The Dell S3423DWC aims to provide the best of both worlds with specifications that can cater to both business users and gamers. Its geared with prosumer-oriented features like USB-C, but its panel goes up to 100Hz for smoother visuals. Let’s see how good the Dell S3423DWC is to know if it should be your display upgrade for modern times.
Dell S3423DWC Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 Inches
- Resolution:3440 x 1440 UW-QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 100Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height –Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB-C PD65W x 1, USB 3.2 x 5, 3.5mm Audio Jacks
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 31.8” x 19.3” x 8.5”
- Weight: 14.7 lbs
Design and Features
The Dell S3423DWC looks like a sophisticated office display rather than a gaming monitor because that’s what it is primarily. It has a matte white chassis with a silver stand, so it wouldn’t look out of place in a high-end studio. The display is bezel-free on three sides, but it still has inner borders and of course that matte black strip at its bottom edge.
34-inch monitors aren’t small even by today’s standards, but Dell has reduced its overall dimensions to lessen its impact on the environment. It only needs 8.5 inches of depth since its base is now smaller and it uses a lightweight frame that only weighs 14.7 pounds. But you still must account for the extra width since it can cover large peripherals like desktop speakers if your table is narrow.
Its build quality is great even if it uses plenty of plastics compared to other business ultrawides from the brand. There were no cosmetic defects when it was unboxed and it looks like every piece was molded precisely. The stand is stable and firm, but the screen can slightly wobble if you accidentally nudge it.
The first thing we disliked about the Dell S3423DWC is its OSD buttons that are located under the bottom bezel. They are accessible, but it takes more time and effort to get to a specific menu compared with a joystick. It is perplexing why Dell went the cheaper route with this model since it’s not particularly affordable like the Gigabyte G34WQC which uses a joystick.
The stand included offers tilt and height adjustments so getting a comfortable viewing angle with it. adding swivel adjustments would have been great for multi-monitor setups, but pivoting isn’t as necessary since ultrawides were not meant for portrait use. You can use VESA mounts if you need more flexibility, but it is an unwarranted cost for typical setups.
One of the highlights of the Dell S3423DWC is its connectivity layout which includes DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 slots, and a 65-watt USB-C port with DP Alt Mode. It also has four USB 3.1 slots for your peripherals which are reserved for your mouse and keyboard. Setting it up this way allows you to utilize the monitor’s KVM functionality with multiple PCs so you don’t have to plug and unplug cables.
It is also great that Dell included speakers with this model this time so you don’t have to buy their proprietary mini soundbars. Its other recent releases like the Dell U3223QE only have notches for the latter, so you have to pay more despite the already expensive price tags.
Display and Performance
The Dell S3423DWC sports a 34-inch 1800r curved VA panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 100Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms response time. The backlight has a 300 cd/m2 maximum while its contrast is listed at 3000:1 like most VA panels. This model doesn’t come with HDR certification, but that’s expected since it’s more of a mixed-use model instead of an entertainment model.
34-inch 1440p ultrawide monitors are popular for both gaming and productivity because of their unique characteristics. It gives you a wider field of view in games and movies plus it can help you finish tasks quicker because there’s more room to maneuver. Its sharpness doesn’t suffer since it is still comparable and close to what a 27-inch variant has.
The Dell S3423DWC covers 99% sRGB and 88% DCI-P3 for decent vibrancy for daily use and entertainment. It is not the brand’s most accurate ultrawide, but its deltaE average of 2.64 is already acceptable unless you are editing or creating content. We feel that most users will be happy with it after a few basic tweaks like adjusting the brightness.
Calibrating it reduced its deltaE average to 0.98 which is better if you want to use it for color-critical work. The downside is the additional cost of a colorimeter which you need to accept if that level of improvement. The investment will only become practical if you will use the monitor for making money, but otherwise, you’ll be fine with the default setting.
Its backlight reached 307 cd/m2 at 100% so there is some room for adjustment but not for HDR-level performance. Its contrast peaked at 2877:1 at 70% brightness so it’s capable of deep blacks and compelling night scenes, unlike its IPS counterparts. The monitor is great for videos, images, and games so we know many will choose it over an IPS alternative.
The Dell S3423DWC’s panel uniformity isn’t great since there were some light leaks on the top and bottom edges of the screen. They resulted in clouding issues that become visible while the display is showing dark scenes. This is common with curved displays but it’s not a permanent issue so there are better units out there.
Pixel response time is the biggest weakness of a VA monitor even if it has an extended refresh rate. The Dell S3423DWC isn’t exempted, so you have to use its overdrive accordingly to reduce persistence and smudges in fast-paced scenes. We recommend using the Fast setting since it offers the best balance between removing trails and adding overshoot.
The Dell S3423DWC is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync so you don’t have to worry about losing VRR functionality. Dual compatibility is a must-have feature so you don’t get stuck with one GPU brand when the time to upgrade arrives. Its input lag sits at 6ms at 100Hz, so it is fast enough even if you play fast-paced titles.
Thoughts on the Dell S3423DWC
The Dell S3423DWC is a great choice if you want a flexible ultrawide monitor for any type of use. Its 100Hz VA panel works great for games and entertainment and the extra space its screen gives you will come in handy for productivity. Its designed with sought-after modern features like USB-C so it will be a great buy for those who want a monitor for their remote setup or home office.
However, the Dell S3423DWC is quite expensive if you buy it now at full price in a niche that has considerably matured. USB-C ultrawides like the Gigabyte M34WQ can be had right now so you have to catch this monitor at a discount.
Pros:
- Flexible Ultrawide with 100Hz Refresh Rate
- Vibrant and High-Contrast VA Panel
- USB-C Connectivity
- Solid Design and Build Quality
Cons:
- Expensive
- Prone to Blurring
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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