- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Design
- Picture Quality
- Motion
- Inputs
- Features
- Sizes and Variants
- Compared
- Conclusion
- Discussions
The Dell S2719DGF is a decent 144Hz monitor with a TN panel and mediocre picture quality. It has great gaming features including FreeSync support, excellent low input lag and fast response time. It can get bright enough for a bright room but has bad dark room performance due to the low native contrast ratio, and terrible black uniformity that does not allow it to display deep uniform blacks. It has disappointing viewing angles and the image is accurate only when you are sitting directly in front. However, this can be somewhat counterbalanced by the good ergonomics that allow many position adjustments. It has great out-of-the box color accuracy but does not support HDR.
- Extremely fast response time
- Excellent low input lag and great gaming features
- Bad dark scene performance
- Image loses accuracy at an angle
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Design
The design of the Dell S2719DGF is similar to most Dell monitors like the S2716DG or the S2417DG. The base is flat as usual and supports the monitor well. The ergonomics are great and you can position the monitor comfortably with just a few easy moves. The borders are thin and the build quality is good just like most Dell monitors.
The stand has the usual flat shape that allows you to place small objects on it. It supports the monitor well allowing only minimal wobble.
The ergonomics are great. You can adjust the height, tilt, swivel and even rotate the monitor with ease. You will have no problem placing it comfortably on your desk.
The back of the monitor is very plain. All the inputs are housed in the opening at the back and are facing downwards so they won't protrude if you VESA mount it.
Cable management is serviced through a hole on the stand pole, just like most other Dell monitors.
The borders are thin and you will have no problem placing two monitors side-by-side. There is a groove that runs along the outer side of the border and serves a vent.
The monitor has an average thickness both with and without the stand.
The build quality of the S21719DGF is good. Like most other Dell monitors, it is mostly made of plastic but it is sturdy without gaps or loose ends. You should have no problem with it.
Picture Quality
The picture quality of the Dell S2719DGF is mediocre. The monitor cannot display deep uniform blacks in dark scenes. This is mainly due to the disappointing native contrast ratio and also due to the terrible black uniformity which is one of the worst we have seen up until now. The horizontal and vertical viewing angles are inadequate with the exception of when looking from above, in which case the image maintains its accuracy. On the upside, the S2719DGF can get fairly bright, has a very good color gamut and good reflection handling, but there is no HDR support.
The native contrast ratio of the Dell S2719DGF is disappointing. Blacks look gray in a dark room. It is only slightly better than the S2716DG.
Local dimming is not supported on this monitor. The above video is for reference only.
Great SDR peak brightness, among the top we have measured so far. The monitor can get bright enough for a well-lit office. It is an improvement over the S2716DG, and very similar to the Dell S2417DG
We measured the peak brightness with the 'Custom color' Picture Mode.
HDR is not supported
Disappointing horizontal viewing angles. If you want to share your screen with a colleague, make sure you turn the monitor towards them otherwise they will probably see a darker image than the one you are seeing.
The vertical viewing angles have mediocre overall performance, but they are not symmetrical. When you view the monitor from above the picture remains fairly accurate at large angles. On the contrary, when you look from below the image quality deteriorates very rapidly. We recommend that you place the monitor at eye level or slightly below so that you experience the most accurate image.
The overall gray uniformity of the S2719DGF is good. In the 50% gray image, you can easily spot the darker shades in the corners and the edges of the screen, but you can hardly spot any dirty screen effect (DSE). This is great if you plan to use the monitor for browsing the web as the image will be free from clouding.
In the 5% gray image the uniformity is slightly improved and you can not see any DSE.
The black uniformity of the monitor is terrible. Backlight bleed is evident almost everywhere on the screen in our overexposed test image. Unfortunately, this is also noticeable in normal content, especially when displaying a uniform dark color background. Note that black uniformity is panel specific and will differ from unit to unit, but we have seen reports displaying similar uniformity.
Very good out-of-the-box color accuracy for the Dell S2719DGF. The most accurate picture mode is the 'Standard'. Most people will hardly notice any gray inaccuracies as the white balance dE is low. However, most enthusiasts might pick off some color inaccuracies as the value of the color dE suggests. There is a slight red/yellowish tint due to the warmer color temperature. The gamma does not follow the curve very closely and as a result, some images appear dimmer than they should.
