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Dell S3422DWG Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Review updated Jan 15, 2024 at 03:49 pm
Latest change: Test bench update Mar 14, 2024 at 11:51 am
Dell S3422DWG Picture
7.8
Mixed Usage
7.6
Office
8.2
Gaming
7.6
Media Consumption
7.7
Media Creation
7.2
HDR

The Dell S3422DWG is a 34-inch 1440p budget ultrawide gaming monitor with an 1800R curve. As a gaming-focused monitor, it has a 144Hz maximum refresh rate and FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing. It also has some added productivity features, like PIP and PBP modes, and a USB 3.2 hub with four USB-A ports, though it doesn't have USB-C.

Our Verdict

7.8 Mixed Usage

The Dell S3422DWG is a very good monitor overall. It's designed with gamers in mind and is great for gaming. It has a high 144Hz refresh rate, low input lag for a responsive feel, and a very good response time, so there's minimal blur behind fast-moving objects. It's good for office use, and its 34-inch size and 1440p resolution produce good text clarity. However, it's somewhat difficult to share your screen with others, as it has mediocre ergonomics, and the image appears inconsistent from the sides. It's good for media consumption, and deep blacks are visible in darker rooms. It's good at media creation, though its accuracy before calibration is disappointing, so it needs a full calibration for the most accurate image. Finally, it's decent for HDR and has good HDR brightness, though highlights don't pop in brighter environments.

Pros
  • Good contrast.
  • Very good peak brightness in SDR.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Mediocre ergonomics.
7.6 Office

The Dell S3422DWG is a good monitor for office use. It has good text clarity, and its 34-inch size is large enough to open multiple windows side-by-side. It has good brightness and reflection handling, so you won't have any issues using it in a brighter room. However, it has mediocre ergonomics and narrow viewing angles, making sharing your screen with others difficult.

Pros
  • Great gray uniformity.
  • Very good peak brightness in SDR.
  • Superb SDR color gamut.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Mediocre ergonomics.
  • No USB-C.
8.2 Gaming

The Dell S3422DWG is a great gaming monitor. It has a 144Hz refresh rate for a smooth feel and supports the FreeSync VRR format to reduce screen tearing. It has a very good response time, so there's minimal blur behind fast-moving objects, and it has low input lag, so fast-paced games feel responsive. Additionally, it has good contrast, ensuring that deep blacks are visible in darker rooms. However, it can't take advantage of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on modern graphics cards.

Pros
  • Very good response time at the max refresh rate.
  • Low input lag.
  • 144Hz refresh rate.
  • Ultrawide format delivers a more immersive gaming experience.
Cons
  • Slow response time when transitioning from black to dark gray.
  • G-SYNC-compatible VRR doesn't work properly below 60 fps.
7.6 Media Consumption

The Dell S3422DWG is good for media consumption. Its 34-inch screen creates an immersive viewing experience, though it's limited to a 1440p resolution. It also has good contrast, ensuring that deep blacks are visible in darker rooms. However, it has narrow viewing angles, so the image is inconsistent for someone watching the monitor from the side.

Pros
  • Great gray uniformity.
  • Good contrast.
  • Low input lag.
  • Excellent black uniformity.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Slow response time when transitioning from black to dark gray.
7.7 Media Creation

The Dell S3422DWG is good for content creation. Its 34-inch, 1440p screen creates a large workspace with good text clarity. It also has good contrast, ensuring that deep blacks are visible even if you're editing images in a darker room. However, its accuracy before calibration is disappointing, and it needs a full calibration for the most accurate image. It also has mediocre ergonomics and narrow viewing angles, making sharing your screen with others difficult.

Pros
  • Great gray uniformity.
  • Good contrast.
  • Very good peak brightness in SDR.
  • Superb SDR color gamut.
Cons
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Mediocre ergonomics.
  • No sRBG mode, requires calibration for most accurate colors.
7.2 HDR

The Dell S3422DWG is decent for HDR. It has good contrast, ensuring that deep blacks are visible in darker rooms. While it has good HDR brightness, highlights don't pop against the rest of the image, and there's no local dimming feature to further improve the contrast. Finally, it does a good job displaying all the colors needed for HDR content, so colors look realistic.

