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We've recently released Test Bench 2.0 for Monitors! Read our new VRR Flicker R&D Article and Pursuit Photo R&D Article to learn more.

Dell S2417DG Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Reviewed Jul 06, 2018 at 09:25 am
Latest change: Test bench update Aug 07, 2020 at 02:27 pm
Dell S2417DG Picture
7.5
Mixed Usage
7.4
Office
8.5
Gaming
7.1
Multimedia
7.2
Media Creation
5.5
HDR Gaming

The Dell S2417DG is a good 1440p gaming monitor with G-SYNC variable refresh rate support. It has a TN panel with mediocre picture quality due to the poor native contrast ratio so blacks appear gray in a dark room, and the image also rapidly loses accuracy when viewed at an angle. For gamers though, it has a high 144Hz refresh rate and feels very responsive due to the low input lag. It also has a fast response time, so fast-paced motion only has a short blur trail.

Our Verdict

7.5 Mixed Usage

The Dell S2417DG is a good monitor for mixed usage. It is very ergonomic and can be positioned to suit any taste and has very good gaming features. It does suffer however from narrow viewing angles as most TN monitors, and its picture quality does not make it a good choice for movie watching.

Pros
  • Fast 144Hz refresh rate.
  • Fast motion is clear due to quick response time.
  • Supports G-SYNC Variable Refresh Rate.
Cons
  • Image looks very washed out at an angle.
  • Blacks are gray and cloudy.
7.4 Office

The Dell S2417DG is decent for office use. The high brightness capability makes it a good choice for bright lit offices and the ergonomic stand will be well appreciated by the user. Unfortunately, the poor viewing angles will not allow you to work comfortably with other colleagues without having to swivel the monitor.

8.5 Gaming

This is an excellent monitor for gaming. It has VRR support through the G-SYNC technology that will help avoid tearing when playing this high graphics demanding game. Also, the BFI feature will help clear the motion. The low input lag, the 144Hz refresh rate, and the 1440p resolution are all essential factors to gamers and this monitor scores well. So most people will enjoy using it for gaming.

7.1 Multimedia

The S2417DG is a decent monitor for use with media. Although the resolution is good at 1440p and the input lag is low, watching movies in darker environments does not look good due to the low contrast ratio. One other slightly disturbing factor is the limited viewing angle which requires you to sit right in front of the monitor to get an accurate picture. Overall it should not be your first option when choosing a monitor for multimedia usage.

7.2 Media Creation

Decent performance of this monitor in media creation. It has a great resolution, low input lag, excellent refresh rate and good ergonomics that are a big plus while working in video editing or touching up pictures. However, the lack of good viewing angles is hurting the performance of this monitor.

5.5 HDR Gaming

Unfortunately, the Dell S2417DG does not support HDR like the Samsung CHG70.

  • 7.5 Mixed Usage
  • 7.4 Office
  • 8.5 Gaming
  • 7.1 Multimedia
  • 7.2 Media Creation
  • 5.5 HDR Gaming
  1. Updated Aug 07, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  2. Updated Jul 06, 2018: Review published.
  3. Updated Jul 04, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Jul 04, 2018: Early access published.
  5. Updated Jul 02, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Feb 06, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We've tested the 24" S2417DG. The monitor is also available in a 27" size (Dell S2716DG).

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Dell S2417DG doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

Size Model
24" S2417DG
27" S2716DG

 

Update 07/09/2018: The S2417DG we reviewed was manufactured in May 2017 (A00 Revision).

Compared To Other Monitors

Comparison picture

Left: AOC Agon AG271QX. Middle: Dell S2417DG. Right: Dell U2717D.

See our recommendations for the best 144Hz monitors, the best gaming monitor size, the best budget gaming monitors, and the best gaming monitors.

Acer Predator XB271HU Bmiprz

The Acer Predator XB271HU Bmiprz is marginally better than the Dell S2417DG. The Acer has an IPS panel (vs. the TN Panel on the Dell) that provides it with better viewing angles, which are important when you look at the monitor from the side, such as in an office environment. The Acer has a larger screen size that allows you to work more comfortably and better enjoy multimedia content. On the other hand, the Dell can handle reflections slightly better, and this is great if you place it in a room with many light sources behind you.

AOC AGON AG271QX

The AOC AGON AG271QX and the Dell S2417DG have very similar performance. Both support variable refresh rate implementations. The S2417DG supports G-SYNC and the AG271QX supports FreeSync. The Dell also supports black frame insertion (BFI) through the NVIDIA ULMB, which can help clear persistence blur. It also has better ergonomics that make it easy to position the monitor to your liking, whereas the AOC AGON has a larger screen size which makes it more comfortable to work on.

