In my previous article, I compared the Asus ProArt PA279CV with Dell UltraSharp U2723QE. So, I thought why not compare Dell UltraSharp U2723QE with Dell S2722QC, which is one year older. Today, in this comparison, I will provide a detailed analysis of both monitors, discussing their strengths and weaknesses for various professional tasks.
Price & Resolution
The biggest concern for users when purchasing a product is whether the price they are paying is worth it or not. The same condition applies to our two monitors today, as there is a significant price difference between them. While you can find the S2722QC for $300, and U2723QE for $570.
Both monitors offer a 27-inch display with a resolution of 3840×2160, commonly known as 4K. With the same pixel density of 163 ppi, both monitors can display high-quality, sharp images on the screen.
Panel & Refresh Rate
Both monitors come with an IPS panel, which allows you to see accurate colors on the screen quite well. However, in the S2722QC, you will get a regular IPS panel that displays colors nicely. On the other hand, in the U2723QE, you will find LG’s black IPS panel, which significantly improves the black levels and contrast compared to a regular IPS panel.
It can be somewhat annoying that the S2722QC, which is priced lower, includes FreeSync, while a high-priced monitor like the U2723QE does not offer any such technology. However, I understand that such features may not be essential in professional work.
Due to the presence of AMD FreeSync, the S2722QC monitor can display high graphics games on the screen smoothly and without any screen tearing as long as the game’s frame rate stays between 40 to 60 FPS because the monitor’s Freesync supports a refresh range of 40 to 60 Hz.
Brightness, Colors, & Contrast Ratio
The S2722QC offers a peak brightness of 350 nits, while the U2723QE provides a peak brightness of 400 nits. I have personally used both monitors and found them to be bright enough for both office and home environments.
Both monitors come with an anti-glare/matte (3H) coating, which allows them to be comfortably used near a window without any noticeable reflections. However, it is still recommended to avoid placing them directly in front of a window for an optimal viewing experience.
The S2722QC provides 99% coverage of the sRGB color space, which is impressive considering its price. However, it falls a bit short with only 88% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, which can be slightly disappointing.
In the U2723QE, you get a much better range of colors compared to the S2722QC. It offers 100% sRGB and Rec.709, 98% DCI-P3, and 90% Adobe RGB color gamut coverage. With these specifications, this monitor can be highly useful for DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB related work such as graphic design, photography, video editing, and content creation.
I would suggest that if your work is related to Web Design, Digital Imaging, or Online Content, the S2722QC would be a good choice for you as it provides almost the same sRGB color coverage at a lower price. However, if you also require other color coverage options, then you would need to consider purchasing the U2723QE.
In the S2722QC, you can see an 8-bit color depth with Frame Rate Control (FRC) that allows for a display of 1.07 billion colors. On the other hand, the U2723QE offers a true 10-bit color depth, also capable of displaying 1.07 billion colors, but with better color gradations and accuracy.
The S2722QC offers a contrast ratio of 1000:1, which is half of the contrast ratio of 2000:1 provided by the U2723QE. In terms of contrast ratio, there is no need for me to compare them because IPS black technology has significantly improved the contrast capabilities of the U2723QE, making it much better in terms of contrast.
In comparison to a regular IPS panel, the U2723QE offers approximately 35% deeper black levels. While it may not provide as deep blacks as OLED panels, the combination of IPS’s color accuracy and improved black levels makes this monitor a top choice for many productive professionals.
Features & Menu
Both S2722QC and U2723QE are Dell monitors, which is why you can find the Dell Display Manager system in both of them. It allows you to easily access all the monitor-related settings.
In Dell Display Manager, you will find the same menus for both monitors, including brightness, contrast, input source, color, display, PIP/PBP, audio, personalize, and others. Each menu provides different options. For example, the color menu offers different preset modes, while the display menu includes options such as aspect ratio, sharpness, USB-C Prioritization, smart HDR, response time, and more.
But there are some additional features that are only available in the U2723QE monitor, such as the in-built KVM switch and the DisplayHDR 400 option in the SmartHDR feature.
In the S2722QC, you will find four buttons located on the bottom right side to control the Dell Display Manager. These controls can be a bit annoying for people who frequently make changes to their display settings according to their work, and there are two reasons behind it. Firstly, the incorrect placement of these buttons which requires repeatedly checking which button your finger is on when adjusting settings. Secondly, the slow response of the controls also contributes to the annoyance.
The U2723QE comes with a joystick for control, which can be found on the bottom right side behind the cabinet. Speaking from my own experience with this monitor’s joystick, I can say that it is quite comfortable to use.
I found it a little disappointing that despite paying such a high price for the U2723QE, it doesn’t come with any built-in speakers. On the other hand, the S2722QC offers two built-in speakers at an affordable price of 3W each. Although they may not produce high-quality sound, they are suitable for regular use such as watching YouTube videos.
Design & Build
Design-wise, I don’t see many noticeable differences between the two monitors. The S2722QC comes with a silver finish, and on the back, there is a subtle pattern that gives it an upper-class and elegant look.
And The U2723QE comes with a platinum silver finish, and on the back, you will not find any patterns or designs. Instead, it has a plain glossy finish that adds to the premium look of the monitor without leaving any gaps.
Both monitors are built with high-quality plastic materials for their cases. However, the U2723QE’s case is slightly lighter in weight compared to the S2722QC.
In the S2722QC, you will find thin bezels on three sides, and at the center of the bottom side, there is the Dell logo. Additionally, on the right side of the case, next to the menu control buttons, you will find the power on/off button.
The U2723QE has thin bezels on all sides, which makes it visually appealing and quite stylish. Additionally, it has a dedicated button for power on/off located near the joystick.
Both monitors have a similar base shape, which provides them with good stability. On the other hand, their stands also appear somewhat similar, but the stand of the U2723QE is slightly thicker compared to the S2722QC.
Both monitors allow for adjustments in height, tilt, swivel, and portrait orientation according to the user’s preferences and comfort. And if you use multiple monitors, you can use VESA mounts instead of the stands of these monitors because both monitors have a VESA interface with a standard size of 100×100.
Ports
The S2722QC is equipped with 2X HDMI 2.0 ports and 1X DisplayPort 1.2 for high-quality video connectivity. It also provides 2X 3.5mm Audio Out ports for connecting headphones. Additionally, it offers 2X 3.2 USB Type-A ports for direct connection of accessories such as keyboards and mouse. It also features 1X USB-C upstream port, which supports Display Alternate mode and can deliver power of up to 65 Watts. This power delivery capability is sufficient for fast charging of most mid-range laptops or even your mobile.
Now, if I talk about U2723QE, it offers a fantastic range of ports that are very useful in the professional field. It includes 1X HDMI 2.0 port, 1X DisplayPort 1.4 In, 1X DisplayPort 1.4 Out, 1X 3.5mm audio out, and 4X USB 3.2 Type-A Gen-2 ports. Additionally, it has 1X USB Type-C upstream port that can deliver power up to 90 Watts with DisplayPort alternate mode. After that, there is an additional USB-C downstream port that delivers power up to 15 Watts. Finally, it also features an Ethernet RJ45 port. It doesn’t end here, on its left side underneath, you’ll find two additional ports such as a USB Type-A and a USB Type-C port. Having such ports in the right place, as in this device, makes it very convenient for a user. They can connect their entire work setup to this monitor.
Overall, U2723QE is the winner in ports but that doesn’t mean S2722QC is bad. In my opinion, it offers a good variety of ports at such an affordable price, especially with the capability to deliver 65W power through USB-C, which is not commonly found in monitors within its price range.
Which is Better?
I would like to say that if you are looking for an affordable professional monitor that can be useful for your regular day-to-day work, with 4K resolution and decent image quality, then the S2722QC is a great option for you.
But if budget is not an issue for you and you are considering investing a good amount in a monitor for long-term use, then U2723QE is indeed the best option. It offers excellent features such as IPS black technology, in-built KVM switch, multiple USB-C ports, joystick control, crystal clear image quality and fantastic color reproduction. And all these features contribute to its outstanding performance and make it a future-proof monitor.
