Blog

It can be difficult for productivity seekers to resist the appeal of a new 4K monitor. Even in the well-liked 27-inch size factor, that additional resolution can have a significant influence. With alternatives offering good colors and performance for under $500, IPS panels are becoming more and more popular, both among general-use displays and the finest 4K gaming monitors. How, therefore, can a 27-inch 4K display distinguish itself from the top affordable 4K monitors?

DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor Specifications & Overall

Widely useful and excellent value for money, the DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor is a 4K display. It boasts a sizable screen with lots of room for multitasking, clear images, and text thanks to its high pixel density. You may simply share your screen with coworkers thanks to the stand’s good quantity of ergonomic adjustments and its IPS panel’s broad viewing angles.

It offers variable refresh rate (VRR) technology to lessen screen tearing during gaming and boasts a quick response time and little input lag. Although the maximum refresh rate is 60 Hz, most users shouldn’t have any problems because 4K gaming is still pretty demanding. Like the majority of IPS panel displays, the contrast ratio is subpar, which causes blacks to seem yellowish in low light. Furthermore, while it becomes bright enough to combat glare, it is insufficient to provide a fulfilling HDR experience.

DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor Image Quality

The 27-inch IPS (in-plane switching) panel that powers the monitor ensures faultless picture quality from any angle thanks to its wide 178° viewing angles and constant colors.

It provides 1.07 billion colors with 10-bit color depth via dithering and 99% of the sRGB color space for accurate color reproduction.

Different monitor units will have varying degrees of color accuracy and uniformity, but it will perform just fine for basic color-critical tasks.

The Dell U2720Q from Dell’s UltraSharp line is a somewhat more expensive 4K IPS model with a guaranteed factory calibration at Delta E below 2 or 3. This is recommended for more serious and professional designers, editors, and photographers.

Of course, you can also get superb color accuracy from the DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor if you have a colorimeter.

Moving on, the DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor boasts outstanding static contrast ratio of 1,300:1 and peak brightness of 350 nits, which are both great for a 4K IPS monitor in this price range.

In typical illumination, it will be more than bright enough.

The image quality is outstanding overall with good detail clarity in the shadows of the picture, even though the contrast ratio won’t give you as deep blacks as that of VA (Vertical Alignment) panels with a contrast ratio of 3,000:1.

Additionally, VA panels have drawbacks of their own, namely gamma shifts, which render them unsuitable for color-critical applications.

The DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor monitor’s 27-inch screen has a high pixel-per-inch ratio of 163 due to its 4K UHD resolution.

As a result, you will have a large amount of screen space, vivid textures, and clear writing, but you will also need to utilize scaling to make small print readable.

Last but not least, keep in mind that even though the Dell S2721QS supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), HDR video will look washed out due to the lack of suitable display capabilities, including a wide color gamut.

Although some content might appear marginally better, you’ll generally want it disabled.

DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor Gaming Performance

Why is this section about gaming performance here? Not as a gaming monitor, though. Nevertheless, Dell has included Adaptive-Sync technology in the DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor that is based on AMD’s Freesync, and during our testing, we were able to validate G-Sync functionality on Nvidia cards.

You won’t be among the most skilled players in online battles if you just have a 60Hz refresh rate, but adaptive-sync will take care of all the tearing and some of the stuttering. Naturally, the 4K resolution means you’ll need a lot of GPU horsepower to even approach the 60Hz refresh rate, but adaptive sync ensures that framerates between 30 and 60 frames per second should still seem smooth due to consistent frame pacing. In other words, your experience will be clearer and more reliable than it would be without FreeSync or G-Sync support.

Of course, 144Hz displays like the Razer Raptor 27 should be your first choice if you want a monitor that is more focused on gaming. The majority of displays at roughly 60Hz offer 1440p or 1080p resolution, so keep in mind that you’ll likely have to give up resolution in order to achieve a higher refresh rate. For gamers that favor extreme visual quality over high framerates, this Dell may make sense because it offers a clear and appealing image.

DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor General Information

Display Type	LED-backlit LCD monitor / TFT active matrix
Diagonal Size	27″
Adaptive-Sync Technology	AMD FreeSync
AMD FreeSync	IPS
Aspect Ratio	16:9
Native Resolution	4K UHD (2160p) 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz
Pixel Pitch	0.1554 mm
Pixel Per Inch	163
Brightness	350 cd/m²
Contrast Ratio	1000:1
Color Support	1.07 billion colors
Color Gamut	Color Gamut
Dimensions (WxDxH)	24.1 in x 6.9 in x 15.8 in – with stand

DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor Conclusion

The DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor is a superb 4K IPS display overall.

Although there are more affordable solutions, the DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor is a great choice for individuals who want a monitor with a high-end and stylish appearance but are completely content with a 4K IPS panel with FreeSync compatibility and the industry-standard sRGB color gamut.

The DELL S2721QS 27-Inch IPS Monitor is probably ideal for you if you’re searching for a reliable 4K monitor at a reasonable price. With the exception of sharpness, it doesn’t stand out in any other category, but it is more than sufficient for everyday use, giving you a clear, crisp image without any distractingly large faults.

Additionally, this monitor has a great build quality and a wide selection of ergonomic alternatives. You’re on the correct road if you consider it Dell’s entry-level alternative for a 4K monitor while still maintaining the high quality and warranty of the premium material.