Dell U2717D

The Dell S2417DG is better than the Dell U2717D. The S2417DG has a much lower input lag, a faster pixel response time, a much better refresh rate, and better motion handling in general. All these make it a much better monitor for gaming. The Dell U2717D, on the other hand, has an IPS panel (vs. the TN panel of the S2417DG) and this gives it much better viewing angles that are useful in office environments where you might want to share your work with the person sitting next to you.

Dell S2716DG

The Dell S2417DG has a very similar performance than the Dell S2716DG. The differences between the two monitors can be attributed to manufacturing panel variances. Both monitors have native QHD resolution, but the S2716DG is bigger and this makes it more comfortable when you work on it or watch multimedia.

ViewSonic XG2402

The Dell S2417DG is slightly better than the ViewSonic XG2402. The Dell S2417DG is a G-SYNC monitor, with a higher 2560x1440p resolution, so you can see more fine details in games or multitask easier. The ViewSonic XG2402 is a FreeSync monitor, great for Xbox One S/X gamers, or if you have an AMD graphics card. The Dell also has an option to introduce flicker to help reduce motion blur.

Acer XF251Q Bmiirx

The Dell S2417DG is better than the Acer XF251Q Bmiirx. The S2417DG has much better motion handling, thanks to a much faster refresh rate, faster response time, and optional black frame insertion feature. The Dell also has slightly less input lag. While the Acer XF251Q supports AMD's FreeSync VRR, the Dell S2417DG supports NVIDIA's G-SYNC instead, so the compatibility with your graphics card should be taken into account when choosing between these two.

ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ

The ASUS PG279QZ is better than the Dell S2417DG. The two monitors have different panel types, but very similar motion handling and equally low input lag. The ASUS, apart from being larger, has an IPS panel with better picture quality and wider viewing angles that make it easier to share your work with a colleague.

Dell S2719DGF

The Dell S2417DG is slightly better than the Dell S2719DGF for most people. The S2417DG has a smaller screen, but it supports NVIDIA G-SYNC and has an optional black frame insertion feature. The Dell S2719DGF, on the other hand, supports FreeSync, which is compatible with more devices, including the Xbox One.

MSI Optix MPG27CQ

Overall, the Dell S2417DG is slightly better than the MSI Optix MPG27CQ for most uses. The S2417DG has a slightly better stand, with the option to rotate to a portrait orientation. The MPG27CQ looks better in a dark room, as it has better native contrast and an RGB bias lighting feature. The S2417DG supports G-SYNC, whereas the MPG27CQ supports AMD's FreeSync technology.

Acer Nitro VG271UP Pbmiipx

The Acer Nitro VG271UP Pbmiipx is slightly better than the Dell S2417DG. The VG271UP supports HDR, has a larger screen, and has much better viewing angles. The Dell S2417DG, on the other hand, has a much better stand with excellent ergonomics, and it supports G-SYNC instead of FreeSync.

+ Show more

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Size 24"
Curved No
Curve Radius Not Curved
Weight (without stand)
8.4 lbs (3.8 kg)
Weight (with stand)
12.6 lbs (5.7 kg)
Design
Stand
Width
9.5" (24.1 cm)
Depth
7.1" (18.0 cm)

The stand of the Dell Gaming S2417DG is plastic and very similar to the S2716DG. It supports the monitor well, which is great.

8.7
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
5.1" (13.0 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range -45Ā° to 45Ā°
Tilt Range -17.5Ā° to 10Ā°

The range of ergonomic adjustments is great, so you can adjust it in pretty much any position you like to make it comfortable for your working preferences.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 100x100

The back of the monitor is very plain. It is made out of plastic that is very glossy and reflective. Because of that, it will show the marks of where you touched it.

Design
Borders
Borders
0.3" (0.8 cm)

The borders of the monitor are very similar to the ones of the S2716DG. They are not thick and they look good. There is a small gap that runs along the border that also serves as a cooling vent of the monitor. And there is also some gap between the bezel and the start of the pixels.

Design
Thickness
Thickness (with stand)
5.7" (14.5 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
2.2" (5.6 cm)

The thickness of the Dell S2417DG is average and will not protrude too much when VESA mounted. The stand footprint is small and allows the monitor to be placed close to the wall if necessary.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is okay. There are no gaps and the monitor looks sturdy and sound. You should not expect any issues while using it.

