- Overall
The Dell S2718H is an attractive option for an everyday monitor that you can use for just about anything, including HDR viewing. Although belonging to the entry-level segment, Dell’s Infinity Edge design along with improved hardware makes this model an attractive upgrade for the masses. The Dell S2718H is shaping up to change the home and office monitor space with a few tricks up its sleeve that makes its reasonable price worth every penny.
Dell S2718H Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080p FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 6ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 6 Watts)
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+21°)
- Stand: Swivel – No
- VESA Compatibility: No
- Connectivity: HDMI 1.4 x 1, VGA x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 23.54” x 13.24” x 6.38”
- Weight: 8.33lbs
Design and Features
The Dell S2718H includes a simplified, yet sophisticated redesign of the brand’s line of monitors which we think, is one of its significant selling points. The firm’s designers still stuck to the age-old black and silver scheme for the product which more users prefer over gaudy or over-designed monitors. The face features Dell’s Infinity Edge design which only leaves thin outer and panel borders making it ideal to set this model up for multi-display configurations.
The Dell S2718H is still part of the affordable or easy to own line up of displays from this very reputable brand. With that classification, it’s evident that there are shortcuts in the feature list which does not affect the quality of this model. Another result is that the monitor is relatively slim and lightweight, making placement very easy.
We love the stand on the Dell S2718H which is uniquely shaped and hollow at the middle. This part was designed to hold the 12-Watt (2 x 6 Watts) speaker which is exclusive to this product. To compare, the Dell S2718HN we featured earlier is an identical variant, but it’s cheaper and doesn’t ship with this additional gadget.
For a change, the included speaker on the Dell S2718HN sounded decent when compared to the standard built-ins we deal with. Of course, it isn’t as powerful as a full set, but its soundstage is more than enough to entertain a user at a near-field distance. Take note that this gadget connects to the Dell S2718HN via a DIN connector, so you can’t use it with say, a mobile phone.
One of the downsides of the Dell S2718HN is its attractive stand which can only offer tilt for ergonomics. Taller users will need a display stand to add a bit of height, but portrait mode isn’t an option as well. On the other hand, it would have been ok if this device was VESA mountable, but sadly, it doesn’t have bolt holes or even an adapter for mounting.
Another limitation we see on the Dell S2718HN is its I/O panel which only includes HDMI and VGA for video inputs. HDMI 1.4 is overkill for 1080p 60Hz, but you have to remember that most modern GPUs have DisplayPort instead. You can use an adapter if need be, so long as you ensure complete compatibility and quality for lesser issues in the long run.
Display and Performance
The Dell S2718HN utilizes a 27-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 6ms response time which makes it suitable for mixed-use and entertainment rather than gaming. The panel uses a 6-bit+FRC color interface which means this model doesn’t have true HDR capabilities. To compare, most models with emulated HDR features have at least 8-bit to give the vibrancy a bit of depth to maximize the visual effects.
The IPS module performs as expected, putting out 100% sRGB or around 78% Adobe RGB for healthy shades and almost lifelike quality. Accuracy is a bit off at Delta E 3.0 by default and 2.7 when calibrated, but typical usage scenarios will not be affected. Gamma is a bit better at 2.1 which gave the screen lighter hues while being comfortable enough for extended use.
The backlight on the Dell S2718HN can only provide up to 250cd/m2 of brightness which is insufficient for HDR output. There is no FALD or edge-lit solutions to pulse as needed when HDR content is on the screen, indicating that Dell used their proprietary HDR overlay. This model includes several image presets, but the most interesting among them is, of course, the HDR modes for Movies and Games.
The contrast becomes a bit perplexing when shifting through these filters since the HDR options tend to drop them way too low. The vanilla Movie preset posted a 900:1 score, while the HDR option lowered the average to 600:1. Game mode, on the other hand, peaked the contrast to 1600:1, but its HDR counterpart dropped the number to 750:1.
What’s positive about these HDR presets is they did increase details in both bright and dark environments. Content on the PC still has a long way to go before being 100% compatible with HDR, so results were mixed at best. The added effects also weren’t as significant as expected, so we cannot recommend buying this device if you want a dedicated HDR display.
Despite having a low refresh rate limit, the Dell S2718HN still includes FreeSync with a variable range of 48Hz to 60Hz. This feature is great for playing graphically intensive games at high settings like The Witcher 3 with a median AMD GPU, although we know for most this add-on will remain deactivated. We also noticed a bit of blurring from time to time, however, it wasn’t enough to ruin enjoyment so long as you aren’t used to a 144Hz screen.
Controls and inputs were satisfying and on point while gaming on the Dell S2718H, since the monitor has a decent input lag of only 10ms. This result is quite common with 60Hz monitors, so wanting better will usually cost more cash.
Thoughts on the Dell S2718H
The Dell S2718H is a decent option if you want a standalone monitor for mixed uses which may include casual gaming or movie watching. The vibrant IPS screen and the speaker upgrade work great to provide users with a basic level of entertainment. The sound bar’s placement is also an ingenious solution, but we wish Dell designed an alternative or a more flexible option.
However, if you are looking for an HDR display for your PC or compatible consoles and video players, we recommend looking at higher-tiered models for satisfaction. The HDR overlays are nice to haves in this bracket, but we wouldn’t recommend it as the main selling point of the device.
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