel free to explain a bit further.

I am having a similar issue where the monitor is dimmed when switching inputs (hdmi) or turning the monitor on, and to “wake” the brightness back up, I have to go to setting to change brightness by +/- 1 to go back to the set brightness level.  

This is whether SDR or HDR.  My setting is creator mode, peak 1000 hdr, gamma 2.6, color space DCI-P3. 

I'm experiencing the same on my AW3225QF. No HDR, it is happening with SDR-Content and no HDR enabled (Windows-Setting and in Monitor menu). Standard or Custom color preset, no difference.

It is not possible to calibrate this screen as it is always changing brightness depending on the content that is displayed. Wanted to calibrate to 180 cd/m² D65. Seems like ABL is kicking in, even in SDR!

Is my unit faulty?

@dhageek​ I have the same issue, have you found a solution?

I am also experiencing this issue. From what I have noticed, it started after I began plugging my MacBook Air into HDMI. Now, when I unplug the HDMI, I still get the issue...mainly after my desktop returns from sleep or power off. My main desktop is plugged into the DisplayPort. Newest firmware applied yesterday and the issue remains currently.

Windows HDR is off (Win+B), Smart HDR is set to Custom Color HDR, Dolby Vision is set to Game.
<If HDR is Off in Windows, then you must also turn Smart HDR Off in Menu. DELL-Admin>

Just received mine, same issue, screen dims brightness noticeable in SDR mode. Appears to happen whenever white content is displayed on screen e.g. in my web browser where sites have white backgrounds. Opening a site with a dark background immediately increases brightness. So it does indeed seem to be ABL.

I am going to return this monitor if there is no fix for this, it's ridiculous behaviour.

@Vanadiel​ 

While ABL is expected, HDR1000 mode exacerbates the issue excessively. See:

https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/alienware-desktops/aw3225qf-and-likely-other-gen-3-qd-oled-models-hdr-peak-1000-bad-pq-tracking-compared-to-displayhdr-true-black/66152fca154e7047b7f5096f?keyword=aw3225qf

It deserves a collective fix for HDR1000 in mostly bright scenes, which are currently significantly dimmer than the same bright scenes are in SDR and HDR400.

HDR1000 only works correctly in mostly dark scenes, and behaves in an undesirable way in mostly bright scenes (such as bright daylight in games), and desktop, where bright greys and colors get excessively dimmed down relative to other modes. 

This shows the incorrect ABL behaviour of the HDR1000 mode:

same, horrendous product support

Same here, after a time, when the screen turns off, and i move the mouse, and the screen turns back on, the brightness is in standard mode like came from factory. I have tried with usb plugged on desktop, hdmi, displayport.. and is always  the same.

Same here. This is definitely a bug!

Mode: Creator (DCI-P3), Gamma: 2.6.

This happens when switching back and forth from HDR and when the screen is turned off or goes to sleep, pretty annoying that the brightness needs to be reset each time.

Where is the solution ?

@Maldyzeus​ To my knowledge there's no solution.

@Vanadiel any update? People still complaining about this on Reddit.

8 month issue: AW3225QF - issues with brightness after turning off/on and measured nits. : r/OLED_Gaming (reddit.com)