The Dell S2722DGM is a sub-$350 gaming monitor with a 165Hz 1440p screen that offers rich visuals and smooth performance. We now have 240Hz and above in the market right now, but QHD at 165Hz is still a considerable upgrade for most gamers. Let’s check out what the Dell S2722DGM has to offer and then decide if you should skip it and go with the higher-end models or if it’s a great buy for thrifty gamers.
Dell S2722DGM Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- Response Time: 1ms (MPRT)
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions with Stand (W x H x D): 23.95” x 19.42” x 7.49”
- Weight: 9.35 lbs
Design and Features
The Dell S2722DGM looks like a curved business monitor upfront, but it actually has a unique aesthetic that sets it apart from the rest of the brand’s monitors. The monitor has a matte black aesthetic, but it has a distinct vent design at the back. The display is bezel-free on three sides, but you will still see inner borders when it’s in use.
It’s almost identical to the Dell S2721DGF, but the Dell S2722DGM has actually reduced its footprint by a few notches. It’s much lighter and it has a smaller base, so it uses less plastic and is more environmentally friendly. You don’t have to drastically rearrange your desktop if you buy this but be mindful of the width if you have large speakers such as bookshelf types.
Build quality is great even if the Dell S2722DGM is made mostly out of plastic. The panels are thick and rigid enough to prevent flexing, plus there were no cosmetic defects on each of its main parts. The stand, on the other hand, manages to keep the display steady so you won’t get dizzied in the heat of battle.
The Dell S2722DGM has an OSD joystick that’s accompanied by hotkeys that have customizable functions. This works great over the regular key layouts since they allow you to spend less time and effort when tweaking the monitor. Take note that the power button is located at the bottom bezel to make the monitor less confusing to use.
The stand included with the Dell S2722DGM offers tilt and height adjustments so it’s limited in some ways. You can get a comfortable angle out of this, but it is not possible to use it as a side or portrait monitor unless you have VESA mounts installed. However, buying one will add more cost to your total, so only do it if you have limited space or multiple monitors on deck.
One of the aspects that took a hit to make the Dell S2722DGM affordable is its connectivity layout. You will only find a DisplayPort 1.2 slot, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a 3.5mm jack for analog audio. That’s fine in most cases, so it’s forgivable this time around due to the very low price.
The Dell S2722DGM also doesn’t have built-in speakers included in the package. We know many gamers won’t care since games and movies demand a better-sounding audio device like a headset or a pair of bookshelf speakers. Built-ins can become useful, but they aren’t necessary if you consider this monitor’s primary audience.
Display and Performance
The Dell S2722DGM sports a 27-inch 1500r curved VA panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms MPRT response time. The backlight is rated at 350 cd/m2 while the contrast ratio is listed at 3000:1 like most VA panels. This model is surprisingly not labeled with HDR compliance or compatibility, but that’s ok since true HDR is much more expensive anyway.
The 27-inch 1440p monitor category is flooded with options, but it is also the most popular right now so that doesn’t come as a surprise. This variant offers an upgrade in sharpness and level of detail without sacrificing legibility and visibility like 4K monitors in some instances. It’s nice and easy to read walls and text, but games and movies appear crisper and more clear even if you lower the graphics settings.
The Dell S2722DGM renders 100% of sRGB with some extensions and around 80% Adobe RGB. its default accuracy is decent for a budget gaming monitor since the deltaE average is only at 2.67. it is going to be ready for gaming after a few minor tweaks, so we know players will love this monitor by default.
Calibrating the Dell S2722DGM resulted in an even better score when it was calibrated with a colorimeter. The gadget balanced some of the deviances and produced an impressive 0.72 deltaE average. That makes it usable for editing work, but it’s not worth buying the gadget for a monitor designed for other purposes.
The Dell S2722DGM’s backlight reached 397 cd/m2 which is plenty for fighting glare and daily use. Its contrast ratio peaked at 2933:1 at 50% brightness, providing deep blacks even when it’s viewed at night. Washed-out dark scenes won’t be an issue for this monitor, unlike its IPS counterparts in the market.
Panel uniformity for the Dell S2722DGM could use some improvements since there were some backlight leaks at the top and bottom edges of the screen. They aren’t noticeable under normal circumstances, but dark scenes or an all-black image will reveal some clouding. Take note that this varies between every monitor so there are better units out there.
What’s great about the Dell S2722DGM is its fast pixel response time despite having a VA panel. Of course, some persistence and trails will still happen, but setting the overdrive to its Super Fast level will clear the visible defects. You can also use the MPRT setting, but it’s only available at 120Hz and 165Hz.
The Dell S2722DGM is a FreeSync monitor, but it also works with Nvidia’s G-Sync Compatible mode. Both GPU companies have excellent mid to high-tier cards that are perfect for this monitor, so being able to choose without worrying about VRR is essential. Input lag sits at 5ms at 165Hz, so there is no need to worry about delays while gaming,
Thoughts on the Dell S2722DGM
The Dell S2722DGM is a godsend for thrifty gamers who want to upgrade their gaming monitor without spending too much. The curved VA panel has a high contrast ratio and excellent responsiveness, plus its color looks good with a few tweaks. It’s not the most feature-packed monitor out there, but it’s well-packed so you won’t feel like ditching it for another sometime soon.
However, the Dell S2722DGM isn’t perfect since it has a few omissions in its overall design. Its stand isn’t fully adjustable and it is limited to just the video inputs, but we’re okay with that if the price is discounted. Overall, it’s a great pick now considering how expensive these specs were back then.
Pros:
- Excellent Pixel Response Time and Low Input Lag
- Superb Calibration Results
- High Contrast
- Affordable 165Hz 1440p Monitor
Cons:
- Limited Ergonomics
- Default Accuracy isn’t Great
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 junior high. 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.
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