- Overall
The Dell U3219Q offers a stunning, 32-inch display with a gorgeous 4K resolution that fits right into the ideal sweet spot for visual enjoyment. UHD monitors are very much in demand, but only a few can offer the right mix of features for both gaming and productivity. We’re looking forward to the Dell U3219Q and its HDR400 compatibility, but is it worth its premium price tag?
Dell U3219Q Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1300:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 1, USB-C x 1 , USB 3.0 x 4, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 28.05” x 233” x 8.66″
- Weight: 12.8lbs
Dell U3219Q Video
Design and Features
The Dell U3219Q sports the brand’s signature minimalist aesthetic which fits a business setting while suiting a lot of gamers’ tastes. The chassis comes with the familiar mix of matte gray and black which has provided the brand’s display products with their clean and unassuming looks. The massive screen on this device is also bezel-free courtesy of the brand’s InfinityEdge treatment.
What we dislike as early as now is the Dell U3219Q’s OSD button layout instead of using a joystick. Although the group is located at the bottom bezel, we still think its inconvenient especially if you recalibrate your monitor a lot.
The Dell U3219Q looks like any other monitor from the brand, but what makes it unique is its size and features under the hood. The I/O panel for this model includes DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 for HDR-capable inputs, and four USB 3.0 slots for your accessories. There is also a USB-C receptacle which is compatible with DP 1.4 Alt Mode for single cable operation.
It’s also worth noting that the Dell U3219Q’s USB-C slot serves up to 90 Watts of charging power for mobile devices. This capability extends the product’s definition of mixed usability, enabling it to be a suitable dock for your MacBook Pros or other high-end USB-C laptops. We’re glad that we are finally seeing USB-C solutions with decent power delivery which was very difficult to find in the previous year.
The Dell U3219Q may be bigger than the typical offerings we see, but it’s also quite slim and lightweight. The chassis isn’t too thick so there should be no issues when you flush, or wall mount this beautiful device. It’s also easy to carry around since it weighs in at only nearly 13 lbs.
We also like the fact that even if the Dell U3219Q is a sizable monitor, its still held down by a modestly-proportioned stand. The device will only consume 8.6 inches of depth on a desk, providing users with extra space for larger keyboards or desktop doodads. It’s also worth noting that the mechanism supports height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments as well as VESA compatibility.
The Dell U3219Q is beautifully crafted with great materials and quality control. The monitor doesn’t feel flimsy and there are no gaps in the seams or burrs on the edges. The design may be plain, but it has become synonymous with durability and reliability over the years.
Display and Performance
The Dell U3219Q sports a 32-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 5ms response time. The module is powered by a 400cd/m2 WLED backlight and is specified to have a 1300:1 native contrast ratio. The product is rated as HDR-ready with VESA’s HDR400 specifications, but this model cannot match the UP2718Q’s true HDR capabilities.
It’s also worth mentioning that the pixel density of 139.87 PPI is ideal for all types of use since the resulting output will not need scaling for most people. 4K feels much more comfortable on a 32-inch screen than it does on a 27-inch variant. The visuals are still crisp without sacrificing the visibility of smaller objects or text, making games or any task enjoyable and comfortable.
The Dell U3219Q went through the brand’s signature factory calibration which results in great out of the box performance. The display is capable of 100% sRGB coverage with an accuracy of DeltaE 1.77 which is comparable to professional monitors. The gamut isn’t as rich as we had hoped, but the screen is still able to produce around 83% Adobe RGB or 69% DCI-P3.
The monitor’s gamma sits at 2.2 perfectly at both the default and calibrated settings. You can calibrate the Dell U3219Q with a colorimeter to push its color accuracy to DE .55 and color temp that’s closer to the ideal 6500K standard. For most users doing this isn’t necessary, but if you already have a colorimeter on-hand, you might as well.
The monitor can extend its DCI-P3 coverage to as much as 76.5% which doesn’t meet some standards, but vibrant enough to add an improvement. Couple this with a 1410:1 contrast ratio and you get decent HDR performance that has noticeable enhancements over a regular SDR display. The Dell U3219Q even has a basic local dimming backlight feature, but it isn’t as good as most edge-lit and FALD-equipped variants.
One of the flaws of the Dell U3219Q is its poor panel uniformity which is common in larger monitors. There are no issues when showing light or colored images, but casting an all-black picture will reveal clouding and a few light leaks at the edges. This results in black level deviations, but it could vary from unit to unit.
The Dell U3219Q is more like a prosumer display than a variant for gaming, but it’s a highly suitable option for our favorite hobby. The size is perfect for 4K gaming on PC and consoles, plus the added HDR effects can enhance your visual experience.
But what makes it great as a solution for digital enjoyment is its motion handling which doesn’t produce noticeable blurs. The monitor only needs its overdrive set to the Normal level, and then you are pretty much golden. The Dell UP3219Q doesn’t have Adaptive Sync solutions, but its low input lag of only 9ms is already a great reason to get it.
Thoughts on the Dell U3219Q
The Dell U3219Q is every bit a premium monitor thanks to the brand’s amazing touch on both the design and calibration of the display. IPS monitors of this caliber which are capable of fantastic out of the box image qualities are still far and few in between. The monitor’s gaming performance is also a key selling point since the size and the resolution are perfect for the PC and consoles such as the Xbox One X.
The only deterrent for users is the Dell U3219Q’s steep pricing which almost costs as much as a professional display. The cheaper and smaller 4K LG 27UK650 monitor or the value-oriented ViewSonic VP3268-4K represent tough competition at a much friendlier price point. However, the Dell U3219Q’s refined capabilities are well worth the cost if you are looking for a well-tuned mixed-use monitor for everyday use.
chavlji says
I just bought Dell U3219Q it and my main concern was pwm flickering reported on Rtings review. I’m however very happy to announce that it IS 100% flicker-free (as advertised by Dell).
I did a simple test:
Prepare black screen with 1px wide vertical line in the middle. Set camera (RX100 v1) to manual mode (iso 200, F2.5, manual focus) with exposure 1/25. Quickly drag camera horizontally and shoot while dragging.
Flickering is clearly present on my cheap Samsung 2253LW: https://ibb.co/2PkzLFX
On U3219Q gray rectangle is perfectly even so light has the same intensity throughout the shot (brightness at 30%): https://ibb.co/J3bYQmn
If it had 200 HZ pwm at 1/25 of a second there should be exactly 8 brighter and darker vertical areas evenly distributed over gray rectangle.
Otherwise it’s top notch monitor! Picture is great, and connectivity is awesome (I have 3 computers connected). The only thing I notice is harsh color bleeding, but I’m not using it in the dark room. Perfect monitor for a coder like my self!
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Chavlji! Thanks for sharing your detailed notes and experiences. The Dell U3219Q is indeed a fantastic 4K monitor!
Nick says
Hello, I have a MacBook Pro that I bought new a few months ago. I have been having some issues with this monitor. First, I don’t think the internal USB3.0 hub is compatible with the MacBook. I am using a gigabit ethernet USB3.0 adapter on its USB3.0 ports and connect my MacBook using USB-C. I am not getting gigabit speeds. In addition, the USB-C only works with certain ports on MacBook. When I plug the adapter directly into the MacBook it works perfect.
AM I doing something wrong?
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Nick! Using the USB-C slot could be reducing the other slots to USB 2.0. The latter is theoretically able to receive up to 480Mbps, but many devices do not reach those speeds. It’s also worth noting that having your WiFi adapter at the back of a monitor isn’t optimal for connectivity.
dee says
Can 2 of these be daisy chained using a USB-c to display port cable?
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Dee! Unfortunately, you can’t daisy chain two U3219Qs. You can, however, connect two to a single GPU and set a custom resolution if you want to use both for a unified screen. Cheers!
Paul says
Just Purchased the Dell U3219Q.
Lots to like but a few things that bug me. Have not decided if I will return it or not.
PROS’s
– Clear Sharp Picture
– Like the PIP modes (watch Roku while working)
– Love the customization “Snap to” frames in Windows, I use this all the time now to organize my windows and work
– Built in KVM to connect keyboard, mouse, speakers, headphones, to whatever input device you choose. Works really well. (with some things you have to work around and plan carefully for)
CON’s
– Having a hard time with consistent lighting usually too harsh and causing eye strain. I’ve tried just about every preset level.
