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Abstract Three different approaches to precisely describe the Adler function in the Euclidean regime at around 2 GeVs are available: dispersion relations based on the hadronic production data in e + e − annihilation, lattice simulations and perturbative QCD (pQCD). We make a comprehensive study of the perturbative approach, supplemented with the leading power corrections in the operator product expansion. All known contributions are included, with a careful assessment of uncertainties. The pQCD predictions are compared with the Adler functions extracted from Δ α QED had $$ \Delta {\alpha}_{\textrm{QED}}^{\textrm{had}} $$ (Q 2), using both the DHMZ compilation of e + e − data and published lattice results. Taking as input the FLAG value of α s , the pQCD Adler function turns out to be in good agreement with the lattice data, while the dispersive results lie systematically below them. Finally, we explore the sensitivity to α s of the direct comparison between the data-driven, lattice and QCD Euclidean Adler functions. The precision with which the renormalisation group equation can be tested is also evaluated.