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Dell's UltraSharp monitor range has always been very popular, and tend to offer very solid all-round performance, along with a decent range of features and a good warranty and support package. We have with us at the moment the latest update to the 27" UltraSharp range, the U2719D. This supersedes the U2717D which we reviewed back in June 2016. There are two versions of this new model available, the standard U2719D and a model with an added USB type-C connection which is the U2719DC. Both are otherwise identical so this review can be considered for both versions. There's not been a massive range of updates to the specs and features since the previous U2717D, apart from the new USB type-C connection on the C model. It continues to have the very sleek and attractive 4 side borderless design and IPS-type panel with 1440p resolution. The stand has been updated a bit, and DisplayPort has been updated to the latest v1.4 [not that it's really needed to power this screen]. We will of course make comparisons to see if and how performance varies between the U2717D and the new U2719D throughout this review.
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The following table gives detailed information about the specs of the screen as advertised:
Monitor Specifications
Size
27"
Panel Coating
Light AG coating
Aspect Ratio
16:9 flat
Interfaces
1x DisplayPort 1.4
1x DisplayPort out 1x HDMI
4x USB 3.0 hub [2x with fast charging] 1x audio line out
Resolution
2560 x 1440
Pixel Pitch
0.233mm
Design colour
4 side borderless design with matte black and silver plastics, and dark silver stand
Response Time
5ms G2G [fast] 8ms G2G [normal]
Ergonomics
Tilt, 130mm height, swivel, rotate
Static Contrast Ratio
1000:1
Dynamic Contrast Ratio
n/a
VESA Compatible
Yes 100 x 100 mm
Brightness
350 cd/m2
Accessories
DisplayPort, HDMI, USB cables and power cables
Viewing Angles
178 / 178
Panel Technology
Samsung PLS [IPS-type]
Weight
with stand: 6.64 Kg
Backlight Technology
W-LED
Physical Dimensions
[WxHxD] with stand 612 x 390 x 180 mm
Colour Depth
16.7m [8-bit]
Refresh Rate
60Hz
SpecialFeatures
Factory calibration, audio output
Colour Gamut
Slightly wider than standard gamut 99.9% sRGB, 85% DCI-P3 [quoted]
The U2719D offers a very good range of connectivity with 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x DisplayPort out [for daisy chaining] and 1 x HDMI offered for video connections. For PC connectivity the DisplayPort is the most common option, with HDMI being available then for connecting external games consoles or Blu-ray players potentially.
There is an additional 4 port USB 3.0 hub, with two of the ports located on the back of the screen and 2 on the left hand side for easy access. One port in each pair has fast charging capabilities too. The screen has an internal power supply and comes packaged with the standard kettle power cable you need. An audio output connection is provided as well for audio pass-through but there are no integrated speakers.
Below is a summary of the features and connections of the screen:
Feature
Yes / No
Feature
Yes / No
Tilt adjust
DVI
Height adjust
HDMI
Swivel adjust
D-sub
Rotate adjust
DisplayPort
VESA compliant
Component
USB 2.0 Ports
Audio connection
USB 3.0 Ports
HDCP Support
Card Reader
MHL Support
Ambient Light Sensor
Integrated Speakers
Human Motion Sensor
PiP / PbP
Touch Screen
Blur Reduction Mode
Factory calibration
NVIDIA G-Sync
Hardware calibration
AMD FreeSync
Uniformity correction
Meaningful HDR
Design and Ergonomics
The U2719D comes in a black and dark grey design with matte plastics used. This model has a very attractive 4-side borderless design which looks really sleek, and makes it a very viable option for multi-screen setups. There is a thin 1mm plastic edge around all 4 sides of the screen and then an additional 6mm thick black panel border - giving a total edge of only 7mm around all sides. There is a small silver Dell logo stuck along the bottom panel border but no other labels or logos visible. The OSD control buttons are located on the bottom right hand edge of the screen and are just out of sight from a normal viewing position. There is also a power button which has a very small white LED within it to show when the screen is on. Again this is just out of sight from a normal viewing position we found. The arm and base of the stand are finished in a matte dark silver colour and provide a simple, yet sturdy base for the screen.