Picture Quality
5.2
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
620 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

The contrast of this monitor is disappointing. It is currently the lowest one we have measured. The monitor is not well suited for dim environments as blacks look washed out, and the image is not vibrant. It is very similar to its big sister, the S2716DG.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Direct

The Dell S2417DG does not have a local dimming feature. The video is for reference only.

8.2
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene
392 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 2% Window
419 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 10% Window
471 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 25% Window
469 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 50% Window
467 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 100% Window
466 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
413 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
469 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
468 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
466 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
465 cd/mĀ²
SDR ABL
0.007

The SDR Peak Brightness is very good. It remains relatively constant at various window sizes. It is bright enough to be used in bright office spaces without any issues.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene
N/A
HDR Peak 2% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 10% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 25% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 50% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 100% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 2% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 10% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 25% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 50% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 100% Window
N/A
HDR ABL
N/A

HDR is not supported on the Dell S2417DG.

6.6
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
34Ā°
Color Washout From Right
31Ā°
Color Shift From Left
37Ā°
Color Shift From Right
41Ā°
Brightness Loss From Left
45Ā°
Brightness Loss From Right
44Ā°
Black Level Raise From Left
38Ā°
Black Level Raise From Right
30Ā°
Gamma Shift From Left
27Ā°
Gamma Shift From Right
36Ā°

The horizontal viewing angle is disappointing. Even slight deviations from the middle angle, and the monitor loses color accuracy, blacks wash out, and brightness fades. Those viewing it from the side will not have the same viewing experience as those who look straight up front. This is a typical issue with most TN monitors. It is more apparent, however, the closer you sit to the monitor and the bigger the monitor size.

5.0
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
12Ā°
Color Washout From Above
45Ā°
Color Shift From Below
15Ā°
Color Shift From Above
39Ā°
Brightness Loss From Below
24Ā°
Brightness Loss From Above
40Ā°
Black Level Raise From Below
27Ā°
Black Level Raise From Above
45Ā°
Gamma Shift From Below
4Ā°
Gamma Shift From Above
4Ā°

The vertical viewing angle is mediocre. This is mainly due to the monitor keeping a good color and black accuracy and good brightness levels when viewed from above.

7.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
6.215%
50% DSE
0.118%
5% Std. Dev.
0.854%
5% DSE
0.072%

The gray uniformity is very good. The Dell S2417DG has very good uniformity in darker shades of gray and looses some of its accuracy in lighter shades. In the 50% gray image, the edges are slightly darker than the center but this a result of the poor vertical viewing angle rather than a gray uniformity issue. This might bother a little those who want to use it for web browsing, and sit too close to the monitor.

4.8
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
2.792%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The black uniformity is bad. Clouding is all over the screen and blacks look gray. The lighter artifact in the top half may be some damage to our unit, either during shipping or because of our mishandling. It is not, however, very noticeable in normal content.

5.8
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
Standard
Luminance
233 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
75
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Controls
Default
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Color Temperature
6,184 K
White Balance dE
4.56
Color dE
4.24
Gamma
1.92

The out of the box colors of this monitor are disappointing. Even at the most accurate mode of Standard, the white balance dE was well above our threshold of 3 and the Color dE was almost just as bad. The threshold of 3 is where we believe most people will start noticing the inaccuracies.

Gamma was well below 2.2 and shades looked very dark and the color temperature was too warm, with yellowish and reddish tones.

9.5
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
Custom Color
Luminance
100 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
27
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Controls
87-92-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Color Temperature
6,455 K
White Balance dE
0.49
Color dE
1.04
Gamma
2.18

The post-calibration accuracy of the monitor is excellent. Most inaccuracies seem to have been corrected and the color temperature was almost on target.

To achieve that we entered the custom mode set luminance to 27, contrast to 75 and the RGB colors to 87 - 92 - 100.

You can download our ICC profile calibration here.

8.3
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB xy
92.9%
Adobe RGB xy
72.7%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color

This Dell S2417DG has a good SDR color gamut as it covers well the s.RGB color space and about 73% of the Adobe RGB color space. You should have no issues with color representation.

8.3
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
90.7%
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
74.5%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color

The SDR color volume is good. Almost 90.1% of the s.RGB color volume is covered mainly due to good very good color space coverage. However, due to the lacking coverage of the Adobe RGB color space, the monitor is unable to cover the Adobe RGB color volume and in conjunction with the poor contrast ratio, it fails to deliver very dark tones.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
DCI P3 xy
N/A
Rec. 2020 xy
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

HDR is not supported.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
N/A
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

HDR is not supported.

10
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 2 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 4 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 6 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 8 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 10 Min Recovery
0.00%

This monitor did not show any signs of image retention throughout the test which is excellent.

8.3
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
8 Bit

The gradient of this monitor is good. There is a little banding visible in the gray and the dark green colors but in general, you should have no issues with it.

10
Picture Quality
Color Bleed
Pixel Row Error
0.000%
Pixel Column Error
0.015%

Almost perfect score in color bleed, because there is an insignificant amount of color bleed that most people will not notice.

8.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
4.9%
Indirect Reflections
3.7%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.2%

The reflection handing is good. The monitor uses its light-matte finish to diffuse reflections across the screen, which reduces their intensity while producing some haze. In a very bright room, this might be bothersome to some people but in an average room, it should be ok.

6.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
TN
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB
Motion
9.4
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Best Overdrive Setting
Normal
Rise / Fall Time
2.1 ms
Total Response Time
8.8 ms
Overshoot Error
7.8%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
1.7 ms
Dark Total Response Time
3.2 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
1.5%

Response Time Normal
Response Time Fast

The monitor has an excellent fast response time. When set to Fast overdrive mode it adds a lot of overshoot, so Normal mode is preferred.

9.3
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Best Overdrive Setting
Normal
Rise / Fall Time
3.1 ms
Total Response Time
11.2 ms
Overshoot Error
2.8%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
1.9 ms
Dark Total Response Time
3.3 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
0.0%
10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The Dell S2417 has a flicker-free backlight and this is great. However, it also has the ability to add flicker so as to remove blur. There is also a Pulse Width option that can change the pulse width of the flicker and can make motion even clearer. This, however, sacrifices some brightness. Unfortunately, when you activate ULMB it adds some overshoot to pixel transitions, that are seen as inverted ghosts following the pattern in the photo. In normal usage, this should not be noticeable.

It should be noted that BFI is only supported on DP and at 85, 100 or 120Hz.

7.7
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Yes
BFI Maximum Frequency
120 Hz
BFI Minimum Frequency
85 Hz
9.2
Motion
Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
G-SYNC
Native
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC
Yes (Native)
VRR Maximum
165 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors DisplayPort

The Dell S2417DG has a refresh rate of 144Hz and incorporates NVIDIA's G-SYNC VRR technology that allows it to change its refresh rate to match that of the graphics card and avoid tearing. G-SYNC is not available over HDMI (see our recommendations for the best G-SYNC monitors).

It's worth noting that HDMI only supports a max refresh of 60Hz.

Inputs
9.4
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution
4.2 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
12.5 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
5.1 ms
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
14.6 ms
10 Bit HDR
N/A
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
10.6 ms

BFI frequency tested: 120Hz

The monitor has an excellent low input lag in native 1440p resolution. However, when sent a resolution other than 1440p, it does not have a 144Hz refresh rate.

We also couldn't get any non-native resolutions to work over DisplayPort, hence the N/A in the score (even though the manual states that the display supports resolutions like 1024x768, 800x600, and 720x480).

8.3
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution 2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Megapixels 3.7 MP
Pixel Density
124 PPI
Screen Diagonal 23.8"
Screen Area 242 inĀ²

The Dell S2417DG has a native resolution of 1440p which is great for most usages (see our recommendations for the best 1440p 144hz monitors).

Inputs
Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
DisplayPort 1 (DP 1.2)
Mini DisplayPort No
HDMI 1 (HDMI 1.4)
DVI No
VGA No
DisplayPort Out No
USB 4 (USB 3.0)
USB C No
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 2
Microphone In 3.5mm No
Digital Optical Audio Out No
Analog Audio Out RCA No
Power Supply Internal

One of the 3.5mm analog audio out ports is a headphone port with adjustable volume, while the other is a fixed volume line out port.

One of the side USB ports (the one with the little battery icon) supports the USB BC 1.2 fast-charging standard.

Features
Features
Additional Features
RGB Illumination
No
Speakers
No
HDR10 No
Multiple Input Display
No

The OSD has a shortcut key option, which can bind options like volume to a quick menu to save time. It has a USB hub with one port (the one with the little battery icon) supporting the USB BC 1.2 fast-charging standard.

During testing a bug made the HDMI port unusable with most inputs until the monitor was factory reset.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)
Features
Controls

There are buttons on the underside of the monitor. They are shallow and can be hard to press at times, and can hurt your fingers because they're small and stiff.

Features
In The Box

  • Manual and drivers
  • DisplayPort cable
  • USB cable
  • Power cable