The monitor offers 3 'game' picture modes. You can change the settings independently on each one and save them so you can easily go back when you want.
After calibration, the color accuracy of the monitor is remarkable. Calibration was done on the 'Custom Color' picture mode and it improved both color and gray accuracies. The errors were diminished to levels impossible to spot with the naked eye. The color temperature was also corrected very closely to the 6500K target, and finally, the gamma follows the target curve more closely delivering a more accurate image.
You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and should not be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model due to manufacturing tolerances.
s.RGB Picture Mode: Custom Color (calibrated)Adobe RGB Picture Mode: Custom Color
Very good SDR color gamut. The sRGB coverage is excellent, but the Adobe RGB coverage is just decent and not ideal for professional photo or video editing. Very similar performance to the S2716DG.
s.RGB Picture Mode: Custom Color Adobe RGB Picture Mode: Custom Color
Excellent SDR color volume. The sRGB coverage is excellent, better than the S2716DG, assisted by the better contrast. The monitor can display a great range of colors at various luminance levels.
Even though the wider Adobe RGB color volume coverage is good, it will not meet the needs of professionals in the media and publishing industry.
There are no signs of temporary image retention, even immediately after showing our high contrast static torture test for 10 minutes.
The Dell S2719DGF does a great job displaying gradients. There is some slight banding visible in most colors, but nothing major.
Excellent performance on our color bleed test. Although some color bleed is visible, especially in the vertical bands, it is hardly noticeable in normal use.
Good reflection handling on the S2719DGF. The matte coating diffuses reflections across the screen reducing their intensity. Although this works well in dim rooms, in bright rooms reflections might still be annoying. The behavior is very similar to the Dell P2217H.
Motion
Motion on the Dell S2719DGF is excellent. The pixel response time is remarkably fast and there is only minimal blur in fast-moving content. The monitor is flicker-free, can be overclocked to 155 Hz and supports the FreeSync Variable Refresh Rate technology that will satisfy most serious gamers.
Response Time Normal Response Time Fast Response Time Superfast
The Dell S2719DGF has a very fast response time. This makes motion very crisp with almost no blur. We recommend you keep the Response Time Normal setting, as the other two will introduce noticeable overshoot without significant gains in response time.
The Dell S2719DGF just like the S2716DG, is completely flicker-free. However, it lacks a Black Frame Insertion feature, like the one found on the S2716DG. which can add flicker in order to minimize persistence blur.
The Dell S2719DGF has a refresh rate of 144Hz but can be overclocked to 155Hz. It supports the FreeSync VRR technology that allows it to change its refresh rate to match that of the graphics card and avoid tearing. We've tested the FreeSync compatibility with our GTX1060 6GB NVIDIA graphics card and it worked without issue over the DisplayPort.
It's worth noting when using an HDMI cable, the overclocking feature is grayed out. It is only available when the monitor is connected through DisplayPort.
Inputs
The inputs on the S2719DGF are excellent. The input lag is one of the lowest we have measured, sure to please gamers. The monitor has good size and an excellent resolution that allows you to work with multiple windows on your screen.
Excellent low input lag which remains low at non-native resolutions (we tested ours at 1920x1080@144Hz), and even when the monitor is in VRR mode. The input lag is higher at native resolution @ 60Hz, but it is unlikely that this will be an issue for most.
Great resolution and size for the S2719DGF monitor. There is enough screen real estate and resolution to allow you to open many windows simultaneously.
There is 1 upstream USB 3.0 port that allows the monitor to work as a USB hub. Also 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.
Features
The Dell S2719DGF has no internal speakers, and does not support HDR10. It has a few additional features that are most useful to gamers.
The monitor does not have internal speakers, and does not support HDR10. It has some common additional features most of which are for enhancing the gameplay experience:
- Frame Rate Counter: Counts the fps the monitor is displaying.
- Dark Stabilizer: Brings out dark details. Especially useful in FPS games.
- Timer: Allows you to display a stopwatch on the screen.
- Display Alignment: Shows grid lines on the edges of the screen to facilitate side-by-side allignment with another monitor.
Update 02/01/2019: There are no internal speakers. The review has been updated.
Differences between Sizes and Variants
We've tested the 27" S2719DGF, there are two other sizes available in the same family of monitors.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Dell S2719DGF 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.
| Model | Size | Native Resolution | Refresh rate | Notes | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2719DGF | 27" | 2560x1440p | 144Hz |
FreeSync |
2019 |
| S2716DG | 27'' | 2560x1440p | 144Hz | G-Sync | 2016 |
| S2417DG | 24'' | 2560x1440p | 144Hz | G-Sync | 2017 |
Note: The S2719DGF we purchased was manufactured in November 2018.
Compared to other Monitors
The Dell S2719DGF is a decent monitor overall. It is great for gaming thanks to its many gaming related features. It's priced quite competitively too, so it tends to be a good choice if you're looking for a gaming monitor (see our recommendations for the best gaming monitors and the best budget gaming monitors).
The Dell S2716DG has very similar performance to the Dell S2719DGF, and the minor differences can be attributed to panel variance. The most significant difference between them is that the S2719DGF supports FreeSync VRR whereas the S2716DG supports G-SYNC VRR and incorporates a BFI feature that the S2719DGF is lacking.
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.
The LG 27GL850-B is much better than the Dell S2719DGF for most uses, especially if ergonomics aren't important for you. The LG has much better picture quality, with wide viewing angles, much better gradient handling, and HDR support. The LG also has slightly better motion handling, with a slightly faster response time, resulting in slightly clearer motion.
These are two different types of monitors, each with its advantages and disadvantages. However, in its overall performance, the Gigabyte Aorus AD27QD is significantly better than the Dell S2719DGF. The Aorus has wider viewing angles and a lower input lag. The response time is fast, but not as fast as the TN panel Dell S2719DGF. The Aorus AD27QD supports HDR, although its HDR performance isn't that great.
Although the two monitors have a different panel type, most people will agree that the ASUS ROG PG279QZ is much better than the Dell S2719DGF. The ASUS has much better viewing angles due to its IPS panel and supports G-SYNC, whereas the Dell supports FreeSync. The ASUS has much better black uniformity and incorporates a BFI feature that can make the image crisper.
The AOC AGON AG271QX is a bit better than the Dell S2719DGF. The AOC AGON AG271QX has much better black uniformity and thus less backlight bleed in very dark scenes in a dark room. The Dell S2719DGF, on the other hand, has slightly better ergonomics which can be helpful depending on your setup.
These are two different types of monitors, each with their advantages and disadvantages. The LG 27UK650-W, however, performs better in most uses except gaming. The LG has wider viewing angles, supports HDR, and has better dark room performance, although it still isn't too great. The Dell S2719DGF, on the other hand, has a TN panel with an extremely fast response time, and in conjunction with the lower input lag, it's a better choice if gaming is your primary use and you sit straight in front.
For most people, the VA panel Samsung CHG70 is significantly better than the TN panel Dell S2719DGF. The Samsung CHG70 has better dark room performance with more uniform blacks and local dimming support. The Samsung CHG70 supports HDR content and has a slight curve to immerse you into your work. The Dell S2719DGF, on the other hand, has a more versatile stand that allows you to place it in a comfortable position with ease, and a slightly faster pixel response time that leaves virtually no blur behind fast-moving objects.
The ASUS VG279Q is a bit better than the Dell S2719DGF. The VG279Q has much better black uniformity, although it still isn't great, and the VG279Q has an optional black frame insertion feature. The S2719DGF has a higher resolution screen, which some people might prefer, and it has a faster response time.
The MSI Optix MAG271CQR is slightly better than the Dell S2719DGF. The MSI has much better contrast, better gray uniformity, and an optional black frame insertion feature. The Dell, on the other hand, has better ergonomics, so it's a bit easier to place it in an ideal viewing position.
The Acer VG271UP is better than the Dell S2719DGF. The VG271UP has much better viewing angles, better gray uniformity, and it supports HDR. The VG271UP also has an optional black frame insertion feature.
The Acer Predator XB271HU is better than the Dell S2719DGF. The Acer has better viewing angles, an optional black frame insertion feature, and better black uniformity. For gaming, it depends somewhat on your hardware, as the Acer supports G-SYNC variable refresh rate technology whereas the Dell supports FreeSync.
