Buying Guide
The Best Dell 4K Monitors
Three monitors ranked on refresh rate and screen size, where the S3225QS has the largest screen size; the S2725QS is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Dell's monitor range is wide, so the model number decides what you get. Every monitor here is made by Dell and is 4K, ordered by refresh rate.
We ranked these monitors on refresh rate, resolution and size using manufacturer specifications; where a maker leaves a figure out, we say so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Dell S2725QS
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Also Consider
Dell 27 S2725QC 4K USB-C
USB-C with up to 65W power delivery.
Best for: Buyers who want USB-C with up to 65W power delivery.
Our take Check price for Dell 27 S2725QC 4K USB-C (opens in a new tab)
Largest Screen Size
Dell S3225QS
The largest screen size here (32 inches).
Best for: Buyers who put screen size first.
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for Dell S2725QS (opens in a new tab) |
| USB-C with up to 65W power delivery. | Buyers who want USB-C with up to 65W power delivery. | Check price for Dell 27 S2725QC 4K USB-C (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest screen size here (32 inches). | Buyers who put screen size first. | Check price for Dell S3225QS (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
Dell S2725QS on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The S2725QS runs 4K at 120Hz on a 27-inch IPS panel with FreeSync Premium.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: screen size of 27 inches, behind the S3225QS (32 inches).
Why we like it
That refresh rate makes it the best all-rounder among cheap 4K screens. On screen size it ties with the S2725QC at 27 inches. Like the S2725QC, it has an IPS panel, while the S3225QS uses a VA panel.
Like the S2725QC, it has a 99% sRGB color gamut, while the S3225QS uses a 95% DCI-P3 color gamut. At 4K, check that your graphics card and cable support 4K at the refresh rate you want before you buy. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the S2725QC was the next step up. The main gap: screen size of 27 inches, behind the S3225QS (32 inches). If that matters, the S3225QS comes in at 32 inches.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Resolution: 3840x2160 (4K)
- Size: 27 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Color gamut: 99% sRGB
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync Premium
Pros
- 4K resolution for sharp text and detail
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 99% sRGB colour coverage
- FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Screen size of 27 inches, behind the S3225QS (32 inches)
Also Consider2 of 3
Dell 27 S2725QC 4K USB-C on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the S2725QC brings to the table is USB-C with up to 65W power delivery, plus 4K at 120Hz.
Best for
- Buyers who want USB-C with up to 65W power delivery.
Skip if
- Skip it if screen size matters most to you; the S3225QS offers 32 inches.
Why we like it
It also offers a 120Hz refresh rate and offers a 27 inches screen size. Like the S2725QS, it has an IPS panel, while the S3225QS uses a VA panel. Like the S2725QS, it has a 99% sRGB color gamut, while the S3225QS uses a 95% DCI-P3 color gamut.
It also comes with 1500:1 contrast. At 4K, check that your graphics card and cable support 4K at the refresh rate you want before you buy. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper S2725QS and the pricier S3225QS, at the time of writing. The trade-off is screen size; for more, the S3225QS comes in at 32 inches.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Resolution: 3840x2160 (4K)
- Size: 27 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Response: 4ms
- Color gamut: 99% sRGB
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync Premium
- USB-C: Yes
Pros
- 4K resolution for sharp text and detail
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 99% sRGB colour coverage
- FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Screen size trails the S3225QS (32 inches)
- Costs more than the S2725QS at the time of writing
Largest Screen Size3 of 3
Dell S3225QS on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The S3225QS brings 4K at 120Hz to 32 inches with 95% DCI-P3 on a VA panel.
Best for
- Buyers who put screen size first.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: a VA panel that can smear dark transitions.
Why we like it
It suits a deeper desk and media. Its 32 inches screen size is the largest here; the S2725QS comes next at 27 inches. A VA panel is unique to it among these picks, while the S2725QC uses an IPS panel.
A 95% DCI-P3 color gamut is unique to it among these picks, while the S2725QC uses a 99% sRGB color gamut. At 4K, check that your graphics card and cable support 4K at the refresh rate you want before you buy. At our last price check it topped the group, with the S2725QC the nearest cheaper option. Refresh rate is its weakest area, and the S2725QS covers it better at 120Hz.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Resolution: 3840x2160 (4K)
- Size: 32 inches
- Panel: VA
- Color gamut: 95% DCI-P3
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync Premium
Pros
- 4K resolution for sharp text and detail
- 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage
- FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
- 32-inch 4K screen at 120Hz
Cons
- a VA panel that can smear dark transitions
- Costs more than the S2725QS at the time of writing
How We Chose These Dell 4K Monitors
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up three monitors on refresh rate, resolution, screen size and panel, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the S2725QS to the S3225QS, state refresh rate, resolution and screen size and share 3840x2160 (4K) resolution and FreeSync Premium adaptive sync.
- Who each pick suits
- The S2725QS for the lowest price of the group at our last check; the S2725QC for USB-C with up to 65W power delivery; the S3225QS for the largest screen size here (32 inches).
- Price range
- From the S2725QS to the S3225QS, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Dell 4K Monitor
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Screen size across these picks
Here screen size runs from 27 inches on the S2725QC to 32 inches on the S3225QS. Start with the S3225QS if screen size decides it.
Color gamut
The S2725QS and the S2725QC list 99% sRGB; the S3225QS lists 95% DCI-P3. Settle this first, then compare prices.
Extras that separate them
The S2725QS: a 120Hz refresh rate at 4K. The S2725QC: 4K at 120Hz. The S3225QS: a 32-inch 4K screen at 120Hz.
Where your budget lands
All 3 sat in one tier when we checked, from the S2725QS at the low end to the S3225QS at the top, so decide on features first.
Start from what matters most
Keeping the budget tight: the S2725QS. Buyers who put screen size first: the S3225QS.
How to Choose a Dell 4K Monitor
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | S2725QS | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want USB-C with up to 65W power delivery | S2725QC | USB-C with up to 65W power delivery |
| Buyers who put screen size first | S3225QS | The largest screen size here (32 inches) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The S3225QS leads on screen size at 32 inches, ahead of the S2725QS at 27 inches.
| Monitor | Refresh rate | Resolution | Size | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2725QS | 120Hz | 3840x2160 (4K) | 27 inches | IPS |
| S2725QC | 120Hz | 3840x2160 (4K) | 27 inches | IPS |
| S3225QS | 120Hz | 3840x2160 (4K) | 32 inches | VA |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the S3225QS ahead of the S2725QS on screen size?
The S3225QS leads at 32 inches, with the S2725QS at 27 inches.
What does the S3225QS add over the S2725QS?
On paper it adds screen size (32 inches against 27 inches). The S2725QS was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
Why is the S3225QS our Largest Screen Size pick?
It earns the label for the largest screen size here (32 inches). It suits anyone who put screen size first.
Do the S2725QS and the S3225QS differ on panel?
The S2725QS and the S2725QC use IPS; the S3225QS uses VA.
What extras do the S2725QS and the S2725QC include?
The S2725QS: a 120Hz refresh rate at 4K. The S2725QC: USB-C with up to 65W power delivery. The S3225QS: a 32-inch 4K screen at 120Hz.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the S2725QS, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the S2725QC for USB-C with up to 65W power delivery and the S3225QS for the largest screen size here (32 inches) if those matter more to you.
Use the cable in the box; older cables can cap the refresh rate.