The Dell S3221QS is a good 4k monitor that's well-suited for a wide variety of uses. Its 32 inch curved screen allows you to work comfortably with multiple windows opened side-by-side and delivers an incredibly immersive gaming experience in atmospheric games like RPGs. It has a VA panel that can produce deep blacks, which is great for those who like gaming in the dark. Its response time is decent, input lag is low, and it supports FreeSync to help minimize screen tearing. Unfortunately, there are some downsides, as it has mediocre viewing angles and poor ergonomics. It has HDR support; however, the overall experience is unremarkable due to its low HDR peak brightness.
Our Verdict
The Dell S3221QS is a good monitor for most uses. It has a large screen and high resolution, making it a good choice for work, gaming, or watching videos online. It has low input lag, decent response time, and supports variable refresh rate for a nearly tear-free gaming experience. It performs well in dark rooms and gets bright enough to fight glare in well-lit environments. Unfortunately, it has mediocre viewing angles and limited ergonomic adjustments.
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Great contrast ratio.
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Large screen and 4k resolution.
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Good reflection handling.
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Poor ergonomics.
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Mediocre viewing angles.
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Doesn't get bright enough for HDR content.
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No local dimming.
The Dell S3221QS is a good office monitor. It gets bright enough to overcome glare in most lighting conditions and handles reflections well. Its large screen size lets you open multiple windows side-by-side, and text looks exceptionally sharp thanks to its high pixel density. Sadly, it's difficult to adjust the monitor to your preferred viewing position due to its poor ergonomics. Also, its mediocre viewing angles make it harder to share your work with coworkers.
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Large screen and 4k resolution.
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Good reflection handling.
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Exceptional text clarity.
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Poor ergonomics.
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Mediocre viewing angles.
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Doesn't get bright enough for HDR content.
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No local dimming.
The Dell S3221QS is good for gaming. It has low input lag, decent response time, and variable refresh rate support to help reduce screen tearing. It's great for atmospheric games like RPGs, as it has a large screen and high resolution to deliver an incredibly immersive experience. Unfortunately, the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, and its poor ergonomics make it hard to adjust the screen to your optimal viewing position.
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Great contrast ratio.
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VRR support.
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Large screen and 4k resolution.
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Good reflection handling.
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Poor ergonomics.
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Mediocre viewing angles.
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Doesn't get bright enough for HDR content.
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No local dimming.
The Dell S3221QS is good for media consumption. It has a large 32 inch screen with a 4k resolution to deliver an immersive viewing experience. It has a high contrast ratio to produce deep blacks, making it a good option for dark rooms. Unfortunately, it has poor ergonomics and mediocre viewing angles, so it isn't ideal for sharing content.
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Great contrast ratio.
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Large screen and 4k resolution.
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Good reflection handling.
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Poor ergonomics.
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Mediocre viewing angles.
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Doesn't get bright enough for HDR content.
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No local dimming.
The Dell S3221QS is good for content creation. Its large screen allows you to work comfortably, and its high resolution lets you see the fine details of your work. It has a high contrast ratio, full sRGB coverage, and decent color accuracy out-of-the-box. It isn't the best option for sharing your work, though, as it has mediocre viewing angles and poor ergonomics.
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Great contrast ratio.
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Large screen and 4k resolution.
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Good reflection handling.
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Poor ergonomics.
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Mediocre viewing angles.
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Doesn't get bright enough for HDR content.
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No local dimming.
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Large screen and 4k resolution.
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Good reflection handling.
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Poor ergonomics.
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Mediocre viewing angles.
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Doesn't get bright enough for HDR content.
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No local dimming.
- 7.4 Mixed Usage
- 7.7 Office
- 6.9 Gaming
- 7.7 Media Consumption
- 7.9 Media Creation
- 6.9 HDR
- Updated Dec 07, 2023: Changed the Text Clarity score to 9.0 to better reflect other monitors that we've tested.
- Updated Jun 02, 2023: Added that the MSI Optix G321CU is a 4k, 32-inch monitor with a higher Refresh Rate.