– Needs more Inputs, Basically for most of us in the windows world USB-C does not exist. So you in effect only have 1 DP and 1 HDMI, I would like to have 2-3 computers hooked up and a Roku and then decide what I want to use for my PIP. Instead I have to move cables around for more than 2 devices.
– At times there is very bad LAG and trails moving windows around. Not sure what is causing it. (might not be the monitor)
– At times the cursor and windows frames are “ultra bright white” So even if I have the monitor set to dim, there are these blinding white (like phosphorous) sections on my screen. (It might be something I’ve loaded vs the monitor I’m not sure).
NOTE: Even though this is a DP 1.4 port the manual explicitly states it does not HBR3 Data Rates. So is it really DP 1.4? Does it matter?
I don’t have anything to compare it to in person, but I was orginally planning on an LG 32U750 until digging deeper they are inconsistent about supporting PIP and PBP on their higher end monitors. The manual on LG for example says it requires a DP 1.4 cable so you would think it is a 1.4 monitor, but Tech Support says it is only a 1.2 DP. (not listed in specs). It uses the latest monitor control software which when you click on the video on their website shows PBP and PIP, but again Tech Support says that 32 inch LG does not support PIP or PBP.
So it seems this Dell is the best all arounder. The down side it that it is not perfect at any one thing, but pretty good or good enough at everything.
I’m 60% for keeping it, as this is a lot of $$ for something I’m not 100% happy with.
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Paul! Thanks for sharing your feedback regarding the Dell U3219Q. We’ll make sure your pros and cons will reach their reps to help them make better products. The lag you are experiencing isn’t caused by latency, but by refresh rate. Check if you are running the monitor at 60Hz or if you are running the correct cable/connector and a 4K-capable GPU or iGPU. As for the DP 1.4 question, it doesn’t really matter since the display’s requirements are well covered by the port Dell used, so you shouldn’t have any issues running the display at its full potential.
Alex says
I was really hoping you would investigate the flickering issue claimed elsewhere. This is where my purchase decisions hinges on currently as I have not seen it firsthand yet.
https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/dell/u3219q
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Alex! The Dell U3219Q indeed has some flickering, but all of us took turns testing the monitor at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% brightness but we did not notice it. Perhaps, it depends on how sensitive a user is to the issue for it to be noticeable and disturbing.
Alex says
I finally had a chance to test it out side by side with a Viewsonic VP3268-4K
I could find no evidence of PWM flicker at all and it was no different than the VP3268 in that regard. Flicker free as claimed. The Dell was brighter though with faster pixel response, better calibration, identical (low) input lag, and I preferred it in several ways. The U3219Q is the winner of my screen hunt!
Paolo Reva says
Thank you for investigating, Alex! The Dell U3219Q is indeed a great monitor! Enjoy!
Jordan says
Thank you for the comment and taking the time to investigate yourself!
RJ says
I’m debating to get this monitor or waiting for the Samsung U32R590. Any major differences in the display quality (other than flat vs curved)? Thanks!
Paolo Reva says
Hi, RJ! We think the Dell U3219Q and the Samsung U32R590 belong to different categories based on price and panel type. Choose the U3219Q if you will use it for design work or if you want USB-C connectivity, but for everything else, the Samsung U32R590 could work as a more practical choice. We are working on getting a review sample, but you can go ahead and pull the trigger by pre-ordering here.
Ernest says
HI, is this monitor compatible with MacBook pro? plug and play?
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Ernest! Yes, the Dell U3219Q is suitable for MacBook Pros with USB-C slots. You might have to activate DP Alt Mode in your laptop’s settings, but otherwise, it should be plug and play.
Michael says
Is the Dell U3219Q worth $120.00 more than the BenQ PD32ooU?
Paolo Reva says
Hey, Michael! The extra $120 or so pays for a newer and better IPS panel, USB-C connectivity, and HDR400 compatibility. So yes, the Dell U3219Q is worth the extra price, unless you are specifically targeting the BenQ PD3200U‘s filters for CAD/CAM, etc.