Dell UltraSharp U2520D vs UltraSharp U2721DE

Which Monitor Is Better?

Products

Dell UltraSharp U2520D
Dell UltraSharp U2721DE

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated May 29, 2024 01:46 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Dec 14, 2023 04:44 PM

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Amazon.com

Our Verdict

Dell UltraSharp U2520D

Dell UltraSharp U2721DE

The Dell UltraSharp U2520D is better than the Dell UltraSharp U2721DE. The U2520D supports HDR, it displays a wider SDR color gamut, has much better out-of-the-box color accuracy, and it has a quicker response time. The U2721DE handles reflections better and it has a wider vertical viewing angle.

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Variants

  • U2520D (25")
  • UltraSharp U2721DE (27")

Check Price

27"
UltraSharp U2721DE
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
27"
UltraSharp U2721DE
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
27"
UltraSharp U2721DE
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
25"
U2520D
B&H
27"
UltraSharp U2721DE
B&H

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.7
7.4
No major differences between these monitors for mixed usage. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture  

Size  

25"
27"

Curved  

No
No

Curve Radius  

Not Curved
Not Curved

Weight (without stand) 
 

9.3 lbs (4.2 kg)
8.9 lbs (4.0 kg)

Weight (with stand) 
 

13.2 lbs (6.0 kg)
12.6 lbs (5.7 kg)
Show Text 

Stand  

Stand Picture  

Width 
 

9.6" (24.4 cm)
9.1" (23.0 cm)

Depth 
 

7.3" (18.5 cm)
7.1" (18.0 cm)
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

8.4
8.5

Ergonomics Picture  

Height Adjustment 
 

5.1" (13.0 cm)
5.1" (13.0 cm)

Switch Portrait/Landscape  

Yes, Both Ways
Yes, Both Ways

Swivel Range  

-45° to 45°
-40° to 40°

Tilt Range  

-20° to 2.5°
-20° to 5°
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Back  

Back Picture  

Wall Mount  

VESA 100x100
VESA 100x100
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Borders  

Borders Picture  

Borders 
 

0.3" (0.7 cm)
0.2" (0.6 cm)
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Thickness  

Thickness Picture  

Thickness (with stand) 
 

4.7" (12.0 cm)
5.0" (12.8 cm)

Thickness (without stand) 
 

2.0" (5.0 cm)
1.5" (3.8 cm)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.5
7.5

Build Quality Picture  

Show Text 
Picture Quality

Contrast 
 

6.0
6.0

Checkerboard Picture  

Native Contrast 
 

1,010 : 1
1,014 : 1

Contrast With Local Dimming 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Local Dimming 
 