- Updated Apr 27, 2023: Confirmed that 1440p @ 60Hz works on this monitor with the PS5.
- Updated Jun 16, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.2, resulting in changes to the results and scores with the Response Time and Input Lag. Added tests for Console Compatibility and macOS compatibility and made minor changes to other tests, which you can see in our Changelog.
- Updated Aug 03, 2021: We remeasured the thickness of the monitor and retested the variable refresh rate range.
- Updated Oct 06, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Sep 25, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Sep 14, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Sep 11, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Sep 02, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 32 inch Dell S3221QS. There's a smaller 27 inch variant, the S2721QS; however, it has an IPS panel, and we expect it to have very different performance. There are many monitors in Dell's S Series with various configurations, some of which you can see in the table below.
| Model | Size | Panel Type | Resolution | Refresh Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S3221QS | 32" | VA | 3840 x 2160 | 60Hz |
| S2721QS | 27" | IPS | 3840 x 2160 | 60Hz |
| S2721D | 27" | IPS | 2560 x 1440 | 75Hz |
| S2721H | 27" | IPS | 1920 x 1080 | 75Hz |
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Dell S3221QS doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, such as gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.
Our unit of the Dell S3221QS was manufactured in July 2020; you can see the label here.
Compared To Other Monitors
The Dell S3221QS is a good monitor overall. It's well-suited for a wide variety of uses; however, its poor ergonomics make it less ideal if you often need to share content or work. If you don't mind a lower 1440p resolution, the Dell S3220DGF has significantly better ergonomics and provides a much better gaming experience. For other options, check out our recommendations for the best office monitors, the best 4k monitors, and the best monitors.
Overall, the Dell S2721QS is much better than the Dell S3221QS. Although they look similar, the S2721QS has wider viewing angles and significantly better ergonomics and gets brighter in SDR mode. However, the S3221QS' VA panel has a higher contrast ratio and is better suited for dark rooms, and its larger screen size provides more space for multitasking.
The Dell S3221QS and the BenQ EW3270U are very similar overall. The main differences are that the Dell gets brighter in SDR and HDR, and the BenQ has faster response time. The BenQ has wider viewing angles, but still not as good as most IPS panels.
The Dell S3221QS and the Dell S3222DGM target different users, so which one is best depends on your needs. The S3221QS is better for office users or media creators, as it has a high-resolution screen with fantastic text clarity, and it supports HDR. The S3222DGM is better for gaming, though, with a much faster refresh rate, a better response time, lower input lag, and an optional black frame insertion feature.
The LG 32UL500-W and the Dell S3221QS are very similar as they're both 32 inch VA panel monitors with a 4k resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. However, the Dell has a 1800R curved screen while the LG is flat. The Dell gets a bit brighter, making it a better choice for bright rooms, and it's a little bit better in terms of ergonomics because it allows for height adjustment. For content creators, the LG has better Adobe RGB and DCI P3 coverage. On the other hand, the Dell has more extra features, including two USB ports and a Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture mode.
Overall, the Dell S3220DGF is slightly better than the Dell S3221QS. The S3220DGF is better suited for gaming, as it has lower input, faster response time, and a 165Hz refresh rate. It also has much better ergonomics and gets brighter in HDR. On the other hand, the S3221QS has a 4k resolution and wider viewing angles.
The LG 27UK650-W is better than the Dell S3221QS. The 27UK650-W has much better ergonomics, wider viewing angles, and gets a lot brighter. It also has significantly faster response time, making it a better choice for gaming. However, the Dell S3221QS's VA panel is better for dark rooms, and its 32 inch screen provides much more screen real estate for multitasking.
The Dell S3221QS is better than the Samsung U32J590. The Dell gets significantly brighter, has HDR support, and allows for height adjustment. However, the Samsung has wider viewing angles and faster response time.
