- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Design
- Picture Quality
- Motion
- Inputs
- Features
- Sizes and Variants
- Compared
- Conclusion
- Discussions
| Design | 7.5 |
| Picture Quality | 7.4 |
| Motion | 7.0 |
| Inputs | 9.0 |
- Wide viewing angles
- Easy to adjust stand with great ergonomics
- Poor HDR performance
- Mediocre black uniformity and visible backlight bleed
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Design
The stand is very similar to the entire Dell lineup. It supports the monitor well, and despite the relatively large footprint, the base can still be used for other things as it is flat.
The Dell U2718Q can easily be adjusted to the perfect position thanks to the great ergonomic adjustments which are identical to the non-HDR model, the U2717D. The height and tilt can easily be adjusted, and it can be rotated to a portrait orientation if desired.
The back of the monitor is clean smooth, very similar to all other Dell monitors. There is a single hole in the bottom of the stand for cable management.
The borders are slim and blend well with the screen. This is ideal for multi-monitor setups as there will be little gap between the monitors.
Because of the way the stand is designed, the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q is much thicker when on the stand than when wall mounted. If space is an issue, a VESA mount would be a better choice as the monitor can't be placed flush with the wall.
Like most Dell monitors, the U2718Q has good build quality. The stand adjustments flow well and don't need to be forced. The monitor is mostly made of plastic, but the parts fit well and there are very few gaps.
Picture Quality
The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q has decent picture quality. It works best in a medium lit room, as blacks appear gray in a dark room and it isn't bright enough to overcome glare in a bright room and has only decent reflection handling. Although it supports HDR, there is not much advantage to using it as the HDR color gamut is limited, and it has disappointing HDR color volume. SDR color coverage is excellent, and it has excellent color volume, limited only by the contrast ratio.
The Dell 2718Q has a decent native contrast ratio, very good for an IPS monitor but blacks still appear gray in a dark room. For better dark room performance a VA panel like the Samsung CHG70 is preferred.
The Dell U2718Q does not support local dimming. The video is provided for reference only.
Good peak brightness levels with negligible variation depending on content. The monitor is bright enough for most rooms, but it can't overcome direct glare.
Mediocre HDR peak brightness. Real scene performance is slightly brighter than in SDR and the U2718Q performs well in most rooms. The brightness varied greatly during our testing, as the monitor appeared to boost the brightness of certain windows but then drop off the brightness after some time (see here). The posted results represent the most consistent results we could achieve (see here).
HDR is only supported when connected via HDMI. DisplayPort is not supported for HDR.
The Dell U2718Q has decent horizontal viewing angles. If you are sitting close to the monitor the edges will be a bit darker than the rest of the screen, but there is very little shift in contrast. Colors lose accuracy but this shouldn't be an issue.
Great vertical viewing angles, almost as good as the Dell U3417W. There is no shift in contrast, but colors and overall brightness drop off. This is a good monitor if you are planning on wall mounting it above eye level.
Excellent gray uniformity, with very little dirty screen effect, but the edges of the screen are noticeably darker than the rest. Sports fans shouldn't notice any issues when streaming games online, and there won't be any darker areas when browsing websites with large white areas.
Mediocre black uniformity, but better than most monitors we have tested. There is clouding across the entire screen, and the LED back lights bleed along the bottom edge, which can be distracting in a dark room.
Out of the box, the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q has decent color and white balance accuracy. Dell calibrates each U2718Q at the factory, but they target a color temperature of 6000K. The most accurate results out of the box are with the 'Standard' picture mode, but the 'Multimedia' and 'Custom Color' pictures modes are almost as accurate.
The color temperature is warmer than our target of 6500K and the white balance dE is too high. Gamma follows the target curve well, but darker scenes were over-brightened.
After calibration the color and white balance accuracy is excellent. The most accurate picture mode is 'Custom Color'. The color temperature is almost perfect, and color and white dE are too low for most people to notice. The gamma curve follows our target input almost perfectly.
You can download our ICC profile calibration here.
s.RGB Picture Mode: Custom Color (calibrated)
Adobe RGB Picture Mode: Custom Color
Excellent coverage of the standard SDR s.RGB color space. Limited coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space which may be disappointing to professional users for editing graphics or print media (see our recommendations for the best monitors for graphic design).
s.RGB Picture Mode: Custom Color
Adobe RGB Picture Mode: Custom Color
The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q has excellent color volume in SDR. Better coverage of dark colors than the U2717D due to the deeper native contrast ratio. Adobe RGB coverage is limited by the poor color space coverage and is not as good as other HDR monitors we have tested, like the Samsung CHG70.
