The Dell S2722QC is a 27-inch, 4k monitor aimed at productivity. It's an updated version of the Dell S2721QS with a different selection of inputs. The Dell S2722QC has a USB-C input that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with power delivery, allowing you to connect your laptop to display an image and charge it with the same cable. It has additional features for productivity, like Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes, so two connected devices can display their content simultaneously on the screen. It also has FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support for a nearly tear-free gaming experience, though it's otherwise limited in gaming features.
The Dell S2722QC is very good for most uses. It's a 4k monitor mainly designed for the office, and it provides incredible text clarity and sharp images. Its large, detailed screen works well for those editing photos and videos as well as watching multimedia content. It also has excellent ergonomics, allowing you to adjust it to your preferred position, and has wide viewing angles so you can easily share your screen with someone else. It's decent for 4k gaming but limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. It has a slow response time, so some blur appears behind fast-moving objects. Its HDR performance is mediocre, as it has low HDR brightness with highlights that don't pop, and its low contrast ratio causes deep blacks to appear gray in a darker room.
The Dell S2722QC is excellent for office use. The 4k resolution produces incredible text clarity, and the 27-inch screen is a good size for multitasking. It has excellent ergonomics that make it easy to adjust it to your preferred position, and the wide viewing angles are ideal for sharing your screen with others, as the image remains consistent from the sides. It also has a few extra office-friendly features, like a USB-C input with power delivery, so you can connect your laptop and charge it at the same time with a single cable.
The Dell S2722QC is decent for 4k gaming. It has a slow response time, so there's noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects. On the other hand, it has variable refresh rate support, resulting in a nearly tear-free gaming experience, and it has great low input lag, so fast-paced games feel responsive. You can connect your gaming console and play 4k games up to 60Hz, but it doesn't have a high refresh rate; it's limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth.
The Dell S2722QC is good for media consumption. It displays high-resolution content in great detail thanks to the 4k screen, and the 27-inch size offers enough screen space for an immersive viewing experience. It has wide viewing angles that are ideal for sharing your screen with others, as the image remains consistent from the sides. However, it has a low contrast ratio and no local dimming feature, so blacks appear gray when viewed in darker environments.
The Dell S2722QC is great for content creation. It delivers sharp images and text thanks to its 4k resolution and high pixel density. Its accuracy before calibration is decent, though it needs a full calibration for the most accurate image. However, it has limited Adobe RGB coverage, so it doesn't display some colors during photo editing. It has wide viewing angles and excellent ergonomics, so the image remains consistent from the sides, and you can adjust it to your preferred position.
The Dell S2722QC is mediocre for HDR. It has a low contrast ratio and no local dimming feature, so deep blacks look gray in a dark room. Its peak HDR brightness is only okay, and highlights don't pop. Finally, it doesn't display all the colors needed for HDR, so colors look washed out and aren't realistic.
We tested the 27-inch Dell S2722QC, which is the only size available for this monitor. It's an updated version of the Dell S2721QS as it has a USB-C port, and you can see some differences between the 4k monitors in the Dell S Series lineup below. Our results in this review are only valid for the S2722QC.
Model | Panel | Size | Stand Adjustments | Connectivity |
---|---|---|---|---|
S2721Q | IPS | 27" | Tilt | HDMI, DisplayPort |
S2721QS | IPS | 27" | Tilt, Swivel, Height, Portrait | HDMI, DisplayPort |
S2722QC | IPS | 27" | Tilt, Swivel, Height, Portrait | HDMI, USB-C, USB 3.0 |
S3221QS | VA | 32" | Tilt, Height | HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.0 |
Our Dell S2722QC unit was manufactured in July 2021; you can see the label here.
The Dell S2722QC is a great mid-range 4k office monitor. It has many productivity features like its USB-C input, USB hub, and ergonomic stand, and the 4k resolution ensures crisp text. If you need something for the office and want to take advantage of the USB-C input, it's worth the upgrade over the Dell S2721QS. If you're looking for a monitor that can display a wider range of colors in HDR and has better color accuracy before calibration, in addition to a larger USB hub and a KVM switch, consider the Dell U2723QE.
See our recommendations for the best 4k monitors, the best office monitors, and the best monitors under $500.
The Dell S2722QC and the Dell U2723QE are both good overall 4k monitors. Picture quality is similar between both, except the U2723QE has much better out-of-the-box accuracy and displays a wider range of colors in HDR. The U2723QE also has more inputs like a DisplayPort output that you can use for daisy chaining and multiple USB-C ports. However, the S2722QC has much better reflection handling, making it a better choice for well-lit rooms, and it's slightly more versatile for gaming because it supports VRR.