The Dell S3221QS and the LG 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B are both good 32-inch monitors, although each is better suited to different uses. As a gaming monitor, the LG has a 165Hz panel, a much faster response time, and a lower input lag. The Dell, on the other hand, is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. That said, the Dell has a 4k resolution that ensures a crisp image despite the larger size, so it's well-suited to multitasking and anything that requires a lot of screen real estate. The Dell also gets brighter and has better reflection handling, so it's more suited to well-lit rooms.
The Dell S3221QS is better than the AOC CQ27G2 overall; however, they aren't intended for the same use. The Dell is an office monitor with a much bigger screen, a higher resolution, and it gets a lot brighter. The AOC is a gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate, a much faster response time, and lower input lag.
The Dell S3221QS and the Dell UltraSharp U4021QW are good monitors overall, but they have a few key differences. The S3221QS is smaller and uses a VA panel, so it has a higher contrast ratio than the U4021WQ. On the other hand, the U4021QW is a larger, ultrawide monitor with an IPS panel, so it has wider viewing angles. It also has a higher 5k resolution for an exceptionally sharp image, but it lacks extra features like VRR support and HDR.
The Dell S3221QS and the LG 48 C1 OLED are different types of 4k displays. The LG is a TV that we tested as a monitor, so it has a ton more features like a built-in OS and processing features. Its OLED panel can turn off individual pixels, resulting in a near-infinite contrast. However, the Dell has an LED panel that gets brighter and doesn't have the risk of permanent burn-in like OLEDs. The LG has more gaming features such as HDMI 2.1 inputs and VRR support, and it has a near-instant response time for smooth motion.
Test Results
The Dell S3221QS has a simple design that fits well in most office settings. It looks almost identical to the Dell S2721D we tested, but with a curved screen. It has thin borders on three sides with a slightly thicker bottom bezel.
The Dell S3221QS' build quality is good. The stand is very sturdy, as it has a metal frame covered with high-quality plastic and supports the monitor well. The tilting hinge is good too and allows for easy and precise adjustments. The plastic back feels well-made; however, it flexes a bit at the edges and detaches easily from the frame. Also, the borders feel cheap, as it doesn't follow the screen's curvature, creating small gaps in some areas.
Unfortunately, this monitor has poor ergonomics. There's no swivel adjustment or rotation to portrait mode. The screen can rotate about 5 degrees in each direction, but it just ends up making the screen look lopsided.
The back of the monitor is plain. All the inputs are bottom-facing, and there's a small cutout in the stand for cable management. There are screws behind the quick-release backplate if you want to VESA-mount the monitor.
The stand doesn't take up much desk space and supports the monitor well. There's almost no wobble.
The controls are located on the right underside of the monitor. There's a power button, and four additional buttons to navigate the on-screen menu.
- DisplayPort cable
- USB-A to USB-B upstream cable
- Power cord
- User guide
As expected of most VA panels, the Dell S3221QS has a great contrast ratio, producing deep blacks for a good dark room viewing experience. Note that the contrast ratio can vary between units. The posted result is a pre-calibration measurement and is in line with the advertised 3000:1 contrast ratio. Calibrating the monitor caused a drop in contrast, lowering it to 2395:1.
This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. The video above is provided for reference only.
The Dell S3221QS has good SDR peak brightness. It's very consistent across different content and bright enough to overcome glare in most lighting conditions. However, it can still struggle a bit in very bright settings.
The posted results are the pre-calibration measurements. The calibration caused a significant drop in brightness, lowering the real scene brightness to 213 cd/m². We measured the SDR peak brightness in the 'Custom Color' Picture Mode, with Brightness set to max.
Mediocre HDR peak brightness. It's again very consistent, with almost no variation across different content, but it isn't bright enough to deliver a satisfying HDR experience.
We measured the HDR peak brightness in the 'Game HDR' Picture Mode, with Brightness set to max.
The Dell S3221QS has mediocre horizontal viewing angles, though pretty decent for a VA panel. Gamma shift happens quickly when moving off-center, but colors remain relatively accurate until you reach moderate viewing angles.
The Dell S3221QS has sub-par vertical viewing angles. This makes images look inaccurate if you have the monitor mounted above eye level.