Decent HDR color gamut, but worse than the other HDR monitors we have reviewed, including the Samsung CHG70. Coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is very limited and saturated colors in HDR are not well represented. The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q does not support a wide color gamut.
HDR is only supported when connected via HDMI. DisplayPort is not supported for HDR.
Disappointing HDR color volume. The Dell U2718Q is severely limited by the limited color gamut. It isn't very good at reproducing deep, dark colors.
HDR is only supported when connected via HDMI. DisplayPort is not supported for HDR.
The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q has no temporary image retention, even immediately after our 10-minute test image there is no retention.
The Dell U2718Q has perfect gradient reproduction, better than any other monitor we have reviewed.
The Dell U2718Q is free of color bleed. This is great for graphics artists that use large areas of uniform color.
Decent reflection handling, but worse than most similar models that we have tested. Reflections aren't diffused as much as the U2717D and they may be distracting.
Motion
Decent motion performance on the Dell U2718Q. The monitor has a fast pixel response time and there is little motion blur. The PWM backlight causes some visible flicker that may bother some people, although it is at a very high frequency. Unfortunately, there are very few options to improve motion handling, as the monitor is limited by a 60 Hz refresh rate and does not support black frame insertion. It does not support AMD's FreeSync or NVIDIA's G-Sync variable refresh rate technologies.
Response Time Normal
Response Time Fast
Excellent native response time, great for gaming or watching fast paced motion. There is very little motion trail behind fast moving objects. Most of the blur in the photo is due to 60 fps persistence.
The 'Normal' Response Time produced the best results. If you want a faster response time, you can set the response time to 'Fast', but this will introduce overdrive artifacts.
The Dell U2718Q uses a dual PWM flicker to dim the backlight. There is a 10 kHz flicker that is always present, but this flicker is not visible at all. There is a secondary flicker at 650 Hz, but due to the secondary wave the backlight does not completely shut off and the flicker is not noticeable under most conditions. The monitor does not support black frame insertion.
The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q has a decent native refresh rate of 60Hz that is common for 4k monitors. Most people won't have any issue with this, but gamers will be disappointed by the low refresh rate and lack of gaming-oriented features like Freesync or G-sync.
Inputs
The Dell U2718Q has a large 4k 27" panel, which is great for almost any usage. The monitor always upscales to its native resolution of 4k, and always has excellent low input lag. It does not support daisy chaining multiple monitors with DisplayPort, but can be used as a USB hub and has 2 USB BC1.2 fast charging ports.
The HDR input lag was tested over HDMI, whereas the other results were measured over DisplayPort. This should not have any impact on the results.
The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q is always upscaling to native 4k resolution. Excellent low input lag, even for the most demanding gamers.
HDR is only supported when connected via HDMI. DisplayPort is not supported for HDR.
This monitor has a very sharp 4k UHD resolution, which is great for almost any usage.
Two of the USB ports support USB 1.2 BC fast charging, and there is an option to power the USB ports even when the monitor is in standby. HDR is only supported when connected via HDMI. DisplayPort is not supported for HDR.
Features
The Dell U2718Q has a decent set of additional features. The display uses Dell's well organized on-screen display to control most settings, and has some extra features like USB always on. It doesn't support DisplayPort daisy chaining, and unlike the majority of monitors out there, it doesn't have built-in speakers. Thankfully it does have a 3.5mm speaker out port, so you can connect a single set of speakers that will be used by each device connected to the monitor.
The Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q can be used as a USB hub. The USB ports can be left powered when the monitor is off, and two of the ports support BC1.2 fast charging, with a maximum capacity of 2A.
HDR is only supported when connected via HDMI. DisplayPort is not supported for HDR.
The monitor has the same standard four-button control scheme as most Dell monitors. The buttons have good tactile feedback and the menus are generally easy to navigate, but the interface is not as intuitive as the rocker joystick found on many LG and Samsung monitors.
Differences between Sizes and Variants
We've tested the 27" U2718Q The monitor is also available in a 25" size (Dell U2518D).
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Dell U2718Q 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.
| Size | Model |
| 25" | U2518D |
| 27" | U2718Q |
The U2718Q we reviewed was manufactured in May 2018 (Revision A03).
Compared to other Monitors
The Dell U2718Q is a very good IPS monitor, and one of the best work monitors we've tested, but there are better alternatives out there, especially if you want decent HDR performance. See our recommendations for the best monitors, the best monitors for dual setup, and the best 4k gaming monitors.
The Dell U2718Q and the LG 27UK650 both have very similar performance. They're both very good monitors for gaming. The Dell U2718Q has slightly better ergonomics, which makes it easier to place the monitor comfortably while gaming, whereas the LG 27UK650 has marginally better refresh rate since it includes the FreeSync implementation of the variable refresh rate to eliminate tearing. It's also flicker-free.
The Dell U2718Q is better than the Dell U2719D. The U2718Q supports HDR, although this doesn't add much, and it has better vertical viewing angles. The U2718Q also has better black uniformity and has a higher resolution screen. On the other hand, the Dell U2719D has a flicker-free backlight.
The Dell U2718Q is better than the Dell U2717D. The Dell U2718Q has a higher native contrast ratio and supports HDR, as well as having a higher resolution screen that allows you to see more details or get more done. The U2718Q has much lower input lag regardless of input resolution, great for gamers. The Dell U2717D has no visible flicker and better reflection handling.
The Dell U2718Q is better than the LG 27UD68P-B. The Dell U2718Q has better black uniformity and doesn't suffer from temporary image retention. The U2718Q also supports HDR, although this doesn't add much due to the poor color volume and insufficient peak brightness. The LG 27UD68P-B is flicker-free and has better motion handling overall thanks to AMD FreeSync support.
The Dell U2718Q is better than the Dell U2715H. The Dell U2718Q supports HDR and performs decently in that mode. It also has a 4k resolution so you can display more details of your work on the screen. Finally, the Dell U2718Q has a better black uniformity, which is great in dark scenes, and perfect gradient performance with no visible banding.
The Dell U2718Q is a bit better than the Samsung Space SR75 for most uses, but the SR75 is a bit better for gaming. The U2718Q has a much higher native resolution, it supports HDR, and it has much better viewing angles. The U2718Q also has better ergonomics, despite the unique design of the Space SR75. The SR75 is a bit better for gaming, though, as it has a much faster refresh rate, lower input lag, and it supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology.
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 ASUS ROG PG279Q is a bit better than the Dell U2718Q. The PG279Q has much better motion handling. The high refresh rate delivers a nearly perfect response time with almost no motion blur, as well as being flicker-free. The ASUS also has an optional black frame insertion feature that can help clear up motion and supports NVIDIA's G-SYNC technology. The Dell has a higher resolution 4k screen, and supports HDR, even though HDR doesn't add much due to the U2718Q's limited color volume and low peak brightness.
The LG 32UD99 is slightly better than the Dell U2718Q. The LG has better HDR support, with a better color gamut and much better HDR color volume. The LG handles motion better, with a flicker-free backlight as well as FreeSync VRR support. The Dell, on the other hand, has a better stand that can easily be adjusted to an optimal viewing position.
The Acer Predator X27 is slightly better than the Dell U2718Q. The X27 is brighter and offers a much better HDR experience, as it's brighter and can produce brighter highlights, as well as the added full array local dimming feature. The X27 has a much wider color gamut, suitable for professional use for print and marketing. The Dell U2718Q has more ergonomic options and is easier to adjust to an optimal viewing position.
The Dell U2718Q is better than the Samsung CHG70, unless your main use is for gaming or for dark room viewing. The Dell U2718Q has wider viewing angles and a higher native resolution, so you can see every detail. The CHG70 has a higher native contrast ratio, so it performs better in a dark room. The Samsung also has much better motion handling thanks to the much higher 144 Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync support.
Conclusion
Very good monitor for mixed usage. It has an easy to adjust stand and wide viewing angles, and can easily be adjusted for the ideal viewing position. The large viewing area and high-resolution screen make it easier to multitask and see the smallest details in movies and games. While it supports HDR, there is little benefit to using it.
Very good monitor for office use. The large screen area and 4k display make it an excellent monitor for multitasking. It has wide horizontal and vertical viewing angles. The stand can be easily adjusted for optimal comfort. It is best used in a brighter office, as the dark room performance isn't great due to backlight bleed and the limited native contrast.
Very good monitor for gaming. Native input lag is extremely low, great for even the most demanding gamers. The large, high resolution screen allows you to see even the finest details. There is very little motion blur thanks to the high refresh rate, but there are few options to improve it further due to the limited 60 Hz refresh rate.
Very good monitor for multimedia usage. The large viewing area and high resolution screen allow you to see every detail. Input lag is extremely low and there is very little motion blur. It is not well suited for watching movies in a dark room as there is visible backlight bleed and poor blacks appear dark gray. It has great viewing angles, perfect for watching with multiple people.
Very good monitor for media creation. The large screen and high native resolution makes it easier to see more at once. Colors are accurate and vivid, but unfortunately, coverage of the professional Adobe RGB color space is more limited.
Decent monitor for HDR Gaming. Input lag is extremely low and there is very little motion blur. Some gamers will be disappointed by the limited 60Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately there is not much advantage to using the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q for HDR gaming due to the lack of a wide color gamut and low peak brightness.
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