The Dell S2725QC is a cost-friendly 4k, 27-inch productivity monitor. Part of Dell's Plus Series of monitors, it's an updated version of the popular Dell S2722QC, sitting higher-end than the Dell S2725QS, which has fewer features. However, it's different than the similarly named Dell S3225QC because that model has a QD-OLED panel, and this one has an IPS panel. It comes with work-oriented features, like an ergonomic stand and a USB hub that includes a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W of power delivery to charge a laptop. It also has built-in speakers, but there aren't any additional audio outputs. It even has a higher 120Hz refresh rate than the older S2722QC, providing a smoother feel, and its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth offers better compatibility with gaming consoles, too.
Our Verdict
The Dell S2725QC is mediocre for PC gaming. It has low input lag for a responsive feel, its 120Hz refresh rate is high enough for some gamers, and it has high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports. Unfortunately, motion looks blurry at any refresh rate, which is disappointing for playing action games. It also has limited picture quality with its low contrast ratio, which makes blacks look gray, and it fails to make highlights pop in HDR.
Low input lag.
120Hz refresh rate.
4k resolution for detailed and sharp images.
Motion is blurry at any refresh rate.
Low contrast ratio.
Limited colors in HDR.
Highlights don't pop.
The Dell S2725QC is decent for console gaming. It supports most signals from modern consoles thanks to its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and its 4k resolution helps deliver detailed images. Gaming also feels responsive thanks to its low input lag. However, motion in fast-moving games is really blurry, and it fails to deliver an impactful HDR gaming experience. Blacks look gray, it lacks a local dimming feature, highlights don't pop, and it has a narrow HDR color gamut.
Low input lag.
120Hz refresh rate.
4k resolution for detailed and sharp images.
Supports most signals from consoles.
Motion is blurry at any refresh rate.
Low contrast ratio.
Limited colors in HDR.
Highlights don't pop.
The Dell S2725QC is impressive for work. Its high 4k resolution helps deliver sharp text, and the 27-inch screen helps with multitasking. It also comes with an ergonomic stand, but some of its adjustments don't easily stay in place. On the plus side, it has some productivity features, like a USB hub that includes a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W of power delivery to a laptop. It also gets bright enough to fight glare in a moderately lit room, but reflections are distracting in a sunny room.
4k resolution for detailed and sharp images.
Ergonomic stand.
USB hub that includes USB-C port.
Consistently bright screen.
Wobbles easily on stand.
Reflections are distracting in sunny rooms.
The Dell S2725QC is good for editing. The 4k resolution allows you to view your photos or videos with a lot of detail, and the 27-inch screen helps if you want to place two windows next to each other. It also comes with a dedicated sRGB mode that's very accurate before calibration, but there are still gamma and white balance issues that need fixing with a full calibration. It unfortunately has limited picture quality, as blacks look gray due to its low contrast ratio. It also has a narrow color gamut in HDR, and colors are muted.
4k resolution for detailed and sharp images.
Ergonomic stand.
Consistently bright screen.
Accurate sRGB mode.
Low contrast ratio.
Limited colors in HDR.
Highlights don't pop.
White balance and gamma issues need calibrating.
The Dell S2725QC has decent brightness. While it's fine if you want to use it in a moderately lit room, it doesn't get bright enough to fight intense glare. Highlights don't pop in HDR, either.
Consistently bright screen.
Highlights don't pop.
The Dell S2725QC has a poor response time as motion looks blurry at any refresh rate.
Motion is blurry at any refresh rate.
The Dell S2725QC has bad HDR picture quality. It has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and it lacks a local dimming feature to deepen any blacks. It also has a limited color gamut in HDR, so highlights look muted.
Low contrast ratio.
Limited colors in HDR.
The Dell S2725QC has good SDR picture quality. It displays a wide range of colors, but its biggest downside is that blacks look gray due to its low contrast ratio.
Displays wide range of colors.