The Dell S2722QC is an updated version of the Dell S2721QS with many of the same features, but there are a few differences. They're built the same and have similar picture quality with an IPS panel with wide viewing angles and a 4k resolution. However, the main differences are with the inputs: while the S2722QC has a USB-C input and two USB 3.0 inputs, the S2721QS has a DisplayPort input, which the S2722QC doesn't have. The S2722QC has a slightly quicker response time, but other than that, both monitors are similar.
The Dell UltraSharp U2720Q and the Dell S2722QC are similar 4k monitors. Picture quality is about the same between both, but the S2722QC is better for well-lit rooms because it gets brighter and has better reflection handling. Motion also looks better on the S2722QC because it has a quicker response time and also supports VRR, which the U2720Q doesn't. On the other hand, the U2720Q has a better selection of inputs because it has an extra USB-C and USB 3.0 input compared to the S2722QC, and it also has a DisplayPort input. While both monitors have ergonomic stands, the one on the U2720Q offers a wider swivel range and higher height adjustment.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV and the Dell S2722QC are both impressive office monitors, but they have a few different features. The Dell is a 4k monitor with much better text clarity, while the ASUS has a 1440p screen and a slightly higher 75Hz refresh rate. The Dell supports HDR, which the ASUS doesn't have, but it doesn't add much to the Dell anyway, because it has a low contrast and lacks local dimming. The Dell also supports Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes. On the other hand, the ASUS has much better out-of-the-box accuracy, but this can vary between units. Both have similar stands, but the ASUS offers a wider range of ergonomic adjustments.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV and the Dell S2722QC are both impressive office monitors, with a few differences between them. The Dell has a higher 4k resolution than the 1440p on the ASUS, so text is much sharper, and it also displays a wider color gamut in SDR. The Dell supports HDR, which the ASUS doesn't, but it doesn't look good anyway. The Dell also has a few more office-friendly features like a USB-C input and Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes, but the ASUS has better ergonomics. The ASUS also gets slightly brighter and has a bit better reflection handling, but both perform well in bright rooms.
The Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80 and the Dell S2722QC are different types of 4k displays. The Samsung has a built-in smart interface that makes it easy to stream your favorite content without a PC. It also performs better in dark rooms thanks to its higher contrast. However, the Dell is an office monitor with many more inputs, including USB-A ports, making it easy to connect multiple devices and your mouse and keyboard. While both monitors get bright, the Dell has improved reflection handling, which is important if you want to use it in a well-lit room.
The Dell S2722QC is a more versatile monitor than the Apple Studio Display. The Dell supports HDR, which the Apple doesn't, and it's much easier to place in an ideal viewing position thanks to its better ergonomics. It also has more inputs like HDMI ports if you want to use it for gaming. Although the Apple monitor is meant for macOS users, the Dell has no issues with a Mac or MacBook. The Apple does have a few advantages, like having better accuracy and getting much brighter, so you won't have any issues using it in a bright room.
The Dell S2721DGF and the Dell S2722QC are different types of monitors. The S2722QC is designed for productivity as it has a 4k screen and more office features like a USB-C input and Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes, meaning you can connect two devices. The S2721DGF is designed for gaming as it has a much higher 165Hz refresh rate and much quicker response times too. The S2721DGF also has a local dimming feature, which the S2722QC doesn't have, but it performs terribly.
The Dell S2722QC and the Dell U3223QE are both good overall 4k monitors with a few differences. The U3223QE has a better selection of inputs as it has a USB hub with a KVM switch, and it supports daisy chaining, allowing you to easily connect a second display. It also has better ergonomics as it allows for greater height adjustment. However, the S2722QC has much better reflection handling, and it's a bit more versatile for gaming because it has VRR support.
The Dell S2722QC is a better overall 4k monitor than the BenQ EW3270U. The S2722QC has much better ergonomics, and its IPS panel has wider viewing angles, making it a better choice for sharing your screen with someone else. It's also better for well-lit environments because it gets brighter. The S2722QC has a different selection of inputs including a USB-C input and two USB 3.0 ports, but the EW3270U has a DisplayPort input. As for the EW3270U, it's better for dark room use because its VA panel has a higher contrast ratio.
The Dell S2722QC and the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) are both great office monitors. They each offer productivity features like USB-C inputs and Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes, but the Gigabyte has a KVM switch that allows you to control two sources with one keyboard and mouse. The S2722QC delivers sharper text thanks to its higher 4k resolution, and it uses a typical RGB subpixel layout, so there aren't any issues like with the BGR subpixel layout on the Gigabyte. However, the Gigabyte is more versatile for gaming because it has a much higher 170Hz refresh rate, and it also has a DisplayPort input which the Dell lacks.
The ergonomics are excellent, making it easy to adjust the monitor to your preferred position. The back of the monitor features textured white plastic. You can easily remove the stand from the screen if you choose to VESA mount it. The hole in the stand also offers basic cable management.