The back of the screen is encased mostly in matte silver plastic as you can see above. The stand attaches in the middle using a quick release mechanism, but can be removed for VESA 100mm mounting if you want too. There is a useful cable tidy hole in the back of the stand as well as you can see above.
The screen has a very thin side profile as shown in the picture above. This is despite it having an integrated power supply [you only need a normal kettle lead to power the screen]. On the left hand bottom edge of the screen are 2x USB 3.0 ports, one with fast charging capabilities. These supplement the 2 that are on the back of the screen with the video connections and are very handy for easy access.
There is a very good range of ergonomic adjustments offered by the stand. Tilt offers a wide range and is smooth and easy to move. There is a 130mm height adjustment which is a bit stiff but smooth overall. At the lowest setting the bottom edge of the screen is 40mm from the top of the desk, and 170mm when at maximum height extension. Side to side swivel is provided and is smooth and easy. There's also a rotation function which is [quite rarely] smooth and simple to move too, and you can even rotate it in either direction [left or right] which is unusual. Overall a very versatile stand.
A summary of the ergonomic adjustments are shown below:
Function
Range
Smoothness
Ease of Use
Tilt
Yes
Smooth
Easy
Height
130mm
Smooth
Fairly stiff
Swivel
Yes
Smooth
Easy
Rotate
Yes
Smooth
Easy
Overall
Very good set of adjustments and generally all easy enough to move. Sturdy and stable with minimal wobble from the stand.
The materials were of a good standard and the build quality felt very good. There was no audible noise from the screen, even when conducting specific tests which can often identify buzzing issues. The whole screen remained cool even during prolonged use.
The back of the screen features the connections. There are: 1. AC power connector | 2. HDMI connector | 3. DP connector [in] | 4. DP connector [out] | 5. Audio line-out port | 6. USB upstream port | 7. USB downstream ports [x1 with Power Charging] | 8. Stand lock | 9. USB downstream Ports [x1 with Power Charging]
The OSD is controlled through 4 pressable buttons located on the bottom right hand edge of the screen. By default there is quick launch access to the preset mode and input selection menus, although these can be customised to other options from within the main OSD if you want.
The main OSD is split in to 7 sections down the left hand side, with the options available in each shown on the right. There are all the usual settings to play with, although colour controls felt a little limited. Navigation was quick and easy and felt intuitive which was good news.
Power Consumption
In terms of power consumption the manufacturer lists a usage of 30W and 0.3W in standby. We carried out our normal tests to establish its power consumption ourselves.
State and Brightness Setting
Manufacturer Spec [W]
Measured Power Usage [W]
Default [75%]
30.0
25.6
Calibrated [24%]
-
17.9
Maximum Brightness [100%]
-
30.8
Minimum Brightness [0%]
-
13.6
Standby
0.3
0.6
Out of the box the screen used 25.6W at the default 75% brightness setting. Once calibrated the screen reached 17.9W consumption, and in standby it used only 0.6W. We have plotted these results below compared with other screens we have tested. The consumption [comparing the calibrated states] is comparable to the smaller 27 - 31.5" sized screens here. It is less than the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ, which while being the same 27" in size, has a Full Array Local Dimming [FALD] backlight for HDR and so uses a lot more power.
Panel and Backlighting
Panel Manufacturer
Samsung
Colour Palette
16.7 million
Panel Technology
PLS [IPS-type]
Colour Depth
8-bit
Panel Module
W270HIAP1 [LTM270DL11]
Colour space
Slightly extended gamut
Backlighting Type
W-LED
Colour space coverage [%]
109% sRGB, 80% DCI-P3 measured
Key Quick Information Box
- Samsung PLS technology panel [IPS-type]
- 8-bit colour depth
- Slightly wider than standard gamut at ~109% sRGB / 80% DCI-P3 but not by much
- Flicker free backlight operation
Panel Part and Colour Depth
The Dell U2719D features a Samsung PLS [IPS-type] technology panel. When dismantling the screen the panel sticker is in a naming format we've not seen before, stating "W270HIAP1". As best we can tell, this is a new/alternative naming convention for the LTM270DL11 panel which was featured in the previous U2717D model and offered the same 4-side borderless design and specs. It certainly seems logical that Dell would stick with the same panel for this new model. The panel offers 16.7m colours via an 8-bit colour depth.
Screen Coating
The screen coating is a light anti-glare [AG] offering. It isn't a semi-glossy coating, but it is light as seen on other modern IPS type panels. Thankfully it isn't a heavily grainy coating like some much older IPS panels feature and is also lighter than modern TN Film panel coating. It retains its anti-glare properties to avoid too many unwanted reflections of a full glossy coating, but does not produce too grainy or dirty an image that some thicker AG coatings can.
Backlight Type and Colour Gamut
The screen uses a White-LED [W-LED] backlight unit which is standard in today's market. This helps reduce power consumption compared with older CCFL backlight units and brings about some environmental benefits as well. The W-LED unit offers a standard colour gamut which is approximately equal to the sRGB colour space, slightly wider according to the specs and our measurements in the following sections. Dell state a 99% sRGB coverage, and an 85% DCI-P3 colour space coverage. Anyone wanting to work with wider colour spaces would need to consider some of the wide gamut displays available instead. If you want to read more about colour spaces and gamut then please have a read of our detailed article.
Backlight Dimming and Flicker
We tested the screen to establish the methods used to control backlight dimming. Our in depth article talks in more details about a previously very common method used for this which is called Pulse Width Modulation [PWM]. PWM involves the rapid switching of the backlight off/on to simulate lower brightness levels when you adjust the screen's brightness control. This in itself gives cause for concern to some users who have experienced eye strain, headaches and other symptoms as a result of the flickering backlight caused by this technology. We use a photosensor + oscilloscope system to measure backlight dimming control with a high level of accuracy and ease. These tests allow us to establish:
- Whether PWM is being used to control the backlight
- The frequency and other characteristics at which this operates, if it is used
- Whether a flicker may be introduced or potentially noticeable at certain settings
If PWM is used for backlight dimming, the higher the frequency, the less likely you are to see artefacts and flicker. The duty cycle [the time for which the backlight is on] is also important and the shorter the duty cycle, the more potential there is that you may see flicker. The other factor which can influence flicker is the amplitude of the PWM, measuring the difference in brightness output between the 'on' and 'off' states. Please remember that not every user would notice a flicker from a backlight using PWM, but it is something to be wary of. It is also a hard thing to quantify as it is very subjective when talking about whether a user may or may not experience the side effects.
The Tests for this display are shown below.
100% 50% 0%
At all brightness settings a constant Direct Current [DC] voltage is applied to the backlight, and the screen is free from the obvious off/on switching of any PWM dimming method. As a result, the screen is flicker free as advertised.
Pulse Width Modulation Used
No
Cycling Frequency
n/a
Possible Flicker at
100% Brightness
No
50% Brightness
No
0% Brightness
No
Brightness and Contrast
This section tests the full range of luminance [the brightness of the screen] possible from the backlight, while changing the monitors brightness setting in the OSD menu. This allows us to measure the maximum and minimum adjustment ranges, as well as identify the recommended setting to reach a target of 120 cd/m2 for comfortable day to day use in normal lighting conditions. Some users have specific requirements for a very bright display, while others like a much darker display for night time viewing or in low ambient light conditions. At each brightness level we also measure the contrast ratio produced by the screen when comparing a small white sample, vs. a black sample [not unrealistic full screen white vs. full screen black tests]. The contrast ratio should remain stable across the adjustment range so we also check that.
Graphics card settings were left at default with no ICC profile or calibration active. Tests were made using an X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter. It should be noted that we used the BasICColor calibration software here to record these measurements, and so luminance at default settings may vary a little from the LaCie Blue Eye Pro report you will see in other sections of the review.
OSD Brightness
Luminance [cd/m2]
Black Point [cd/m2]
Contrast Ratio [ x:1]
100
299.05 0.30 997
90
271.59 0.28 970
80
245.32 0.25 981
70
218.76 0.22 994
60
194.53 0.20 973
50
168.73 0.17 993
40
142.71 0.15 951
30
117.67 0.12 981
20
91.01 0.09 1011
10
64.17 0.07 917
0
38.70 0.04 968
Total Luminance Adjustment Range [cd/m2]
260.35
Brightness OSD setting controls backlight?
Total Black Point Adjustment Range [cd/m2]
0.26
Average Static Contrast Ratio
976:1
PWM Free?
Recommended OSD setting for 120 cd/m2
31
At the full brightness setting in the OSD the maximum luminance reached a high 299 cd/m2 which was a little lower than the specified maximum brightness of 350 cd/m2 from the manufacturer. There was a good 260 cd/m2 adjustment range in total, so at the minimum setting you could reach down to a low luminance of 39 cd/m2. This should be low enough for most people including those wanting to work in darkened room conditions with low ambient light. A setting of 31 in the OSD menu should return you a luminance of around 120 cd/m2 at default settings. It should be noted that the brightness regulation is controlled without the need for Pulse Width Modulation for all brightness settings so the screen is flicker free.
We have plotted the luminance trend on the graph above. The screen behaves as it should in this regard, with a reduction in the luminance output of the screen controlled by the reduction in the OSD brightness setting. This is a linear relationship from 100 all the way down to 0.
The average contrast ratio of the screen was measured at 976:1 which was good, although not excellent for an IPS-type panel. This was basically in line with the specification and our expectations though.
Testing Methodology
An important thing to consider for most users is how a screen will perform out of the box and with some basic manual adjustments. Since most users won't have access to hardware colorimeter tools, it is important to understand how the screen is going to perform in terms of colour accuracy for the average user.
We restored our graphics card to default settings and disabled any previously active ICC profiles and gamma corrections. The screen was tested at default factory settings using our new X-rite i1 Pro 2 Spectrophotometer combined with LaCie's Blue Eye Pro software suite. An X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter was also used to verify the black point and contrast ratio since the i1 Pro 2 spectrophotometer is less reliable at the darker end.
Targets for these tests are as follows:
- CIE Diagram - confirms the colour space covered by the monitors backlighting in a 2D view, with the black triangle representing the displays gamut, and other reference colour spaces shown for comparison. Usually shown as a comparison against the common sRGB space
- Colour space coverage volumes - we also measure using a piece of software called ChromaPure the colour space [gamut] volumes produced by the backlight in comparison to the sRGB, DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 colour spaces. sRGB is the most commonly used colour space so it is important to have a decent coverage from the screen here. If the colour space is >100% sRGB then the screen can produce a wider colour gamut, often reaching further in to the wider gamut DCI-P3 [commonly used for HDR] and Rec.2020 reference spaces.