Low contrast ratio.
The Dell S2725QC has excellent color accuracy. It comes with an accurate sRGB mode, but you still need to calibrate it for the best accuracy because it has gamma and white balance issues.
Accurate sRGB mode.
White balance and gamma issues need calibrating.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Feb 02, 2026:
We added that the Dell S2725DC is a budget-friendly option with a USB hub.
- Updated Nov 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1.1. We removed the Vertical Viewing Angle test.
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Updated Nov 03, 2025:
We clarified the differences between this monitor and the Dell S3225QC.
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Updated Sep 30, 2025:
We clarified that your graphics card needs to use compression for 10-bit signals at its max refresh rate over USB-C.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We bought and tested the 27-inch Dell S2725QC, which is the only size available, and the results are only valid for this model. You can see differences with other Dell Plus 4k monitors below, including the similarly named Dell S3225QC, which uses a different panel.
| Model | Size | Panel Type | USB Ports |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2725QS | 27" | IPS | None |
| S2725QC | 27" | IPS |
2x USB-C 2x USB-A |
| S3225QC | 32" | QD-OLED | 3x USB-C |
Our unit's label indicates it was manufactured in February 2025. We tested it with firmware M3B101.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The Dell S2725QC is a 4k, 27-inch monitor that's part of the Dell Plus Series lineup. It sits above the more basic Dell S2725QS, which doesn't have a USB hub, and the lower-resolution Dell S2725DC. Its gaming perks are also a nice upgrade over the older Dell S2722QC, as the HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and 120Hz refresh rate make it a decent choice for console gaming after work, but its poor motion handling limits its overall gaming performance. It also offers decent picture quality for content creation, with an accurate sRGB mode, but it has a narrower color gamut than higher-end models like the Dell U2725QE. That monitor also has a much bigger USB hub, so it's something to consider over the S2725QC if you need an all-in-one work monitor and you aren't on a budget. That said, the S2725QC is still a solid, cost-friendly option for someone who needs a high-resolution screen for work with some productivity perks.
Also see our recommendations for the best 4k monitors, the best monitors for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, and the best monitors under $500.
The Dell S2725QC sits above the Dell S2725QS in the Dell Plus Series lineup. They're both 4k, 27-inch monitors that are very similar, but the main difference is that the S2725QC comes with a USB hub, which the S2725QS doesn't have. There are some differences in performance, though, as the S2725QS gets a bit brighter, displays a slightly wider range of colors, and is a bit more accurate out-of-the-box, but these differences are hard to tell in person.
The Dell U2725QE is higher-end than the Dell S2725QC and comes with extra features. The biggest difference between them is that the U2725QE has a bigger USB hub that includes a KVM switch and Thunderbolt support, which the S2725QC doesn't have. The U2725QE also has an IPS Black panel for deeper blacks, but it has limited picture quality in HDR anyway because of its terrible local dimming. The U2725QE also gets brighter, but you may prefer the S2725QC in a bright room because reflected light doesn't have a pink tint like the U2725QE.
The Dell S2725QC is an updated version of the Dell S2722QC. The S2725QC comes with a higher 120Hz refresh rate for a smoother feel and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for better compatibility with modern graphics cards and gaming consoles. The picture quality is similar between them, but the S2725QC also comes with an sRGB mode for more accurate out-of-the-box colors than the S2722QC. The S2722QC still has some advantages, like the fact that it has an audio jack, and it feels better built than the S2725QC.
The Dell S2725QC and the Dell U2723QE are both 27-inch, 4k monitors, with the U2723QE being higher-end. The main advantage of getting the U2723QE is that it has a bigger USB hub with higher power delivery and a KVM switch, so it's the better choice for multitasking. The U2723QE also has the slight edge for picture quality because it displays a wider range of colors. However, the S2725QC has better gaming perks with a higher refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that's useful for gaming with modern graphics cards and consoles.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
Test Results
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