The stand base is flat, so you can place items on top if you need to, and it only takes up a little space. There's a bit of wobble, but overall, the stand supports the screen well.
This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. We still film these videos on the monitor so you can compare the backlight performance with a monitor that has local dimming.
The SDR peak brightness is great. It gets bright enough to fight glare in a brighter room and maintains the brightness well across different content. These measurements are from after calibration in the 'Custom Color' Picture Mode with the Brightness at its max.
The HDR peak brightness is adequate. It follows the EOTF curve fairly well, with a fairly sharp roll-off at peak brightness to ensure only your computer is tone-mapping brighter scenes. However, dark scenes are overbrightened, and deep blacks appear gray in a darker room. Additionally, highlights don't pop due to the lower maximum HDR brightness.
These measurements are in the 'Desktop' Smart HDR mode, which locks the brightness at its max. There's very little difference in brightness with the other modes, but the 'Movie HDR' setting doesn't track the EOTF curve as well, as almost all scenes are over brightened.
The horizontal viewing angle is great. It works well if you need to share your screen with someone sitting next to you, as they'll see a consistent image from the sides.
The vertical viewing angle is impressive. The image remains consistent if you stand up and look down at the monitor.
The pre-calibration color accuracy is satisfactory. The color temperature is extremely close to the 6500K target, and the white balance is only a bit off. However, most colors are oversaturated, and there's no sRGB mode to lock them to the sRGB color space. The gamma follows a strange pattern, as very dark and very bright scenes are too dark, while other scenes are over-brightened. Check out the Apple Studio Display if you want something with much better color accuracy.
The accuracy after calibration is remarkable. Calibration fixes most inaccuracies and significantly improves every measurement. However, very dark and very bright scenes are too bright.
The SDR color gamut is superb. It has perfect coverage of the commonly used sRGB color space, but it doesn't display a considerable amount of the Adobe RGB color space, which isn't ideal for professional publishing.
The HDR color gamut is adequate. It has decent coverage of the DCI-P3 color space used by most current HDR content, but its Rec. 2020 color space coverage is more limited. However, it struggles with tone mapping, so most colors are inaccurate.
The Dell S2722QC has decent HDR color volume. Because it has a low contrast ratio and only decent HDR brightness, bright colors aren't vivid, and dark colors appear gray or very undersaturated in HDR.
The monitor has a max refresh rate of 60Hz at its native 4k resolution. It's limited to 30Hz with a 10-bit signal and full chroma 4:4:4 on its HDMI ports due to bandwidth limitations. A 4k @ 60Hz signal is only possible over HDMI if you either reduce the color depth to 8-bit, or introduce chroma subsampling (4:2:2 or 4:2:0 chroma subsampling), but this reduces text clarity. You can only achieve the 10-bit color depth with 4k @ 60Hz through the USB-C connection when you set USB-C Prioritization to 'High Resolution'.
The Dell S2722QC supports FreeSync over HDMI and USB-C. It's also G-SYNC compatible, though only over USB-C.
Overdrive Setting | Response Time Chart | Response Time Tables | Motion Blur Photo |
Normal | Chart | Table | Photo |
Fast | Chart | Table | Photo |
Extreme | Chart | Table | Photo |
The response time at the maximum refresh of 60Hz is okay. There's noticeable motion blur with fast-moving objects, which isn't ideal if you're editing a video with a lot of movement or scrolling through long documents. The recommended Response Time setting is 'Normal' since 'Fast' and 'Extreme' have too much overshoot.
This monitor doesn't support a 120Hz signal.
This monitor has no optional backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur.
This Dell S2722QC has low input lag, so you won't notice any delay. You'll get a responsive feel.
Unlike the Dell S2721QS, this monitor doesn't have a DisplayPort input. However, it supports DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C. If your sources only have DisplayPort outputs, you'll need a USB-C adapter. This monitor is limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, and if you want an HDMI 2.1 monitor, check out the Dell G3223Q.
The USB-C input supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and power delivery, allowing you to charge compatible devices and display an image from them at the same time. You can also use the USB 3.0 inputs to charge devices, and the input underneath the left side of the screen is easy to access. If you want something with more USB inputs, look into the Dell U2723QE.
This monitor works well with macOS. Scaling defaults to 1080p, but you can change it to 4k. The monitor supports both VRR and HDR properly on macOS. When using a MacBook, windows return to their original position when waking the laptop up from sleep.
There are widespread reports of flicker when using this monitor with M1 Macs. While we haven't been able to reproduce this issue with our unit, some users report that increasing the Contrast to '90' or higher fixes this issue.
The monitor has a few extra features, including: