Dell S2716DGR Review

Having been released in 2016, the Dell S27116DGR has been steadily climbing on the display sales charts ever since. The high sales numbers are all due to its slick 1440p resolution, a high 144Hz refresh rate and overall solid performance boosted by the fabled G-Sync. This all sounds quite tempting, but 2016 is far gone, and it’s time for an updated evaluation. Can this monitor still kick it with the best of its kind?

Dell is not a rookie when it comes to gaming monitors, and it definitely shows. This model comes in two variants: the 27’’ Dell S2716DGR, and the 24’’ Dell S2417DG. In this review, we’ll be focusing on the former version, as those 3 extra inches make a difference along with a plethora of other features, thus giving an overall better experience for a negligible price difference.

Dell S2716DGR Gaming Performance

Dell S2716DGR is a surprisingly good gaming monitor, especially considering that not many gaming monitors out there come with so many features and still manage to stay in a reasonable price range. This 27-inch TN panel monitor boasts an impressive refresh rate of 144Hz which, combined with a 1ms response time and Anti-Glare coating gives a smooth gaming experience, free of any screen tearing and distortions.

Combined with a powerful graphics card, you’ll get a constant 60fps without any blurring or ghosting and at a crisp 2560 x 1440 resolution. But even the most advanced GPUs for gaming can take a beating here and there with newly released titles, demanding better hardware. If you’re sporting an Nvidia card, have no fear – G-Sync swoops in to save the day and further smooth out the visuals, a welcome feature that’s considered essential in high-end gaming.

The benefits of this feature improve the experience regardless of the genre, but it is especially helpful when playing fast-paced multiplayer shooters, as it eliminates any blurring that may occur in a frantic battle royale. So far so good, but as the old saying goes: every silver lining has a cloud… or was it the opposite?

Even a god-king can bleed, and while Dell S2716DGR can be lauded for its silky-smooth performance, the same cannot be said for its contrast ratio which sits at a max of 820:1, giving the colors a somewhat faded, washed outlook. This becomes noticeable when playing games set in dark environments –  the black dungeons and depths of space look more on the gray side.

This issue becomes more glaring when gaming in a dark room, so ambient light is your greatest ally. What you can do is lower the screen’s backlight, but it doesn’t completely solve the problem, which is disappointing. Still, not a dealbreaker, just a mild flaw on an otherwise decent display.

Another issue is the low gamma sitting in between 2.0 and 2.1, which makes colors look muted and bland. By lowering brightness down to 20-30% you’ll be able to improve the situation and raise the color temperatures from the default 6360K up to 6530K. A little tinkering here and there goes a long way! If you know what you’re doing, that is…

S2716DGR Design

Don’t judge a book by its cover, our elders would say, but we’ll go ahead and do it anyway, being the superficial rebels that we are. S2716DGR is definitely a looker, sporting a sleek black and grey office aesthetic – plain, simple, and nothing flashy, just the way I like it.

It is a robust and well-constructed monitor, especially because it was built entirely out of plastic. The bezel is 8mm wide on the top of the screen as well as the sides, while the bottom bar extends to 15mm, which is what we’re used to from Dell’s ultra-thin bezel practices.

The control panel buttons are placed at the bottom bezel to the right, with a clear intent of not ruining the monitors’ sexy curves. The buttons themselves are not great, but not terrible (Chernobyl fans in the house!) – maybe a bit too firm for my taste, but functional, with the emphasis put on the power button, which glows white while the monitor is on.

The back of the monitor is more of the same with a two-tone black and gray, glossy plastic finish, completing the overall refined look. Going to the left side we will find the inputs which include 1 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI port, 4 USB 3.0 slots and 2 3.5 mm analog audio out ports.

Out of the 2 audio ports, one of them can be used as a headphone port with adjustable volume, while the other one is a fixed volume variant. Pretty decent if you ask me, even while considering the lack of built-in speakers or any microphone connections.

The same cannot be said for the viewing angles though: screen dimming and blue-ish tinting on the side really pull this monitor down and can be considered its biggest flaw. Thankfully, the monitor stand is sturdy but quite versatile, allowing you to adjust the height, tilt, pivot – the whole shebang. It’s also removable if you wish to mount the monitor to the wall, which is a nice addition.

S2716DGR Pricing & Alternative

The DELL S2716DGR is priced at $428.97, which makes it a good choice for a 1440p gaming monitor considering how it performs and the features it comes with. Do not confuse this model with the S2417DG, which is a smaller, cheaper 24-inch version of the S2716DGR that goes for $387.47 and is also a nice choice if you don’t mind the 60Hz refresh rate and the inferior LCD screen.

Speaking of alternatives, if you’re fine with sticking to 1080p monitors, then your best bet would be the ASUS VG279Q that goes for $357.16 and basically has all of the same features minus the resolution. If you’re looking for a more powerful 4K monitor I would recommend going with the $799.99 Acer Predator XB321HK also seems like a good choice.

But my absolute favorite would be the Acer Predator XB273K. With great picture and color quality, this 144Hz beast of a monitor is reserved for serious gamers and those willing to shell out $1249 for a well-rounded 4K display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the DisplayPort cable included with the monitor any good?

There are no issues with the 5.5 ft cable provided with the monitor unless your setup requires a longer one. Luckily, DP cables aren’t all that expensive and you’ll be able to find a 10 ft replacement for around $17.

Can I use this monitor for work purposes as well?

Even though it’s marketed primarily as a gaming monitor, Dell S2716DGR can also serve as a great office display. The text isn’t as sharp as with office intended displays, but this can be amended by using ctrl+scroll to zoom in on the text and make it easier to read.

How do I set up my monitor to get the best colors?

This is a question of preference, but after looking through forums and snooping around the old interwebs I stumbled upon a universally approved setup that works in most cases:

1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel by right-clicking on the desktop and clicking on the icon
2. Go to Display – > Adjust desktop color settings
3. Check the Use Nvidia settings circle
4. Put in the following settings

• Brightness: 30%
• Contrast: 75%
• Color: Custom Color:
• R: 97%
• G: 99%
• B: 96%

These settings should give you an optimal color temperature for gaming, but feel free to tweak them to your liking as you can revert them at any time.

How do I deactivate the deep sleep feature?

The deep sleep feature has proven to be an annoyance to most users, but there is a way to get rid of it. On the monitor, hit the menu -> other options -> turn off deep sleep mode. Nothing more, nothing less.

Final Verdict

With a clean design, great performance and a decent price, I would definitely consider buying this monitor. Even though it’s not without flaws, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The 144Hz refresh rate really puts this monitor above the rest and the 1ms response time will give you the edge needed in tough online clashes where every millisecond counts. If for some reason, you want an even higher refresh rate, then you should take a look at the best 240Hz monitors on the market.

Even though the viewing angles leave much to be desired, the monitor’s adjustability more than makes up on that department, so overall this 1440p monitor is a very good choice if you’re on the lookout for a solid mid-range gaming monitor that will satisfy your cravings.

But patience is a virtue, so I would advise on delaying your purchase for a couple of months until you save up that extra few hundred bucks for an even bigger leap into the world of 4K. Happy gaming!