Pros
  • Good contrast.
  • Excellent black uniformity.
  • Good peak brightness in HDR.
Cons
  • 7.8 Mixed Usage
  • 7.6 Office
  • 8.2 Gaming
  • 7.6 Media Consumption
  • 7.7 Media Creation
  • 7.2 HDR
  1. Updated Jan 15, 2024: Updated text to reflect changes with Test Bench 1.2.
  2. Updated Oct 04, 2023: Added that the HP OMEN 34c is another ultrawide gaming monitor with a slightly higher 165Hz Refresh Rate.
  3. Updated Apr 18, 2023: Confirmed that 1440p works on this monitor with the PS5.
  4. Updated May 02, 2022: We tested the monitor with the PS5's new variable refresh rate feature and confirmed that it's not compatible, since the PS5 only supports HDMI Forum VRR.
  5. Updated Apr 08, 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.
  6. Updated Aug 27, 2021: Review published.
  7. Updated Aug 24, 2021: Early access published.
  8. Updated Aug 16, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Aug 12, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Aug 04, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 34-inch Dell S3422DWG, which is the only size available for this monitor. The results in this review are only valid for the model we tested.

Model Size Native Resolution Max Refresh rate Panel Type Curve
S3422DWG 34" 3440 x 1440 144Hz VA 1800R

 Our unit was manufactured in May 2021; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The 34-inch Dell S3422DWG is a great budget ultrawide gaming monitor with good motion handling and low input lag. Its large size provides an immersive experience, and its good contrast ensures it works well in darker rooms. It's a great choice if you're looking for an immersive gaming experience on a budget. If you're looking for a slightly more expensive 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor with a faster response time, better viewing angles, improved ergonomics, and USB-C support, consider the Gigabyte M34WQ.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best ultrawide gaming monitors, the best 34-49-inch monitors, and the best gaming monitors.

Gigabyte G34WQC

The Dell S3422DWG is a bit better than the Gigabyte G34WQC. The Dell has much better black uniformity, slightly better viewing angles, and a much better HDR color gamut. The Dell also has a slightly better response time and better connectivity, with a built-in USB hub. There's also a slight design difference, as the Gigabyte has a slightly more pronounced curve, which might bother some people.

Gigabyte M34WQ

The Dell S3422DWG and the Gigabyte M34WQ use different panel technologies, each with strengths and weaknesses. The Dell uses a curved VA panel, so it's a better choice for a dark room, as it has better contrast. The Gigabyte is a flat IPS monitor, so the image remains accurate at an angle. The Gigabyte also has better ergonomics and a better selection of additional features.

Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51

The Dell S3422DWG and the Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51 are different types of monitors with similar panel types. The Dell is bigger with an ultrawide screen, offering a more immersive gaming experience and delivering better picture quality. This is because the Dell gets brighter, including in HDR, so highlights pop more. Although the Samsung model has a higher refresh rate, motion looks better on the Dell. One advantage that the Samsung monitor has is its improved ergonomics, making it easier to place in an ideal position.

LG 34GP83A-B

The LG 34GP83A-B and the Dell S3422DWG use different panel technologies, each with strengths and weaknesses. The LG's IPS panel delivers much better viewing angles, and it has a faster response time. The VA panel on the Dell delivers much better black uniformity and better contrast. The Dell also has better reflection handling and an optional backlight strobing feature.

ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B is slightly better than the Dell S3422DWG overall, but the Dell might still be better for some people. The ASUS has better contrast and a slightly faster refresh rate, as well as slightly better ergonomics. The Dell, on the other hand, has much better black uniformity and a faster response time at 60Hz.

Samsung Odyssey G5 C34G55T

The Dell S3422DWG is better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C34G55T. The Dell has better ergonomics, slightly better viewing angles, and a much faster response time, despite the Samsung's higher refresh rate. The Samsung has better contrast, but the Dell has much better black uniformity. There's also a slight design difference, as the Samsung has a more pronounced curve, which might bother some people.

AOC CU34G2X

The Dell S3422DWG is better for most uses than the AOC CU34G2X. While they each use the same panel type, the Dell delivers better motion handling thanks to its faster response time, and it has better picture quality due to its higher peak brightness in SDR and HDR. The AOC has a few minor advantages, though, as it has better ergonomics because it supports swivel adjustment, and it has better accuracy before calibration.

LG 34GN850-B

The LG 34GN850-B and the Dell S3422DWG are both ultrawide gaming monitors, but there are a few differences due to their panel types. The LG has an IPS panel with much better motion handling and an overclock feature for a slightly higher 160Hz refresh rate. The LG also delivers a more realistic image thanks to its better accuracy before calibration. On the other hand, the Dell gets brighter in HDR for a more vivid image, and it's also the better choice for dark room gaming as it delivers deeper blacks.

HP OMEN 34c

The Dell S3422DWG and the HP OMEN 34c are similar ultrawide gaming monitors, but there are a few differences. While the HP has a slightly higher 165Hz refresh rate, the Dell has a quicker response time, leading to less motion blur, but each monitor has smearing with fast-moving objects. The Dell is also better to use with gaming consoles as it can downscale a 4k image, which the HP can't do. Lastly, the Dell has a few extra features, like a USB hub, making it the better choice if you need more USB ports to plug in your devices.

