The Dell S2722DZ is a specifically designed solution to answer the demand for a functional display that can be used for remote work. It has what every high-quality Dell business monitor can offer, but it comes upgraded with a webcam and USB-C to help it keep up with the times. The Dell S2722DZ is quite pricey for an office spec display, but let’s take a closer look at its performance to see if it is worth it.
Dell S2722DZ 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: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Speakers: Yes (2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, USB-C PD65W x 1, USB 3.2 x 2, 3.5mm Jack x1
- Dimensions with Stand (WxHxD): 24.1” x 20.1” x 6.9″
- Weight: 11.42 lbs
Design and features
The Dell S2722DZ looks like most of its modern siblings when it comes to aesthetics, except that it has a webcam, and its speakers aren’t sold separately. It has a matte black and silver combination, so it wouldn’t look out of place next to a premium workstation or a studio setting. The screen is bezel-free on three sides, although you will still see inner borders when it’s in use.
27-inch monitors are common, and they aren’t oversized to the point that most will need to buy a new desk as well. This model has a reduced footprint so it needs fewer materials, resulting in a 6.9-inch overall depth when fully assembled. The monitor is light enough to be carried around, although its 27-inch form factor means it’s not completely portable.
Its build quality is just as good as the brand’s premium options even if it’s lightweight and made mostly out of plastic. The panels are molded nicely so there are no gaps or cosmetic defects which can be annoying to look at. The included stand is stable and firm, so the screen won’t shake or sag while you are busy downing your tasks or attending a remote meeting.
The Dell S2722DZ isn’t one of the brand’s cheaper models, but it still uses buttons for the OSD instead of a joystick. The keys are located under the bottom bezel so they are easy to access, but it takes multiple presses to get to a specific setting. It would be nice if Dell simply included a user-friendly tool instead since the monitor was built for convenience at home.
The stand included in the package is fully ergonomic so you can tilt, swivel, pivot, or adjust the height of the display as needed. It is very easy to get a comfortable viewing angle for those long hours of work or if you simply want to point the camera in a different direction. You can also use VESA mounts, but we think it is only necessary if you have multiple displays for your workstation.
Its connectivity layout includes everything you will need for a work-from-home setup. It has a DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 slot, but it also has a 65-Watt USB-C port that supports DP Alt Mode for modern laptops. You also get two USB 3.2 ports for accessories, but the one under the bottom bezel also has quick charging for mobile devices.
The Dell S2722DZ also includes a pair of 5-watt speakers to complete its premise of being a video conferencing solution. It’s not capable of entertainment-grade audio quality, but it’s loud and clear enough for conversations and meetings.
Display and Performance
The Dell S2722DZ offers a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 maximum while the contrast ratio sits at 1000:1 like most IPS panels. This model doesn’t carry special features like HDR, but that’s okay since it is a productivity or business model so it’s not designed for entertainment.
27-inch 1440p monitors are perfect for productivity and office use since they offer more room and are crisper than 1080p variants. Numbers and letters do not become microscopic, so you won’t be squinting too much while facing a wall of them. It is also great for games and movies, so going with a higher resolution also has its benefits outside work.
The Dell S2722DZ renders 99% of sRGB as advertised, so it isn’t the most vibrant display in the brand’s business portfolio. It’s default accuracy has a dE average of 2.12 so most users won’t need to calibrate it to get balanced colors. 99% sRGB is acceptable for common tasks, but wider gamut coverage would be nice for entertainment purposes.
Calibrating the Dell S2722DZ reduced its dE average to 0.97 which is an excellent score for an office display. Doing so makes it usable for editing work, but you are limited to the sRGB gamut with this option. Doing this is only necessary if you do editing work or content creation, but it is impractical otherwise.
The Dell S2722DZ’s backlight reached 348 cd/m2 at 100% so it can fight off glare with some room for adjustment. However, its contrast ratio is limited to 941:1 at 60% brightness, making it incapable of deep blacks like all IPS panels. This is an acceptable limitation of the panel type so you need to consider another like a VA monitor if its an issue.
Panel uniformity for the sample did not show any massive issues like visible backlight bleeding or clouding. There is a variance in the backlight’s spread, but it was only detectable if it is displaying an all-black image or when it’s scanned with a colorimeter. Note that this can change between every unit due to tolerances, so there are worse panels out there.
This model isn’t the fastest when it comes to pixel response time since it’s limited to 60Hz. That’s understandable since it was designed for productivity instead of fast-paced gaming. Casual gamers can still get away with this, but the overdrive needs to be at its Fast setting to reduce persistence and smudges without adding overshoot.
The Dell S2722DZ is FreeSync and G-Sync compatible unlike the brand’s other business or prosumer models. This comes in handy if you want to play demanding games without worrying about tearing and stuttering when the graphics become heavy. Its input lag sits at 10ms at 60Hz, so it’s still snappy and responsive enough for any type of use.
Thoughts on the Dell S2722DZ
The Dell S2722DZ is a well-designed solution for today’s growing trend of remote work arrangements. It has the necessary connectors and a webcam with a microphone, so you don’t have to buy separate peripherals and deal with a clutter of cables. Its IPS panel has decent imaging quality, but it is not as vibrant as the other 1440p monitors the brand is offering.
However, it’s on the pricey end if you get it at full retail since it still basically is an office monitor that has limitations. It’s a 2022 model, so it could also use a bump-up in charging power and a more modern control layout. it’s a great monitor for productivity at home, but we recommend waiting for a discount before pulling the trigger.
Pros:
- Decent Image Quality
- Great Build Quality and Reliability
- USB-C Connectivity
- Built-in Webcam and Microphone
Cons:
- Pricey for an Office Monitor
- Low Contrast
Paolo is a gaming veteran from the golden days of Doom and Warcraft. Since junior high, he has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that 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 has also spent half a decade researching, reviewing, and writing about these products and now has over 1400 articles about the best gaming tech under his belt.
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