The Dell 4K S3221QS curved monitor is exclusive amongst its friends. Although most shows have stored up with ever-increasing refresh charges and better resolutions, their aesthetic has been, frankly, missing. In reality, apart from a brand or perhaps some RGB lighting, most displays may finest be described as homogenous. That’s not the case with the Dell 4K S3221QS, which appears to attract inspiration from the arctic white Dell XPS. In fact, it gives greater than only a fairly design. The Dell 4K S3221QS curved monitor matches its aesthetic with a high-quality, high-resolution panel and distinctive multitasking options best for productivity-minded customers. Add in surprisingly first-rate built-in audio, and this show is sort of good for any workplace setup.
The monitor does include some unlucky flaws, for one seemingly aimed toward working professionals. Not solely is there no USB-C port, but it surely lacks true HDR as properly. Its sluggish response charge will even flip off anybody contemplating this for Esports. Nonetheless, in case you can reside without these options or your media consumption consists of flicks and immersive video games like Pink Lifeless Redemption 2, you’ll discover little to fault with the Dell S3221QS.
It’s fairly priced, too, setting you again $499 (£462, AU$748). Whereas you will get the USB-C and HDR 10 outfitted BenQ EW3270U at a considerably comparable value, you do miss out on the curved display and Dell’s suite of multitasking options. Alternatively, the marginally bigger AOC CU34G2X, which generally goes for $564 (£463, about AU$750), gives some nice gaming-related options like a 1ms response charge and 144Hz refresh charge. Nonetheless, it’s not 4K and likewise doesn’t have Dell’s characteristic set. Dell’s mixture of design, efficiency, and options aren’t present in different displays at this value level.
Dell wished to make one thing slightly completely different from the Dell S3221QS. Positive, its bezels have that very same matte black plastic that adorns each different monitor. However, the similarities finish there. The again panel contains high-quality, woven white plastic harking back to the arctic white discovered on the Dell XPS laptops. And its stand and base are available in a lightweight silver end that matches the again panel pretty properly.
The monitor could be tilted all the way down to -5 and as much as 21 levels, and the peak could be adjusted as properly. Nonetheless, it will probably swivel from aspect to aspect. For a reason that base doesn’t take up an excessive amount of desk house, it’s straightforward to show it if wanted.
Since it’s a sizable monitor, attending to the ports is just not going to be straightforward. Not solely do they sit extra towards the center of the monitor’s again panel because the audio system sits on both finishes of the ports. However, they’re downward-facing as properly. Now we have to place the monitor face down each time we want entry to its ports.
Talking of ports, the choice right here is first-rate, however not superb, with one show port and two HDMI ports out there for connecting to the visible supply, an audio line out, and a USB hub with two downstream ports, although just one has charging capabilities. Moreover, the ports’ inaccessibility, the truth that this monitor skipped on a USB-C port is a missed alternative. Contemplating that Ultrabooks are as common as they’re, with Dell’s personal XPS being one of the wanted, including a USB-C port looks as if a no brainer.
Whereas the shortage of USB-C is irritating, the addition of a first-rate audio system is a pleasant shock. Not solely does their inclusion supply an extra minimal desk setup. However, this audio system truly sounds fairly good and supplies a good quantity of quantity at 5W every. Are they anyplace close to audiophile high quality? In fact not, however, these audio system, tuned by Waves MaxxAudio, sound higher than most monitor audio system and are extra ok for most individuals.
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So far as the show itself, the 31.5” VA panel seems nice, with 99% sRGB and 90% DCI-P3 shade, 3000:1 distinction ratio, and naturally, 4K decision with a 60Hz refresh charge. We discover the colors correct and wealthy, whereas the display seems as crisp and detailed as you’d anticipate at that decision. Due to the 1800R curvature, even after hours of use, there’s no eye pressure. It’s vivid sufficient at 300 nits, although we’re upset that it didn’t additionally inherit the brand new XPS’s 500-nit brightness.
Between its 60Hz refresh charge and 8ms response charge, which could be overclocked as much as 4ms, it’s not notably quick (although that is hardly unsurprising, contemplating it’s a 4K display.) Anybody needing a speedy show, like Esports players, will need to look elsewhere. It performs fairly properly for watching {movies} and enjoying video games like Pink Lifeless Redemption 2 or Metro Exodus. Whereas we skilled some stuttering hooked as much as an RTX 3080 outfitted PC, turning on V-sync principally eradicated any efficiency points, in order that’s extra the PC than a problem with the monitor itself.
Sadly, whereas Dell says this monitor helps HDR content material, it solely actually makes the image a bit extra blue without actually rising the dynamic vary. Nonetheless, this isn’t a shock as It’s not Vesa-certified DisplayHDR and doesn’t include an in-house ranking. Should you care about HDR, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Fortunately, the Dell 4K S3221QS’s multitasking options greater than redeem its different miscues. Whether or not it has the ability to use Image-in-Image and Image-by-Image to view visible data from two completely different pc sources or having its EasyArrange mode to prepare and snap all of your tabs and apps into place and in as much as 38 configurations, these options are severe boons for anybody needing to streamline their digital workflow.
The EasyArrange characteristic is accessible by way of the downloadable Dell Show Supervisor app, which additionally permits you to fine-tune your monitor utilization by letting you robotically change the display preset mode (for video games, {movies}, and so on.), relying on which app you’re utilizing. It additionally permits you to create shortcut keys for PIP and PBP. You possibly can’t manage all of your monitor settings by means of the app. Sadly – a characteristic that we’ve appreciated on different displays we examined before now.
With that stated, the Dell 4K S3221QS is a superb monitor that appears nice, gives an in-depth and wealthy 4K display with some advantageous multitasking options. Whereas it does have a couple of missteps, you get lots of monitors for the entry value.
