The Dell S2725QS shakes the market with its jaw-dropping low price and performance numbers. It’s a 4K 120Hz monitor that’s suitable for gaming and productivity, but it’s priced below $300 at the time of review. Let’s take a closer look at whether it’s a top performer or if there are too many penalties to help it get its low price.
Dell S2725QS Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Response Time: 5ms (Fast)
- Contrast Ratio: 1500:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 24.08” x 15.30” x 7.89”
- Weight with Stand: 14.26 lbs
Design and Features
The Dell S2725QS looks like any other S model from the brand, but that also means that it looks quite good despite the budget pricing. The monitor’s matte white chassis looks good anywhere you put it since it’s clean and premium-looking. The screen has a bezel-free design for distraction-free viewing, but it still has inner borders like any IPS monitor.
Its packaging is noticeably slimmer than older models since Dell is trying to be more eco-conscious. The clamshell box is always a welcome sight since it’s compact and easy to unpack. However, Dell split the stand into three parts instead of two this time to make it all fit in such a small box.
Don’t worry, though, since it’s easy to put the trio together with the tool-free thumb screws. Once assembled, you can slip it into the cutout of the chassis until the QD lock clicks and secures the two main parts together. However, multiple parts mean that there are more points of breakage or weakness if not designed correctly.
The box doesn’t include much since it’s a budget model. You will find a power and a high-speed HDMI 2.1 cable, plus a panel cover for the I/O behind the chassis. We’re okay with this because of the price, which becomes more important than fancy extras.
The Dell S2725QS’s overall build quality is good, but it’s one of the wobbliest monitors from the brand we’ve tested. Everything else, though, is crisp and clean, indicating that the manufacturing processes were excellent. The monitor feels top-heavy, but it’s still stable, so it doesn’t seem like it will topple over once it’s on a desk.
Another positive thing is its OSD joystick, which is normally omitted from products that are designed to bow down to a lower price point. It’s located at the back next to the concave power button, so it is easy to reach and not confusing. Other budget models have to make do with buttons, but that’s becoming less common now.
The Dell S2725QS’s connectivity layout design is interesting since it’s split into two. HDMI 1 and DisplayPort are pointing downward, while HDMI 2 is in a compartment in the chassis that’s meant for cable management. It’s similar to what the Alienware AW3225QE has, wherein you can tuck almost the whole cable in there.
If you do decide to use the downfiring ports, then your cable management will have to go through the magnetic loop on the stand. It’s not so bad, but the wires can be visible if you don’t tuck them tightly behind the thin upright.
As such, we think more will be inclined to use HDMI for this model simply because it can be managed better. That’s not an issue, too, since the HDMI 2.1 slots are more than capable of letting 4K 120Hz through. Some users might miss extras like USB slots on this model, but we don’t think it’s a deal-breaker here since the price is too good.
We were also surprised by the Dell S2725QS’s speakers, which are listed to have 5 watts of power per channel. It sounded fuller than similar built-ins we’ve heard, so it’s good to use for some entertainment. Headsets or desktop speakers will always be better, but the included set in this model is quite good.
Display and Performance
The Dell S2725QS sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 output, while the contrast is listed at 1500:1. Dell has a higher-tiered model with IPS Black and better imaging specs overall, but it’s twice the price.
27-inch 4K monitors aren’t the cream of the crop now since monitors have substantially matured. But still, some with higher specifications can still cost significantly more, especially the ones with OLED panels. They are still impressive, though, thanks to the extra crisp images produced by the tighter pixel density.
However, higher PPI can either be a blessing or a challenge, depending on the user and the situation. It’s great for games and movies since they look crisper and cleaner, but document processing can sometimes be a pain. Letters and numbers can be jarring if your eyes are not 20/20, so scaling might become necessary.
As mentioned, we used HDMI to connect the Dell S2725QS to our test PC. It fired up right away, but it didn’t go straight to its 120Hz maximum output. It’s easy to do that anyway, so it’s not a big deal at all.
The Dell S2725QS covered 98% of sRGB and 75% of DCI-P3, so it’s not as vibrant as the other modern IPS monitors we’ve seen. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.44, so it’s decently accurate and factory-calibrated. Most users won’t have to do much to it, but it does have a full suite of settings to play around with.
Calibrating with the Calibrite DisplayPlus colorimeter reduced the dE average to 0.5, so it has potential for prosumers. However, you have to buy the colorimeter, which costs roughly the same as the monitor if you want to do this. It’s worth it for work use, but other users will be fine without it.
The Dell S2725QS’s backlight reached 338 cd/m2 at 100%, so it missed the specified maximum by a bit. Its contrast reached 1244:1 at 43% brightness, making it a bit better at producing deep blacks. It cannot match its IPS Black, VA, or OLED counterparts, but it’s decent enough compared to other mixed-use IPS panels.
Its panel uniformity wasn’t great since there were spots with backlight leaks. They are not as bad, but they become visible when the screen is showing dark scenes or colors. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better and worse units out there.
The panel’s pixel response time is great, thanks to the mature IPS panel and its higher refresh rate. Some persistence can still happen, but it’s only truly noticeable if you focus and look for the defects. The monitor isn’t the fastest out there, but it can pull its weight in some faster-paced games.
The Dell S2725QS is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync via DisplayPort and HDMI ports for tearing-free gaming. VRR is essential for 4K gaming, so having compatibility for both will come in handy. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 120Hz, so it’s responsive enough for any category of gaming.
Thoughts on the Dell S2725QS
The Dell S2725QS isn’t perfect, but it’s a fantastic buy simply because of what it offers for the price. The 4K IPS panel with a 120Hz is great for both gaming and productivity, so you are getting more for your investment. It’s designed quite well, too, considering the cost, which is half of what the U2725QE.
It has a few limitations, such as the limited gamut coverage, but these penalties can be expected when the price is trimmed. It is versatile, but it lacks a few creature comforts that might be essential for some users out there. But overall, it’s a fantastic buy in our opinion, simply because you get more performance per dollar spent.
Pros:
- Excellent Colors
- USB-C Included
- Fast and Responsive Dual Mode
Cons:
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- Low Contrast
- Limited Features
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