0.0
0.0

Local Dimming Video  

Local Dimming 
 

No
No

Backlight 
 

Edge
Edge
Show Text 

SDR Peak Brightness 
 

7.9
7.7

SDR Real Scene 
 

332 cd/m²
314 cd/m²

SDR Peak 2% Window 
 

350 cd/m²
347 cd/m²

SDR Peak 10% Window 
 

350 cd/m²
348 cd/m²

SDR Peak 25% Window 
 

351 cd/m²
348 cd/m²

SDR Peak 50% Window 
 

351 cd/m²
349 cd/m²

SDR Peak 100% Window 
 

351 cd/m²
349 cd/m²

SDR Sustained 2% Window 
 

349 cd/m²
347 cd/m²

SDR Sustained 10% Window 
 

350 cd/m²
348 cd/m²

SDR Sustained 25% Window 
 

350 cd/m²
348 cd/m²

SDR Sustained 50% Window 
 

351 cd/m²
349 cd/m²

SDR Sustained 100% Window 
 

351 cd/m²
349 cd/m²

SDR ABL 
 

0.000
0.000
Show Text 

HDR Peak Brightness 
 

6.7
0.0

HDR Real Scene 
 

385 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Peak 2% Window 
 

388 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Peak 10% Window 
 

436 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Peak 25% Window 
 

439 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Peak 50% Window 
 

442 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Peak 100% Window 
 

444 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Sustained 2% Window 
 

388 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Sustained 10% Window 
 

436 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Sustained 25% Window 
 

439 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Sustained 50% Window 
 

441 cd/m²
N/A

HDR Sustained 100% Window 
 

443 cd/m²
N/A

HDR ABL 
 

0.008
N/A
Show Text 

Horizontal Viewing Angle 
 

8.2
7.4

Horizontal Viewing Angle Video  

Horizontal Chroma Graph  

Color Washout From Left 
 

43°
39°

Color Washout From Right 
 

43°
39°

Horizontal Hue Graph  

Color Shift From Left 
 

49°
48°

Color Shift From Right 
 

52°
47°

Horizontal Lightness Graph  

Brightness Loss From Left 
 

46°
45°

Brightness Loss From Right 
 

46°
46°

Black Level Raise From Left 
 

70°
70°

Black Level Raise From Right 
 

70°
41°

Gamma Shift From Left 
 

55°
39°

Gamma Shift From Right 
 

57°
38°
Show Text 

Vertical Viewing Angle 
 

6.6
7.6

Vertical Viewing Angle Video  

Vertical Chroma Graph  

Color Washout From Below 
 

31°
32°

Color Washout From Above 
 

31°
34°

Vertical Hue Graph  

Color Shift From Below 
 

33°
41°

Color Shift From Above 
 

32°
43°

Vertical Lightness Graph  

Brightness Loss From Below 
 

35°
34°

Brightness Loss From Above 
 

34°
36°

Black Level Raise From Below 
 

52°
70°

Black Level Raise From Above 
 

54°
70°

Gamma Shift From Below 
 

31°
44°

Gamma Shift From Above 
 

32°
63°
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Gray Uniformity 
 

8.7
8.7

50% Uniformity Picture  

50% Std. Dev. 
 

3.014%
2.436%

50% DSE 
 

0.110%
0.115%

5% Uniformity Picture  

5% Std. Dev. 
 

0.394%
0.279%

5% DSE 
 

0.055%
0.041%
Show Text 

Black Uniformity 
 

6.1
7.1

Native Black Uniformity Picture  

Native Std. Dev. 
 

1.965%
1.219%

Black Uniformity Picture With Local Dimming  

Std. Dev. w/ L.D. 
 

N/A
N/A
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Pre Calibration 
 

8.0
7.1

Pre Calibration Picture  

Pre Gamma Curve Picture  

Pre Color Picture  

Picture Mode 
 

Color Space (sRGB)
Standard

Luminance 
 

75 cd/m²
103 cd/m²

Luminance Settings 
 

21
22

Contrast Setting 
 

75
78

RGB Controls 
 

100-100-100
100-100-100

Gamma Setting 
 

No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting

Color Temperature 
 

6,606 K
5,949 K

White Balance dE 
 

3.01
3.53

Color dE 
 

1.99
3.19

Gamma 
 

2.25
2.24
Show Text 

Post Calibration 
 

9.7
9.7

Post Calibration Picture  

Post Gamma Curve Picture  

Post Color Picture  

Picture Mode 
 

Custom Color
Custom Color

Luminance 
 

98 cd/m²
101 cd/m²

Luminance Settings 
 

21
23

Contrast Setting 
 

75
78

RGB Controls 
 

96-98-100
94-92-100

Gamma Setting 
 

No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting

Color Temperature 
 

6,470 K
6,489 K

White Balance dE 
 

0.49
0.40

Color dE 
 

0.40
0.52

Gamma 
 

2.17
2.17
Show Text 

SDR Color Gamut 
 

9.1
8.6

Color Gamut sRGB Picture  

sRGB xy 
 

99.6%
96.8%

Color Gamut ARGB Picture  

Adobe RGB xy 
 

82.4%
75.3%

sRGB Picture Mode 
 

Custom Color
Custom Color

Adobe RGB Picture Mode 
 

Custom Color
Custom Color
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SDR Color Volume 
 

9.3
8.9

sRGB Color Volume ITP Picture  

sRGB In ICtCp 
 

97.8%
96.6%

Adobe RGB Color Volume ITP Picture  

Adobe RGB In ICtCp 
 

87.5%
81.4%

sRGB Picture Mode 
 

Custom Color
Custom Color

Adobe RGB Picture Mode 
 

Custom Color
Custom Color
Show Text 

HDR Color Gamut 
 

7.0
0.0

Wide Color Gamut 
 

Yes
N/A

Color Gamut DCI-P3 Picture  

DCI P3 xy 
 

71.9%
N/A

Color Gamut Rec.2020 Picture  

Rec. 2020 xy 
 

68.2%
N/A

DCI P3 Picture Mode 
 

Display HDR
No HDR

Rec. 2020 Picture Mode 
 

Display HDR
No HDR
Show Text 

HDR Color Volume 
 

6.5
0.0

P3 Color Volume ITP Picture  

DCI-P3 In ICtCp 
 

63.7%
N/A

2020 Color Volume ITP Picture  

Rec. 2020 In ICtCp 
 

66.2%
N/A

DCI P3 Picture Mode 
 

Display HDR
No HDR

Rec. 2020 Picture Mode 
 

Display HDR
No HDR
Show Text 

Image Retention 
 

10
10

Image Retention Picture  

IR After 0 Min Recovery 
 

0.00%
0.00%

IR After 2 Min Recovery 
 

0.00%
0.00%

IR After 4 Min Recovery 
 

0.00%
0.00%

IR After 6 Min Recovery 
 

0.00%
0.00%

IR After 8 Min Recovery 
 

0.00%
0.00%

IR After 10 Min Recovery 
 

0.00%
0.00%
Show Text 

Gradient 
 

8.4
7.8

Gradient Picture  

Color Depth 
 

8 Bit
8 Bit
Show Text 

Color Bleed 
 

10
10

Color Bleed Horizontal  

Pixel Row Error 
 

0.001%
0.000%

Color Bleed Vertical  

Pixel Column Error 
 

0.009%
0.002%
Show Text 

Reflections 
 

6.4
7.6

Average Room  

Average Room Off Picture  

Bright Room Off Picture  

Screen Finish 
 

Matte
Matte

Total Reflections 
 

7.3%
6.5%

Indirect Reflections 
 

3.9%
5.7%

Calculated Direct Reflections 
 

3.4%
0.8%
Show Text 

Text Clarity 
 

7.5
7.0

ClearType On  

Pixel Type 
 

IPS
IPS

ClearType Off  

Pixels  

Sub-Pixel Layout 
 

RGB
RGB
Show Text 
Motion

Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate 
 

8.3
7.1

Motion Blur Picture  

Response Time Table  

Best Overdrive Setting 
 

Normal
Normal

Rise / Fall Time 
 

6.3 ms
7.7 ms

Total Response Time 
 

12.5 ms
19.2 ms

Overshoot Error 
 

5.2%
4.5%

Dark Rise / Fall Time 
 

7.0 ms
8.4 ms

Dark Total Response Time 
 

13.3 ms
20.7 ms

Dark Overshoot Error 
 

7.3%
6.0%
Show Text 

Response Time @ 60Hz 
 

8.3
7.1

Motion Blur Picture  

Response Time Table  

Best Overdrive Setting 
 

Normal
Normal

Rise / Fall Time 
 

6.3 ms
7.7 ms

Total Response Time 
 

12.5 ms
19.2 ms

Overshoot Error 
 

5.2%
4.5%

Dark Rise / Fall Time 
 

7.0 ms
8.4 ms

Dark Total Response Time 
 

13.3 ms
20.7 ms

Dark Overshoot Error 
 

7.3%
6.0%
Show Text 

Image Flicker 
 

10
10

Backlight Picture  

Flicker-Free  

Yes
Yes

PWM Dimming Frequency 
 

0 Hz
0 Hz
Show Text 

Black Frame Insertion (BFI) 
 

0.0
0.0

Black Frame Insertion (BFI) 
 

No BFI
No BFI

BFI Picture  

BFI Frequency Picture  

BFI Maximum Frequency 
 

N/A
N/A

BFI Minimum Frequency 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Refresh Rate 
 

5.9
5.9

Variable Refresh Rate 
 

No VRR
No VRR

Native 
 

60 Hz
60 Hz

Max Refresh Rate 
 

60 Hz
60 Hz

Variable Refresh Rate 
 

No
No

FreeSync 
 

No
No

G-SYNC 
 

No
No

VRR Maximum 
 

N/A
N/A

VRR Minimum 
 

No VRR
No VRR

VRR Supported Connectors  

No VRR
No VRR
Show Text 
Inputs

Input Lag 
 

9.0
9.0

Native Resolution 
 

8.7 ms
8.7 ms

Native Resolution @ 60Hz 
 

8.7 ms
8.7 ms

Variable Refresh Rate 
 

N/A
N/A

Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz 
 

N/A
N/A

10 Bit HDR 
 

N/A
N/A

Black Frame Insertion (BFI) 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Resolution And Size 
 

8.3
8.3

Native Resolution  

2560 x 1440
2560 x 1440

Aspect Ratio  

16:9
16:9

Megapixels  

3.7 MP
3.7 MP

Pixel Density 
 

117 PPI
109 PPI

Screen Diagonal  

25.0"
27.0"

Screen Area  

268 in²
310 in²
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Inputs  

Inputs 1  

Inputs 2  

Total Inputs  

DisplayPort  

1 (DP 1.4)
1 (DP 1.4)

Mini DisplayPort  

No
No

HDMI  

1 (HDMI 2.0)
1 (HDMI 1.4)

DVI  

No
No

VGA  

No
No

DisplayPort Out  

1 (DP 1.4)
1 (DP 1.4)

USB  

3 (USB 3.0)
4 (USB 3.0)

USB C  

2 (1x USB, USB PD, DP Alt Mode, 1x USB 3 Amp))
1 (USB, USB PD, DP Alt Mode)

Analog Audio Out 3.5mm  

1
1

Microphone In 3.5mm  

No
No

Digital Optical Audio Out  

No
No

Analog Audio Out RCA  

No
No

Power Supply  

Internal
Internal
Show Text 
Features

Additional Features 
 

RGB Illumination 
 

No
No

Speakers 
 

No
No

HDR10  

Yes
No

Multiple Input Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

On-Screen Display (OSD)  

OSD Picture  

Controls  

Controls Picture  

Show Text 

In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Show Text 

Check Price

27"
UltraSharp U2721DE
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
27"
UltraSharp U2721DE
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
27"
UltraSharp U2721DE
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
25"
U2520D
B&H
27"
UltraSharp U2721DE
B&H

Dell UltraSharp U2520D

Dell UltraSharp U2721DE

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Dell UltraSharp U2520D vs Dell UltraSharp U2721DE: Main Discussion

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