LG 35WN65C-B

The Dell S3422DWG is better than the LG 35WN65C-B. The Dell is the better gaming monitor as it has a higher refresh rate and much better motion handling, and even if you want to use it for office use, it has better reflection handling. HDR also looks better on the Dell because it gets brighter, so highlights pop more.

Acer Nitro XV340CK Pbmiipphzx

The Dell S3422DWG and the Acer Nitro XV340CK Pbmiipphzx use different panel technologies, each one with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Dell has much better contrast and better black uniformity, so it's a better choice for a dark room. The Dell is also a lot brighter in both SDR and HDR. The Acer, on the other hand, has much better viewing angles and better ergonomics.

Gigabyte M32UC

The Gigabyte M32UC is better than the Dell S3422DWG. The Gigabyte has a much higher native resolution, resulting in sharper text, and it has a faster response time, with less black smear. The Gigabyte is especially good for console gamers, as it supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on both of its HDMI ports, which enables 4k @ 120Hz gaming from the new consoles.

Dell S3220DGF

The Dell S3422DWG is much better than the Dell S3220DGF. The S3422DWG has a faster response time, better black uniformity, and a higher-resolution screen, resulting in better text clarity. The S3422DWG also has an optional backlight strobing feature. The S3220DGF has better ergonomics, with a better height adjustment, and the base can swivel.

Dell S2721DGF

The Dell S2721DGF and the Dell S3422DWG use different panel technologies, each with strengths and weaknesses. The S2721DGF uses an IPS panel, and it has much better ergonomics, better viewing angles, and a better response time. The S3422DWG has better black uniformity, better contrast, and an optional backlight strobing feature.

Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0)

The Dell S3422DWG and the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) use different panel technologies, each with strengths and weaknesses. The Dell has a VA panel with much better black uniformity and better contrast. The IPS panel on the Gigabyte has much better viewing angles and a faster response time, resulting in clearer motion with less blur behind fast-moving objects.

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Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
Yes
Curve Radius
1800R

The Dell S3422DWG has a fairly plain design that looks great in any setting. Instead of a full RGB backlight, there's a fixed-color blue ambient downlight feature on the bottom bezel.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures N/A
7.0
Design
Build Quality

The Dell S3422DWG has decent build quality. Though it's entirely plastic, and there's a bit of flex along the bottom bezel, there's no bubbling or areas of significant concern. The stand is okay, but there's a bit of wobble due to the weight of the display.

6.3
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
3.9" (10.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-22.5° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
No
Swivel Range
No swivel
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The ergonomics are mediocre. The stand has great height adjustment and a fantastic tilt range, so you can position it in your preferred position for individual wide-screen use. However, it can't swivel, making it difficult to share the screen with others. The stand features a clip for cable management.

Design
Stand
Base Width
11.4" (29.0 cm)
Base Depth
9.3" (23.5 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
8.3" (21.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
21.5 lbs (9.8 kg)

The stand has a small overall footprint, so you can still place small objects in front of the monitor. It supports the monitor well, though there's a bit of wobble due to the weight of the display.

Design
Display
Size
34"
Housing Width
31.9" (80.9 cm)
Housing Height
14.4" (36.6 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
5.7" (14.5 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
17.0 lbs (7.7 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.9 cm)
Design
Controls

There's a joystick control on the back for navigating the on-screen display.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
Internal

  • Power cable
  • DisplayPort cable
  • HDMI cable
  • USB-B cable
  • User manuals

Picture Quality
7.7
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
2,725 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

The Dell S3422DWG has a good contrast ratio. It shows deep blacks next to bright highlights, making it a good choice for content consumption or gaming in a darker room. This monitor has no local dimming feature to improve the contrast further.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

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.

7.9
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
350 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
344 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
345 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
345 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
345 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
344 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
344 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
344 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
344 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
345 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
344 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
Minimum Brightness
25 cd/m²

The SDR brightness is very good and is bright enough to overcome glare in most environments. It also maintains its brightness well across different content.

These measurements are from after calibration in the 'Custom Color' Picture Mode, with the Brightness set to max.

7.5
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 400
Real Scene
547 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
519 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
528 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
528 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
528 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
527 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
517 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
527 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
526 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
526 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
525 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001

The HDR brightness is good, though highlights don't pop against the rest of the image. It also follows the PQ EOTF curve very well. There's a sharp cut-off at the peak brightness, but this means that it doesn't tone map before your computer does.