Our unit of the Dell S3221QS has excellent gray uniformity. The edges are slightly darker, but it shouldn't be noticeable in most content. There's almost no dirty screen effect, and uniformity is better in near-dark scenes. Note that gray uniformity can vary between individual units.
Black uniformity on our unit is mediocre. There's visible backlight bleed along the top and bottom edges, and some clouding throughout the screen. Note that black uniformity can vary between individual units.
Before calibration, the color accuracy is decent. Most color inaccuracies are minor and hard to spot, but white balance is visibly off. The color temperature is a bit cooler than our 6500K target, resulting in a slight blueish tint. Gamma doesn't follow the sRGB curve all that well, making dark scenes too dark and bright scenes too bright. Color accuracy can vary between individual units.
After calibration, the color accuracy is exceptional. The remaining color inaccuracies shouldn't be noticeable without the aid of a colorimeter. White balance is nearly perfect, and the color temperature is much closer to our 6500K target. Gamma is much better, but near-dark scenes and very bright scenes are too bright.
The Dell S3221QS has an outstanding SDR color gamut. It has full coverage of the commonly-used sRGB color space, and great coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used mostly for photo editing.
Exceptional SDR color volume. Even though this monitor has a high contrast ratio, it has a bit of trouble displaying very dark and saturated colors.
The Dell S3221QS has a decent HDR color gamut. It has great coverage of the DCI P3 color space used in most HDR content, but its coverage of the wider Rec.2020 is much more limited.
Decent HDR color volume. Like in SDR, it has difficulty displaying dark and saturated colors. It also has trouble with bright blues, though that's typical for LCDs.
The Dell S3221QS has good reflection handling. You shouldn't have any visibility issues in most rooms, but it's best to avoid very bright environments as the screen doesn't get bright enough to overcome intense glare.
Due to its high pixel density, the Dell S3221QS has exceptional text clarity. Turning on Windows ClearType makes text look bolder (top photo), but you might not need it. The pixels look blurry due to the matte anti-reflective coating.
Gradient handling is superb. You shouldn't see any banding in most content.
The Dell S3221QS has a limited refresh rate, but if you want a 4k, 32-inch monitor with a higher refresh rate for gaming, then check out the MSI Optix G321CU.
The Dell S3221QS supports FreeSync to reduce screen tearing when gaming and is certified as G-SYNC compatible. G-SYNC only works over DisplayPort.
| Overdrive Setting | Response Time Chart | Response Time Tables | Motion Blur Photo |
| Normal | Chart | Table | Photo |
| Fast | Chart | Table | Photo |
| Extreme | Chart | Table | Photo |
The Dell S3221QS has decent response time at its maximum refresh rate. It should be good enough for slow-paced games, but there's visible motion smearing behind fast-moving objects. We recommend using the 'Normal' overdrive setting, as it's the option with the least amount of overshoot.
This monitor doesn't have a backlight strobing feature.
The backlight is flicker-free at all brightness levels, great for minimizing motion duplication and reducing eye strain.
The Dell S3221QS has excellent low input lag. Most people shouldn't feel any delay.
The Dell S3221QS's size and resolution are fantastic for both gaming and productivity. There's plenty of screen real estate for multitasking and to deliver an immersive gaming experience, and its high pixel density results in sharp images and text.
This monitor has two USB ports, but neither are USB-C. If that's what you need, check out the Dell U3223QE.
The Dell S3221QS has two USB 3.0 ports, one of which supports BC 1.2 fast charging. If you want a 4k, 32 inch display with USB-C ports, then check out the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80.
There are no significant issues when using this monitor with a recent MacBook Pro. The variable refresh rate feature works well in-game and on the desktop. HDR looks a bit washed out, but this is common. Unfortunately, although windows return to their original position when your computer goes to sleep and wakes up, they don't if you just close the lid.
The Dell S3221QS has a few additional features, including:
- Timer: Puts a timer on the screen.
- OSD Lock: Locks the on-screen menu to prevent accidental presses.
- Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture: Lets you display images from two input sources simultaneously.