Although they use different panel technologies, the Acer Nitro VG271 is much better than the Dell S2719DGF. The Acer displays more uniform blacks and supports HDR, great for dark room gaming. It also has wider viewing angles so you can share your screen with a friend, and both enjoy an accurate image. The Dell, on the other hand, has a higher resolution and a TN panel, which is great for gaming. The response time of the Dell is extremely fast, and fast-moving content on your games will appear crisp with almost no blur trail.
The LG 27GL650F-B is much better than the Dell S2719DGF for most uses, but the Dell is a bit better for gaming. The LG supports HDR, has better viewing angles, and an optional black frame insertion feature. The Dell has better ergonomics and a faster response time, and a higher native resolution.
The HP OMEN 27 and the Dell S2719DGF both have very similar performance in almost all uses. The Dell S2719DGF supports FreeSync VRR whereas the HP Omen 27 supports G-SYNC VRR. The Dell has better ergonomics, but the HP has a black frame insertion (BFI) feature that isn't available on the Dell.
The BenQ EW3270U and the Dell S2719DGF have different panel types, each with advantages and disadvantages. The BenQ supports HDR and has a significantly better black uniformity, which favors dark room use such as consuming multimedia or playing HDR games. The Dell, apart from having better ergonomic adjustments, is a better gaming monitor thanks to the faster pixel response time that produces crisper motion, the faster refresh rate, and the lower input lag.
The Dell U2718Q is significantly better than the Dell S2719DGF for most uses, but the S2719DGF is better for gaming. The U2718Q has a higher resolution screen, with better viewing angles, HDR support, and much better black uniformity. The S2719DGF is better for gaming, with a higher refresh rate, FreeSync support, and a flicker-free backlight.
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is better than the Dell S2719DGF for most uses, but the S2719DGF is a bit better for gaming. The AW3418DW has a wide-format screen, wide viewing angles, and better black uniformity. The S2719DGF, on the other hand, has a higher refresh rate, better ergonomics, and a faster response time, making it a better choice for gaming.
The Dell S2719DGF is marginally better than the ASUS PB277Q. The Dell S2719DGF has a much higher refresh rate and supports FreeSync which makes it a better gaming monitor. In most other uses, the two monitors perform very similarly.
The Acer Nitro XF252Q is slightly better than the Dell S2719DGF. The XF252Q supports HDR, although this doesn't add much, and it has an optional black frame insertion feature to help improve the appearance of motion. The Dell S2719DGF has a higher native resolution, which is easier for multitasking and makes it easier to see more fine details in games.
The Dell S2719DGF is better than the LG 24GL600F. The Dell has a larger, higher-resolution screen, and significantly better ergonomics. The LG has an optional black frame insertion feature, but overall, motion handling is very similar between the two.
Conclusion
This is a decent monitor for mixed usage. It has a very fast response time that leaves only minimal blur and very low input lag to enhance the gaming experience. It has good size and enough resolution to allow you to multitask, and good brightness suitable for bright spaces.
The Dell S2719DGF is a decent monitor for office use. The screen size and native resolution are suitable for working with multiple windows open at the same time. It has great ergonomics and you can easily swivel it towards your colleague sitting next to you if you wish to share your work. It can handle reflections well so you do not have to worry if a few small light sources are facing the monitor.
The S2719DGF is a very good monitor for gaming. It is very responsive to your actions due to the very low input lag and its extremely fast response time ensures that fast moving content will have very little blur. It has great resolution and large size that allow you to see every detail of your game. Finally, it supports FreeSync that prevents tearing and can be overclocked up to 155Hz to enhance your gaming experience.
This is a decent monitor for multimedia. It is very responsive due to the low input lag and has good size and excellent resolution so that you can view most of the online available content at its native resolution. Unfortunately, the best image quality is reserved for those sitting directly in front due to the disappointing viewing angles.
The Dell S2719DGF is a decent monitor for media creation. It has good resolution and size that allows you to stack many windows on your screen. It has a good color gamut for casual users, but professionals will find it limiting. Unfortunately, the viewing angles are disappointing and the image at the sides is less accurate. On the upside, swiveling left or right is easy due to the great ergonomics.
HDR is not supported. If you are looking of a monitor with HDR support check out the Samsung CHG70.
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