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Overall
The Dell UP3017 promises high-quality imaging output complemented by an upsized view space with a 16:10 aspect ratio for added vertical space. This model includes factory calibrated presets for sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 embedded into an exterior which exudes the brand’s timeless design and quality. 16:10 monitors have been forgotten in recent times, but it’s interesting to check and see how modern versions of the Dell UP3017 stack up to its 16:9 cousins.
Dell UP3017 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600
- Aspect Ratio: 16:10
- Panel Technology: In Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time:6ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – Yes (6 Inches)
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5º/+21º)
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, Mini DP 1.2 x 1, DP Out x 1, HDMI 1,4 x 2, USB 3.0 x 5, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions With Stand(WxHxD): 27.04″ x 24.89″ x 8.54″
- Weight: 22.71lbs
Design and Features
The Dell UP3017 is imposing when you look from the front because of the slightly taller and wider dimensions against 16:9 displays. Each bezel is less than an inch thick each, but they don’t pose as distractions on the large screen. Dell’s well-loved minimalist design treatment with a hint of stylishness in the form of silver panels and accents comes into play here as well.
The plastics used feel sufficiently thick and sturdy, and we did not notice any flexing or creaking when adjusting the large cabinet. The Dell UP3017 is flexible since the stand includes tilt, swivel, and height adjustments. You can also use this model in portrait mode because it can pivot all the way to 90 degrees. The discrete base eats up almost 9 inches of depth, but its low profile makes it easy to place small items on top.
If the stand isn’t your cup of tea, you can remove it totally and opt for a VESA mount with a 100 x 100 bolt pattern. Under the rear bulge, you will find a feature-rich I/O layout which can cover connectivity requirements beyond regular needs and usage. You will find a DisplayPort 1.2, a Mini DP 1.2, DP out for daisy chaining, plus two HDMI ports. There are two upstream and downstream USB 3.0 ports, but there is also a USB 3.0 hub on the side of the cabinet for easy access.
Display and Performance
The Dell UP3017 utilizes a 30-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 6ms response time, and 10-bit color interface. This model comes with superb factory calibration, so you won’t need to touch any settings out of the box. Only brightness needs adjustment for comfort and safety reasons, making this offering suitable for plug and play applications.
At 30-50% brightness, contrast reaches 960:1 which equates to deep, oily blacks and grayscale performance. One downside is the gamma sits at an average of 2.7 across the color modes, but it isn’t enough to ruin our overall opinion of the Dell UP3017. Color accuracy, on the other hand, is slightly better with a Delta-E score of .8 for sRGB and Adobe RGB. DCI-P3 slightly suffers down to 2.0, but these are all brilliant results since we are testing out of the box.
Users can probably squeeze in more improvements in these scores with the help of a hardware calibrator like the X-rite iDisplay Pro. The gadget can contribute to creating custom profiles according to your needs with Dell’s Premier Color technology and their proprietary software. But in our opinion, the out of the box qualities are decent enough so unless you require absolute calibrated accuracy, the extra cost of the iDisplay Pro isn’t necessary.
Due to the size and the natural limitations of IPS panels, we saw a maximum deviation of 13% from the center to the sides which can improve to 10% with UC turned on. Uniformity Compensation modes often affect black depth and contrast, but the implementation on the Dell UP3017 is excellent because the resulting difference is too little to notice.
The Dell UP3017 isn’t a cutting edge gaming monitor, but it clocks in with a decent input lag of 20ms which makes it suitable for casual gaming. Most users won’t feel any delays, but competitive gamers may see the difference especially if they are used to the faster models. The slow pixel response time of 6ms is also detrimental to high-speed motion because it did produce interlacing in our Battlefield 1 test.
Not to worry though, because, against the lush and vibrant color, you will hardly notice these defects without looking hard enough. The resolution eats up a little more GPU power than 2560 x 1440p, so running AAA titles on the Dell UP3017 isn’t difficult. But you cannot rely on VRR tech in this model because it doesn’t include FreeSync or G-Sync capabilities.
Thoughts
The Dell UP3017 is an excellent choice for professionals and designers who want to start work right away and avoid lengthy calibration trials. The out of the box performance and accuracy is more than we expected, but the ability to advance it further with an additional device extends viability and reliability. Dell’s long-standing quality is apparent as well in the build quality of the package, plus we always liked the subtle black and silver treatment.
Although the Dell UP3017 isn’t for gaming, its respectable input lag and eye-popping color make it great for immersive or casual gaming. Clarity is phenomenal as well, but you don’t get to enjoy specific benefits like G-Sync and FreeSync found on gamer-centric offerings. Finally, the biggest consideration is the price; the Dell UP3017 still sells for more than a grand. You can buy it used at $500 in Amazon Warehouse, but if you think about it, the current asking price could get you a nice 4K or ultrawide monitor instead.