The Dell P2720DC aims to continue its predecessor’s marks of excellence with a sleeker design and improved overall performance. This year’s variant focuses on connectivity which upgrades its I/O layout with must-have features such as USB-C to maximize its usability for workstations at home and in the office. The Dell P2720DC is quite expensive in today’s market, so let’s check if its quality and capabilities make it worth every penny spent.
Dell P2720DC Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 5ms (Fast)
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, DP Out x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, USB 3.2 x 4, USB-C 3.2 (PD65W) x 1, 3.5mm Jack (In/Out) x 1
- Dimensions with Stand (WxHxD): 24.08” x 20.68” x 7.28”
- Weight 16.03 lbs
Display and Performance
The Dell P2720DC looks very close to the rest of the brand’s monitor line up when it comes to aesthetics, but the design looks noticeably sleeker in subtle ways. The monitor has a matte black cabinet which makes it easier to maintain the brand new look. This model also sports the InfinityEdge concept, so the bezels are kept as thin as possible to maximize the viewing area of the screen.
The main housing for the Dell P2720DC’s bulge is now less protruding from the back to give the product a more modest proportion. The stand’s footprint was also considerably reduced to a little over 7 inches, so users with various peripherals won’t have any trouble with placement. It looks like Dell cut out the unnecessary fat on the display so they can give you more of what a monitor has to offer.
Build quality is, as always, fantastic with the Dell P2720DC thanks to its precision fit and finish and superb material engineering. The plastics feel thick and sturdy, while the monitor stands stable once propped up on a desk. The stand’s mechanism is smooth yet firm, so it will be able to hold the view angle you’ve set for as long as you need it to.
One thing that Dell did not modernize on the Dell P2720DC is its OSD control layout which still uses buttons instead of a mini-joystick. The keys are crisp and responsive, but they can get confusing until you’ve memorized their functions. Their location below the lower bezel is readily accessible, but the buttons are difficult to see, especially in the dark.
The stand for the Dell P2720DC looks simple, but its fully-functional adjustment mechanism offers complete flexibility. You can tilt, swivel, pivot, and adjust the height of the display, so pretty much any view angle is possible. You can also swap this part out with a VESA mount, but its only necessary for us if you need the space or plan to do dual or triple display setups.
Multiple monitor setups are a specialty of the Dell P2720DC not only because it has ultra-thin bezels, but also because of its connectivity. The I/O on the device includes DisplayPort 1.2, DP 1.2 Out, HDMI 1.4, and a USB-C slot with 65 Watts of charging power. There are four USB slots as well, two of which are located on the left side in a convenience hub.
The DP Out on the Dell P2720DC allows you to daisy-chain it with other DP-equipped monitors which becomes useful for productivity and multitasking. Windows 10 will automatically adjust its settings into multi-display mode to extend the screen as long as the DisplayPort MST setting in the OSD is activated. This device works smoothly and flawlessly with other monitors, so you don’t need to buy a second P2720DC.
There are no speakers with the Dell P2720DC which is too slim to hold premium drivers which are usually larger than the usual pairs installed into monitors. We think it isn’t essential to the monitor, but we’d love it if you get more features out of the money you have to pay for this pricey option. Speakers also come in handy for this model’s intended use, especially for those who work at home and are probably having conference calls with their coworkers.
Display and performance
The Dell P2720DC provides a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 5ms response time. The backlight tops out at 350 cd/m2, while the contrast ratio is limited to 1000:1 like most IPS panels. The screen doesn’t have any special capabilities such as extended refresh rates or extra wide gamut coverage, so the price is a bit too high for today’s market.
The Dell P2720DC’s QHD resolution is perfect for productivity since it extends the viewing space by around 70% without making the screen too sharp. You will notice that its easier to fit in two programs in portrait side by side, so copywriting and similar tasks will be easier. Games will also look more detailed and cleaner, while small fonts will not look microscopic to warrant the use of scaling.
The Dell P2720DC covers 100% of the sRGB color space with some extensions to make images look vibrant and alive. The default accuracy of the monitor sits with a DeltaE of only 1.9, so there is no need to calibrate the monitor right away. Color temperature is also balanced and very close to the 6500K point, so the screen will not look warm or cool when viewing white backgrounds.
You can calibrate this model further to get an even better accuracy score of less than dE 1.0, but we don’t think it’s necessary. Only photo and video editors can attain benefits from buying a colorimeter which adds at least $200 to your upgrade. It will also put you in range of higher-resolution or wide gamut monitors which will be better options for editing purposes.
The backlight on the Dell P2720DC gets very bright at 330 cd/m2 for a productivity monitor. However, its contrast only reached 988:1 around 50% brightness, so the screen can sometimes still look grayish when viewing dark images or using it with the lights off. The latter is considerably better than most IPS monitors in the same class, but it cannot provide the inky blacks VA variants can achieve.
Panel uniformity for the Dell P2720DC sample is excellent since there are no noticeable leaks or clouding issues on the screen’s quadrants. The corners have lower contrast levels due to some drops in the backlight’s spread, but it is not noticeable by the naked eye. Take note that some units might exhibit worse symptoms due to manufacturing tolerances and the nature of IPS tech, so make sure you can exchange yours if it has problems.
The Dell P2720DC isn’t a gaming grade display since it’s limited to 60Hz and is prone to ghosting. Setting the overdrive to its Fast setting achieves better motion handling, but you will get a bit of overshoot which becomes noticeable if you focus hard enough. Casual gamers won’t have any problems, but those who play fast-paced titles have to look at 144Hz or faster options to get a better experience.
There is no FreeSync support on the Dell P2720DC like most of the P or Productivity monitors from the brand. G-Sync compatibility is naturally out of the question, so it is up to you to keep frames stable to avoid screen tearing and stutters. Input lag sits at 9ms, so there is no need to worry about sluggishness or delays while using this product.
Thoughts on the Dell P2720DC
The Dell P2720DC is a fantastic monitor for productivity thanks to its useful features and excellent screen quality. The USB-C and daisy-chaining ability make this model ideal for workstations, but it also won’t be left out for games, editing, and movies thanks to its excellent color output. The screen doesn’t need calibration, although you will run into natural IPS weaknesses mentioned above.
It’s a very attractive display solution, but the Dell P2720DC is quite pricey for a P monitor and when compared to identical products such as the Philips 272B7QUBHEB. You get what you pay for with this model, but the cost is the ultimate factor for consumers while hunting for the perfect monitor.
Pros:
- Great Default Calibration
- USB-C with 65 Watts
- Quick and Easy Daisy Chaining
- Sleek and Durable Design
Cons:
- Pricey
- No FreeSync
- No Speakers
About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
Peter says
What is the panel inside. Ultrasharp has Samsung, but it’s not specified which panels are in “P” series. Thx.
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Peter! Unfortunately, we weren’t able to check which panel Dell used since we weren’t specifically permitted to break it down. Dell uses almost every OEM brand, so it could be LG or AUO.