Dell Ultrasharp U2719DX: The Go-To Monitor for Work and Creativity

We purchased the Dell Ultrasharp U2719DX so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

Picking out a new monitor is a tricky process and an important one. We spend so much time in front of screens, for both work and leisure, that it is essential that we invest proportionally in our portals to the digital world.

However, a monitor is such a utilitarian device that the purchase of one seems like drudgery, and many of us tend to shy away from spending as much on it as we would on flashier gadgets. It might surprise you to learn that there is a monitor that not only offers great image quality but is, in fact, an exciting tech purchase.

We tested the Dell Ultrasharp U2719DX, a monitor that’s beautiful enough that it might make you change how you view your display.

Dell Ultrasharp U2719DX

Design: Sharp indeed

For a 27-inch monitor, the Dell Ultrasharp U2719DX is made quite slim thanks to a mere 6.5mm profile width at the edge and exceptionally thin bezels. Dell calls this an “infinity edge display” and it makes this monitor ideal for use in dual-monitor setups. We found that it does mesh well when used side by side with a different monitor, and its 1440p resolution is useful for matching with a variety of monitors. We placed it between a 1080p and a 4K 2160p display, it worked well with either.

The stand and base have a minimalist design that lends this display a unique and professional appearance. A cutout in the stand allows cables to be routed elegantly out of sight and not left dangling directly behind the display. Every part, from the display itself to the stand and base, feels durable and made to last.

This is a highly adjustable monitor—tilting, swiveling, or even rotating it to a vertical orientation is made simple and intuitive by the robust hinge mechanism. Height adjustment is also a breeze, as you merely need to apply gentle pressure in the desired direction.

Despite this wide range of smooth movement, the monitor does not wobble or feel insecure. One minor gripe here is that the monitor must be tilted back in order to be used in the vertical position or it will collide with the base of the stand. However, this can be solved by installing the monitor on a different stand or wall mount (it includes VESA mounting capability).

The input ports include HDMI, Displayport, and USB ports, though sadly these are only USB 3.0 and not the superior USB-C variety. Though you may not get blazing fast USB-C speeds, the monitor can still act as a USB hub thanks to USB passthrough.

More available USB ports—and more conveniently-available USB ports—are always useful, and this capability lends itself to the potential for minimalist desk setups. In addition to USB ports, you get audio output via a 3.5mm jack, so that you can easily plug in your headphones or speakers without having to dig into the snarl of wires that inevitably protrudes from behind your PC tower.

Setup Process: Easy with great cable management

We found that setup is a breeze thanks to Dell’s clever engineering. The base connects solidly to the stand and screws down tight. The screen attaches to the stand via a clip-on bracket that is both sturdy and easy to attach and reattach. Ports are easily accessible due to good design and the impressive articulation of the display. We loved the inclusion of a circular hole in the stand that allows cables to be routed easily and unobtrusively behind the monitor.

At initial startup, the monitor allowed us to select from a number of languages for its menu system. The menu system itself is intuitive and slickly displayed. Simply tap any one of the navigation buttons located under the lower right-hand corner of the display and the icons for the input, color selection, and the main menu will appear. Navigation is clearly indicated within the various menus, and we were immediately able to find what we needed and make adjustments without having to deal with a steep learning curve.

Image Quality: Sharp and accurate

The Dell Ultrasharp U3719DX is, in a word, beautiful. Colors are both vibrant and accurate. The monitor is rated for 99% of the sRGB color space and comes color calibrated to a Delta-E accuracy of less than two. It comes with printed proof of this calibration, and this should reassure photographers and other creative types that what they see on the screen is an accurate representation. Only high-end pro monitors that cost upwards of a thousand dollars can do better.

The 1440p resolution is a good compromise between super high-end 4K displays that strain wallets and graphics cards, and older, lower-resolution 1080p Full HD monitors.

The panel is a high-quality IPS display that is very bright and evenly lit. It is easily viewable from any angle, with no discernible color shift throughout its 178-degree viewable range, and backlight bleed is negligible. Where it stumbles a bit is in its unimpressive 60Hz refresh rate. Though this is perfectly acceptable for most tasks, it means that this monitor is not as good for gaming as displays capable of 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rates.