- Gamma - we aim for 2.2 which is the default for computer monitors
- Colour temperature / white point - we aim for 6500k which is the temperature of daylight
- Luminance - we aim for 120 cd/m2, which is the recommended luminance for LCD monitors in normal lighting conditions
- Black depth - we aim for as low as possible to maximise shadow detail and to offer us the best contrast ratio
- Contrast ratio [static] - we aim for as high as possible. Any dynamic contrast ratio controls are turned off here if present
- dE average / maximum - we aim for as low as possible. If DeltaE >3, the color displayed is significantly different from the theoretical one, meaning that the difference will be perceptible to the viewer. If DeltaE 100,1000 Euro, requiring extremely high bandwidths and very complicated methods to trigger the correct behaviour and accurately measure the signal processing on its own. Other techniques which are being used since are not conducted by Thomas [he is a freelance writer] or based on this equipment or technique, and may also be subject to other errors or inaccuracies based on our conversations with him since. It's very hard as a result to produce a technique which will measure just the signal processing on its own unfortunately. Many measurement techniques are also not explained and so it is important to try and get a picture from various sources if possible to make an informed judgement about a display overall.
For our tests we will continue to use the SMTT tool to measure the overall "display lag". From there we can use our oscilloscope system to measure the response time across a wide range of grey to grey [G2G] transitions as recorded in our . Since SMTT will not include the full response time within its measurements, after speaking with Thomas further about the situation we will subtract half of the average G2G response time from the total display lag. This should allow us to give a good estimation of how much of the overall lag is attributable to the signal processing element on its own.
Lag Classification
To help in this section we will also introduce a broader classification system for these results to help categorise each screen as one of the following levels. We will now keep these classifications consistent regardless of the actual refresh rate of the screen being measured:
- Class 1] Less than 8.33ms - the equivalent to 1 frame lag of a display at 120Hz refresh rate - should be fine for gamers, even at high levels
- Class 2] A lag of 8.33 - 16.66ms - the equivalent of one to two frames at a 120Hz refresh rate - moderate lag but should be fine for many gamers. Caution advised for serious gaming
- Class 3] A lag of more than 16.66ms - the equivalent of more than 2 frames at a refresh rate of 120Hz - Some noticeable lag in daily usage, not suitable for high end gaming
>> For the full reviews of the models compared here and the dates they were written [and when screens were approximately released to the market], please see our full reviews index.
[Measurements in ms]
On
Total Display Lag [SMTT 2]
7.20
Pixel Response Time Element
4.45
Estimated Signal Processing Lag
2.75
Lag Classification
1
Class 1We have provided a comparison above against other models we have tested to give an indication between screens. The screens tested are split into two measurements which are based on our overall display lag tests [using SMTT] and half the average G2G response time, as measured by the oscilloscope. The response time is split from the overall display lag and shown on the graph as the green bar. From there, the signal processing [red bar] can be provided as a good estimation.
The total lag measured was 7.20ms. With 4.45ms of that accounted for by pixel response times, we can estimate around 2.75ms of signal processing lag, the actual lag you might feel during gaming and other uses. This was next to nothing and in line with several other older Dell UltraSharp models. We had measured a much higher lag from the U2717D model, so there were some positive improvements here with the newer U2719D which was pleasing.
Movies and Video
The following summarises the screens performance for videos and movie viewing:
Category
Display Specs / Measurements
Comments
Size
27" widescreen
Fairly typical for a desktop monitor nowadays and smaller than TV's by a lot
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Well suited to most common 16:9 aspect content and input devices
Resolution
2560 x 1440
Can support native 1080p content, but not Ultra HD natively
HDCP
Yes
Suitable for encrypted content
Connectivity
DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI
Useful additional HDMI input for external Blu-ray players or games consoles.
Cables
DisplayPort and HDMI
Both provided in the box which is good news
Ergonomics
Tilt, height, swivel, rotate
Very good range of adjustments, also being easy to use. You should be able to position the screen easily for multiple viewing positions.
