Dell S2817Q Review
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Review of Dell S2817Q
The 4k monitor market has never been more affordable than it is today. Manufacturers are coming out with all sorts of models to fill the gaps in the market for all types of buyers. The Dell S2817Q is one such monitor designed to take the affordable 4k monitor area. It is the most affordable 28 inch 4k monitor in Dell’s lineup. It aims at users who are both looking to get a 4k monitor for mixed home use without breaking the bank. In this review, we will take a look if the S2817Q is a good buy even if it is a budget friendly 4k monitor.
Technical Specifications
– Screen Size: 28 inches.
– Resolution: 4k 3840 x 2160
– Aspect Ratio: 16:9
– Panel Technology: Twisted Nematic Film (TN) – Refresh Rate: 60Hz
– Response Time (Gray to Gray): 2 milliseconds
– Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 / 8000000:1 (dynamic)
– Brightness: 300 cd/m²
– Built-In Speakers: Yes (2 x 9 watts)
– Stand: Height: No
– Stand: Tilt: Yes
– Stand: Swivel: No
– Connectivity: Two HDMI(MHL) connectors; 1 DisplayPort connector and 1 mini-DisplayPort connector; 2 USB 3.0 downstream port; 1 USB 3.0 upstream port; 1 Audio line-out port
– Weight: 13.34 lbs
Dimensions: Screen without stand: 15.05” x 25.9 x 2.5″ With stand: 18.53” x 25.9” x 7.3″ Power Consumption: 30 watts ( Energy Star qualified)
Design and features
The design of the S2817Q is quite good. While the monitor is mostly for home use, it does not look out of place for either a gaming setup or an entertainment setup. Surrounding the screen is a thin glossy bezel that does not restrict or block the user from admiring the screen real estate this monitor provides. The screen has a matte type finish and an anti-glare coating. The display is supported by an L-shaped stand that does not look as sturdy as it truly is. Although having a small footprint for a monitor of this size, the mechanism is restricting if you consider the swivel and tilt capabilities of other products. Even so, having the ability to adjust the viewing angle to as much as 28° is a good enough feature for most situations. Another drawback of this mounting design is the lack of VESA support. While it isn’t a deal breaker at this price point, it would have been a welcome feature considering the limited capabilities the included stand has.
The S2817Q has an adequate amount of connectivity ports for any user. It has 2 HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, and a Mini DisplayPort. All these ports support 4k resolutions at a 60hz refresh rate. It includes two upstream USB 3.0 ports and one downstream USB 3.0 port plus a 3.5mm audio jack port. Also, the S2817Q comes equipped with two 9 watt speakers which are down firing. This design flaw has an effect on sound quality while sitting on a desk since the monitor cannot be mounted.
Display Features and Performance
The S2817Q has four buttons located on the underside of the bezel at the lower right-hand corner beside the power button. The buttons give access to the presets menu, the volume control, the OSD menu and lastly a back or cancel button. These also double as directional buttons to navigate and select thru items in the OSD. Aside from the presets and screen options, the user can also access an added feature called PIP or picture in picture. This function brings up a window displaying media from another input source. This feature is particularly useful for multitaskers. For most users, the default setting will be adequate, but as will all newly purchased monitors, it is recommended to adjust the settings according to your preferences to get the most out of the product.
Due to the limitations of TN panels, the S2817Q suffers from color degradation despite its support for 1.07 billion colors. Some colors do not render correctly and are sometimes over or under saturated. The color also degrades the further the image is from the center. Calibrating the built-in settings will somehow correct these issues. This limitation will not appeal to users who require a color accurate monitor for work-related applications such as photo editing. Using this product for multi-screen configurations may not be ideal as well because of the limited viewing angle. These are highly specific drawbacks. Users should expect this issue from an affordable monitor with a TN panel.
Despite these drawbacks, the S2817Q will not disappoint. The 4k resolution it has together with its 2ms response time and its contrast ratio of 1000:1 will produce good images for games or watching movies. It is also bright enough to keep users happy in any display conditions such as playing games in a brightly lit room. Although it does not have the higher refresh rates of most gaming monitors, its 60hz refresh rate is still suitable for gaming applications. Details, object edges and text will be more crisp and cleaner. Take note that the user has to take note that running this at 4k will require a substantially powerful computer. Overall the monitor is still excellent for basic content viewing, gaming and watching movies considering its price point.
Conclusion
I would highly recommend the Dell S2817Q for most users looking to get a 4k monitor for regular home applications such as gaming or movies. As long as you have the necessary hardware to run 4k, buying this monitor is a good investment. Although considered to be an entry-level model, the price range for this model packs a lot of value into what it offers. I would also recommend the user to try to calibrate the monitor’s different settings to get the most out of its 4k native resolution feature.
For the advanced users looking to get a 4k monitor for highly specific applications such as photography or video editing, the capabilities of this model may seem adequate but in the long run, the issues the TN panel and its current limitations will become apparent. I would recommend for you to look at higher tiered models or those with IPS panels to avoid issues and disappointments. This product is also not recommended for those looking to use this for the office only because letters and numbers will look too small in a 28 inch 4k resolution monitor.
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