It is also worth noting that the 8ms response time is slower than what you would typically look for in a gaming display. This is can be improved by running the monitor in “fast” mode, which bumps response time up to 6ms. However, the difference between 6ms and 8ms is so slight that we could not see an appreciable difference between these response times. Even during gaming, the display did not suffer in any noticeable way compared to faster displays with 2ms response times.

Furthermore, the display does not support either G-Sync or Freesync, technology that reduces screen tearing. We definitely felt the absence of these features while gaming as screen tearing is a very noticeable problem under these conditions.

This lack of gaming focus makes sense considering that this monitor is not aimed or marketed for that use. For all uses other than gaming, this monitor excels, and it is obviously intended and performs best for professional and creative tasks.

Software: Dell Display Manager

The U2719DX works with Dell’s Display Manager software, which must be downloaded from the company’s website. The software has a slick modern design that lets you easily arrange applications in various patterns on your screen across one or more monitors.

Display Manager includes an “auto-restore” feature that will remember which applications you were using and how they were arranged, and automatically restore them. There are also tools available in the software to help with switching between different inputs, assigning names to different inputs, and creating shortcuts to access different connected devices. Basic brightness, contrast, and resolution adjustment tools are also included.

The OSD (On Screen Display) includes presets for standard viewing, movies, gaming, “Comfortview” (easier on the eyes), and Multiscreen Match. It also includes easy access to color temperature and RGB adjustments.

You can also adjust brightness and contrast, as well as the response time: normal (8ms) and fast (6ms). You can change the language, rotation, transparency, and the sleep timer for the OSD. There are also shortcut key customization options, power light customization, and USB passthrough options.

There is also a factory reset option if you want to go back to how everything worked when the screen came out of the box.

Warranty: Dell has you covered

You needn't fear malfunction with the U2719DX—Dell’s premium Pixel Guarantee states that if your screen comes with even just one bright pixel then they will replace your monitor.

Furthermore, the three-year limited hardware warranty and advanced exchange service warranties represent Dell’s confidence in their product and peace of mind for you.

Price: You get what you pay for

The Dell Ultrasharp U2719DX has an MSRP of $599, but it can usually be found online for closer to $360 or $400. This puts it well beyond the budget monitor range while managing to avoid competition with serious high-end professional monitors.

There are 4K monitors, larger monitors, and monitors with higher refresh rates available for the same price or cheaper, but in so many cases corners are cut to achieve eye-catching specs. With the U2719DX you get real value—a quality screen without any major caveats to speak of.

This is a clear case of a product aiming for and hitting that price-to-performance sweet spot. Those able and willing to invest a little extra in their screen will be rewarded with excellent value.

Competition: Great options abound

You may be tempted by Asus’s Designo MX27UC, a monitor that on paper seems to surpass Dell’s U2719DX with 4K resolution, better color rendition, and USB-C connectivity. It also has an MSRP $40 lower than the Dell, though the Dell can almost always be found for around $200 less (including on the manufacturer’s own website). But Dell’s superior stand is far more robust and functional and allows for a wide range of easy adjustments, unlike the Asus.

The technical color rendition advantage for the Asus is countered by the fact that the Dell comes with documentation proving that the display was individually color calibrated before being shipped out.

Also, let’s face it—most people don’t actually need full 4K resolution, nor can many computers run a 4K display. 1440p looks great and works well with most software, whereas you are going to run into problems with 4K in a lot of applications. With that said, if you have a seriously powerful PC, then you may want to invest in those extra pixels.

On the low end of the spectrum, Acer’s R271 gives the Ultrasharp U2719DX a run for its money. Acer has managed to create a thin and attractive 1080p monitor that rivals the visual clarity and color accuracy of the higher resolution Dell for less than $200. The value of that monitor is truly impressive, and for the gamer or creative on a tight budget, it could be a good route to go if you’re keen to save a few bucks.

With that said, the R271 can’t hold its own in terms of overall build quality, versatility, and connectivity. Particularly glaring is the fact that the R271 comes with a very sub-par stand that cannot be adjusted at all. The Dell Ultrasharp U2719DX, on the other hand, is a monitor with excellent build quality and tremendous value, even at a slightly premium price.

Final Verdict

Easy to recommend for just about everyone.

The Dell Ultrasharp U2719DX is a jack of all trades—for creators and businesses, this is the screen to beat. The only people who might be advised to look elsewhere are hardcore gamers, who will probably prefer a screen that prioritizes refresh rate and response time over other factors.