Coating
Light Anti-glare
Provides clear, non-grainy image and avoids unwanted reflections of full glossy solutions
Brightness range
39 - 299 cd/m2
Good adjustment range offered. Flicker free backlight operation with no PWM
Contrast
1023:1 after calibration
Decent IPS contrast ratio which should be fine for most content. A VA technology panel would provide you a higher contrast ratio if you watch a lot of dark content and miss some shadow detail
Preset modes
Movie
There is a Movie preset mode which is cooler than our calibrated mode. Might be useful to some users
Response times
8.9ms G2G, no real overshoot
Response times are good for a 60Hz IPS panel, with low levels of overshoot. Should be fine for movies
Viewing angles
Very good
Thanks to the IPS panel technology, suitable for viewing from a wide range of positions. IPS glow on dark content could present a problem from some wider angles especially in darker room conditions
Backlight bleed
No major bleed
Some issue with backlight bleed along the edges which can be a problem for movie viewing. Results may of course vary from sample to sample.
Audio
Audio out
No integrated speakers, but an audio out connection
Aspect Ratio Controls
Wide 16:9, 4:3, auto resize and 1:1
Good options to account for non-16:9 format inputs if needed although the native aspect of the screen is likely to be suitable for a lot of content
PiP / PbP
Not supported
n/a on this model
HDR support
Not supported
No local dimming or any of the necessary elements to provide an HDR experience. There is a slight boost in colours compared with a traditional sRGB screen, but only creating 109% sRGB, equating to ~80% DCI-P3.
Conclusion
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As we've come to expect from Dell's UltraSharp range, the U2719D was another solid choice, offering good all round performance and some nice specs and features. We liked the sleek 4-side borderless design and simple, but versatile stand. The 1440p resolution and IPS-type panel were welcome as ever, providing an overall very nice picture quality and great all round performance. Factory calibration was very good, except for the slightly warm colour temperature. It was also quite useful to include that more accurate sRGB emulation option via the 'standard' preset in case you needed to more accurately match the sRGB colour space for colour critical work. There was also a decent IPS contrast ratio, flicker free backlight and wide viewing angles which helped provide a comfortable viewing experience.
Not a huge amount has changed since the older U2717D model in terms of features and design, but there have been a few improvements to performance which was nice. The main difference was that Dell had tidied up the moderate levels of overshoot from the older model here, as long as you stick to the 'normal' response time mode, and also fixed the high lag from its predecessor. So for those wanting to do a bit of casual gaming it was a better choice than the older model. Of course it's not aimed at hardcore gaming and lacks the high refresh rate, really low response times and G-sync/FreeSync support of proper gaming displays.
If you're looking for a general all-round display, with some great support and warranty as well then this is another great outing from the Dell UltraSharp range. The U2719D is available from all main regions via Amazon [affiliate link] where you can check latest pricing and availability.
Pros
Cons
Solid all round performance thanks to the IPS-type panel
Typical IPS glow levels maybe off-putting to some users
Improved response times and reduced lag compared with older U2717D model. Suitable for casual gaming
No major improvements really over old U2717D but a few minor changes
Good factory calibration and colour performance Factory calibration colour temp a little too warm
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TFT Central Awards Explained
We have two award classifications as part of our reviews. There's the top 'Recommended' award, where a monitor is excellent and highly recommended by us. There is also an 'Approved' award for a very good screen which may not be perfect, but is still a very good display. These awards won't be given out every time, but look out for the logo at the bottom of the conclusion. A list of monitors which have won our awards is available here.
Is Dell U2719D worth it?
Customers are satisfied with the picture quality of the monitor. They mention that it has excellent resolution, and is suitable for office work as well as ultra sharp movie watching. They also appreciate the slim profile and thin bezels. Customers are satisfied with the size of the monitor.
What is special about Dell UltraSharp monitors?
Crafted for comfort. Easy on the eyes: Optimize eye comfort with flicker-free screens and ComfortView, a feature that reduces harmful blue light emissions. * Select monitors come with ComfortView Plus * , an always on, built-in low blue light screen that reduces blue light while maintaining color accuracy.
What is the Dell equivalent of U2719D?
The Dell UltraSharp U2721DE and the Dell U2719D are very similar overall. The U2721DE has slightly different inputs, with the addition of a USB-C port and an ethernet port.
What type of display is Dell U2719D?
Product Specs.