These measurements are in the 'DisplayHDR 400' Picture Mode, with Brightness set to max.

6.2
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
35°
Color Washout From Right
36°
Color Shift From Left
70°
Color Shift From Right
70°
Brightness Loss From Left
33°
Brightness Loss From Right
34°
Black Level Raise From Left
21°
Black Level Raise From Right
21°
Gamma Shift From Left
12°
Gamma Shift From Right
14°

The horizontal viewing angle is mediocre. While you can still share your screen with someone else, the image is inconsistent at different angles.

5.9
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
31°
Color Washout From Above
33°
Color Shift From Below
62°
Color Shift From Above
70°
Brightness Loss From Below
31°
Brightness Loss From Above
33°
Black Level Raise From Below
14°
Black Level Raise From Above
15°
Gamma Shift From Below
12°
Gamma Shift From Above
14°

This monitor has middling viewing angles. The image is inconsistent if you stand up and look down at the monitor.

8.0
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.624%
50% DSE
0.150%

The gray uniformity is great. The sides of the screen are a bit darker than the center, and there's a dark horizontal band running across the center of the screen, but it's not too noticeable. There's very little dirty screen effect.

8.5
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.748%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The Dell S3422DWG monitor has excellent black uniformity. There's a bit of clouding throughout the screen, but it's not very noticeable. There's no local dimming feature to improve contrast further.

5.9
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Standard
sRGB Gamut Area xy
123.4%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
5.23
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,347 K
Gamma (Avg.)
1.98
Color dE (Avg.)
4.42
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
Default
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
75
Measured Brightness
157 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The Dell S3422DWG has disappointing accuracy before calibration. The white balance is noticeably off, especially in brighter shades of gray, and the color temperature is a bit warm. Gamma doesn't follow the sRGB target curve, and most scenes are too bright. Additionally, the monitor oversaturates most colors and doesn't have an sRGB mode to correct this.

9.7
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Custom Color
sRGB Gamut Area xy
98.5%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.66
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,536 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.19
Color dE (Avg.)
0.51
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
Gain (100-100-91), Offset (53-50-53)
Gamma Setting
Default
Brightness Setting
43
Measured Brightness
99 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

The accuracy after calibration is superb. Gamma is very close to the sRGB curve, and the white balance is nearly perfect. Colors aren't oversaturated anymore, and there are no noticeable issues with any color.

9.3
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
98.5%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
82.5%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color

The SDR color gamut is superb. It can display nearly the entire sRGB color space used by most desktop and web content. Coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space is decent, though it's too low for professional editing.

9.6
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
98.4%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
88.0%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color

The SDR color volume is fantastic. It can display most of the sRGB color space at all luminance levels. However, despite the relatively high contrast ratio, it can't display saturated colors at low luminance levels.

7.5
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
86.8%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
DisplayHDR 400
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
64.4%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
DisplayHDR 400

The HDR color gamut is good. It has very good coverage of the DCI-P3 color space used by most current HDR content. However, coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is disappointing, and white is particularly off in this gamut.

8.1
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
83.0%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
DisplayHDR 400
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
63.2%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
DisplayHDR 400

The HDR color volume is great. It's mainly limited by the incomplete color gamut, even in the DCI-P3 color space.

7.7
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.1%
Indirect Reflections
3.2%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.9%

The Dell S3422DWG has good reflection handling. It also has very good brightness, so it overcomes glare in most environments.

7.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
VA
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is good. With ClearType on (top photo), the diagonal lines appear clearer. These photos are in Windows 10.

9.7
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The gradient handling is incredible. There's a bit of banding in darker shades, but it's not noticeable with most content.

Motion
8.3
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
100 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz

This monitor has a fast refresh rate. If you want an ultrawide gaming monitor with a slightly higher refresh rate, look into the HP OMEN 34c, which has a 165Hz refresh rate.

Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
144 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes

This monitor supports FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, with a wide supported range to help reduce screen tearing with an AMD graphics card.

Although it's not officially certified as G-SYNC compatible, enabling G-SYNC when using this monitor with an NVIDIA graphics card is possible, but only over DisplayPort. Unfortunately, there are some issues when using this monitor in G-SYNC compatible mode. As long as your frame rate stays above 60fps, you won't have any issues. If it drops below that, there's significant flickering that gets worse as the frame rate drops.

7.9
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Super Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.5 ms
Total Response Time
9.2 ms
Overshoot Error
1.5%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
13.0 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
23.3 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
12.9%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The response time at the max refresh rate of 144Hz is very good. The recommended Response Time setting of 'Super Fast' delivers the best overall results. There's a bit of overshoot with this mode, but it's not very noticeable. The 'Extreme' setting has a faster rise/fall time, but total response time is worse, and there's significantly more overshoot, with a visible trail of inverse ghosting.

The Dell S3422DWG 34 has a slower response time in dark scenes, resulting in significant black smear in dark areas. This is especially distracting when scrolling the web with a dark background or using a dark user interface.

7.9
Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Super Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.2 ms
Total Response Time
9.9 ms
Overshoot Error
2.4%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
10.8 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
22.5 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
16.5%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The response time at 120Hz is very good. The 'Super Fast' mode still delivers the best results, with a fast average rise/fall time, but you may see dark trails behind fast-moving objects in dark scenes.

6.5
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
6.9 ms
Total Response Time
17.3 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
12.8 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
27.8 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The monitor has an okay response time at 60Hz. The recommended Response Time setting of 'Fast' delivers the best overall results, as there's significantly more overshoot in the other modes. Unfortunately, this model doesn't have a variable overdrive setting, so you'll have to change the overdrive setting if your refresh rate changes for the best results.

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Yes
Maximum Frequency
144 Hz
Minimum Frequency
100 Hz
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
192 cd/m²
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
192 cd/m²
Pulse Width Control
No
Pulse Phase Control
No
Pulse Amplitude Control
No
VRR At The Same Time
No

Refresh RateMotion Blur Photo
144HzPhoto
120HzPhoto

This monitor has an optional backlight strobing feature. You can enable it by setting the Response Time to 'MPRT', which also locks the overdrive settings. Image duplication is minimal when this feature is enabled.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The backlight remains flicker-free at all brightness levels, which helps reduce eye strain if you're sensitive to flicker.

Inputs
8.8
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
4.5 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
5.0 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
10.2 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
7.5 ms

The Dell S3422DWG has low input lag for a responsive gaming experience.

8.4
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
21:9
Megapixels
5.0 MP
Pixel Density
108 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
34.0"
Screen Area
418 in²
7.0
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
No

The PS5 compatibility is decent. Since the PS5 doesn't support ultrawide aspect ratios, you have to set the Aspect Ratio setting to 'Auto Resize'; otherwise, the image will be stretched to fill the space. This results in black bars on either side, but the image is displayed correctly. Even though the native resolution of this monitor is below 4k, it can accept a 4k signal and downscale it to 1440p, resulting in a slightly more detailed image than a native 1440p signal. Due to the bandwidth limits of the HDMI ports, though, it's limited to 60Hz if the console sends a 4k signal.

The PS5 sends a narrower 2560x1440 signal instead of the full widescreen resolution of 3440x1440. As a result, console bandwidth requirements are less at 1440p, so this monitor can display 1440p @ 120Hz with the PS5.

9.2
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

The Xbox Series X|S compatibility is superb. Since the Xbox Series X|S don't support ultrawide aspect ratios, you have to set the Aspect Ratio setting to 'Auto Resize'; otherwise, the image will be stretched to fill the space. This results in black bars on either side, but the image is displayed correctly. Even though the native resolution of this monitor is below 4k, it can accept a 4k signal and downscale it to 1440p, resulting in a slightly more detailed image than a native 1440p signal. Due to the bandwidth limits of the HDMI ports, though, it's limited to 60Hz if the console sends a 4k signal.

The Xbox Series X|S sends a narrower 2560x1440 signal instead of the full widescreen resolution of 3440x1440. As a result, console bandwidth requirements are less at 1440p, so this monitor can display 1440p @ 120Hz with the Xbox Series X|S.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
2
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Audio In
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No

There are two sets of inputs on this monitor.

Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
4
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No

This monitor has two sets of USB inputs, including two ports along the bottom bezel that are easy to access.

Inputs
macOS Compatibility

This monitor works well with macOS. HDR works properly, though VRR doesn't work properly with macOS and flickers a lot when you're not gaming. When using a MacBook, windows return to their original position when you reopen the lid or wake the laptop up from sleep.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
RGB Illumination
Fixed (On/Off)
Multiple Input Display
PIP + PBP
KVM Switch
No

The Dell S3422DWG has a few additional features, including:

  • Timer: Displays a countdown timer on-screen.
  • FPS Counter: Displays the current frame rate the monitor is receiving from the source.
  • Dark Stabilizer: Adjusts gamma to make it easier to spot other players/enemies in the shadows.
  • Display Alignment: Displays gridlines on the screen to help align multiple displays.
  • Downlight: An ambient downlight on the bottom bezel. It's a fixed blue light that can't be changed; it can only be turned on or off.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)