Announced at CES 2018, the Dell S2719DM is finally here! It was not easy, but we finally got our grubby hands on one. Here is our in-depth review of the new Dell S2719DM ultra-thin FreeSync HDR monitor. Find out if this is the HDR monitor for you!
The 27″ Dell S-Series Monitor Line-Up For 2018
The Dell S-Series is the Studio series, designed to look great with a sleek design and thin bezels. Here is a comparison of the new Dell S2719DM, with the other 27″ monitors that are currently in the Dell S-Series.
| Specifications | Dell S2719DM | Dell S2718D | Dell S2718H | Dell S2716DG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tear-Free Technology | AMD FreeSync 48 Hz to 60 Hz | None | AMD FreeSync 48 Hz to 60 Hz | NVIDIA G-SYNC 30 Hz to 144 Hz |
| HDR Capable | Yes, HDR10 | Yes, HDR10 | Yes, HDR10 | No |
| Viewable Size | 27" / 68.6 cm | 27" / 68.6 cm | 27" / 68.6 cm | 27" / 68.6 cm |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 @ 60 Hz | 2560 x 1440 @ 60 Hz | 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz | 2560 x 1440 @ 144 Hz |
| Panel Type | IPS (In-Plane Switching) | IPS (In-Plane Switching) | IPS (In-Plane Switching) | TN (Twisted Nematic) |
| Face Plate Coating | 3H anti-glare coating | 3H low-haze coating | 3H anti-glare coating | 3H anti-glare coating |
| Backlight | LED Edge Light | LED Edge Light | LED Light Bar | LED Edge Light |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000 : 1 8 million : 1 (DCR) | 1000 : 1 8 million : 1 (DCR) | 1000 : 1 8 million : 1 (DCR) | 1000 : 1 |
| Brightness | 400 cd/m2 (typical) 600 cd/m2 (peak) | 300 cd/m2 (typical) | 250 cd/m2 (typical) | 350 cd/m2 (typical) |
| Response Time | 8 ms (normal) 5 ms (fast) | 8 ms (normal) 6 ms (fast) | 6 ms (normal) | 3 ms (normal) 1 ms (fast) |
| Max. Viewing Angle | 178° vertical / 178° horizontal | 178° vertical / 178° horizontal | 178° vertical / 178° horizontal | 160° vertical / 170° horizontal |
| Colour Gamut | >99% of sRGB; >85% of DCI-P3 | 99% of sRGB | 99% of sRGB | 82% (CIE1976), 72% (CIE 1931) |
| Connectivity | 2 x HDMI 2.0 1 x Audio Line-Out | 1 x HDMI 1 x USB- C / DP 1.2 2 X USB 3.0 ports 1 x USB 3.1 input port 1 x Audio line-out | 1 x VGA 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x Audio Line-in 1 x Audio Line-out 1 x Speaker port | 1 x HDMI 1.4 connector 1 x DP 1.2 connector 4 x USB 3.0 ports 1 x Audio Line-out 1 x Headphone port |
| Adjustability | Tilt : 5° down, 21° up | Tilt : 5° down, 21° up Swivel : 45° left, 45° right | Tilt : 5° down, 21° up | Tilt : 5° down, 21° up Swivel : 45° left, 45° right Height : 130 mm |
| Power Consumption | 29 W (Typical) 42 W (Maximum) | 30 W (Typical) 35 W (Maximum) | 24 W (Typical) 50 W (Maximum) | 47 W (Typical) 90 W (Maximum) |
| Warranty | 3 years Advanced Exchange Service | 3-Year Advanced Exchange Service and Premium Panel Guarantee | 3 years Advanced Exchange Service | 3 years Advanced Exchange Service |
While two other Dell S-Series monitors also support HDR, the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) is the only model to meet the minimum requirements for the VESA DisplayHDR 400 standard. We will tell you more on this later in the article.
Dell S2719DM Price + Availability
The Dell S2719DM is available with immediate effect with a recommended retail price of RM 1,889 / US$499.99. If you are in the US, it’s currently on offer :
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Unboxing The Dell S2719DM
The Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) may be ultra-thin, but it comes in a large box that weighs just over 8 kg. Typical Dell packaging – designed to take the worst of abuse by delivery services.
Inside the large box, you will find the following items :
- One Dell S2719DM monitor with stand
- Dell S2719DM User Guide and Safety and Regulatory Information
- One 45 W Dell compact power adaptor with power cable
- One HDMI 2.0 cable (1.8 m)
Note that the HDMI 2.0 cable is no different from your usual HDMI cable, just certified to support 4K video at 60 Hz. You can also use regular HDMI 1.4 cables just fine. More on this later in the article!
Next Page > Dell S2719DM Overview + Key Features
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The Dell S2719DM Up Close!
In this review, we prepared two different videos. Our traditional hands-on look, and a more stylised feature overview. Do let us know which is better by liking the video you prefer!
In this video, we give you a quick look of the key features of the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) monitor.
As you can see, the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) is a very stylish ultra-thin monitor. Every aspect – from the sleek silver back to the gracefully curved stand – was designed with aesthetics in mind. This is not a monitor to be hidden in the back room!
The Dell S2719DM Key Features
In this video, we highlight the key features of the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) monitor. Do let us know if you prefer this video, or the one above!
InfinitiEdge Display
Dell calls it an InfinitiEdge display. Its bezel is just 7.1 mm at the top and sides, and only 8.1 mm at the bottom.
Concealed into the lower right edge are Power and OSD (On-Screen Display) control buttons. From left to right, they are :
- Preset Modes : Use this button to choose from a list of preset colour modes
- Brightness / Contrast : Use this button to directly access the Brightness and Contrast bars.
- Menu : Use this button to launch the On-Screen Display (OSD) and select the OSD menu
- Exit : Use this button to go back to the OSD main menu, or to exit the OSD main menu.
- Power : Use this button to turn the monitor On or Off.
The Power button also doubles as a power mode indicator. A white LED light indicates the monitor is turned On and fully functional. A glowing white LED light indicates the monitor is on the DPMS Power Save Mode.
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HDMI 2.0 Connectivity
If you need a plethora of connectivity options, the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) is NOT the monitor for you. To maintain its elegant design, and to keep costs low, there are only four ports – all centrally aligned right behind the stand.
For display input, you have only two HDMI 2.0 ports, so you will need adaptors if you have devices with DisplayPort or DVI output. Above these two HDMI ports are a 3.5 mm audio output port, and below them – the power port.
A HDMI 2.0 cable is included in the package. It is certified to support the higher 18 Gbits/s bandwidth necessary to support 4K video at 60 Hz. However, older HDMI 1.4 cables will work just fine because the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) only delivers 2560 x 1440 pixels at 60 Hz.
You may see new 48G HDMI cables being introduced. Those are only required to support HDMI 2.1 features, like increased bandwidth to support 10K video at 120 Hz and dynamic HDR. This monitor does not support those features, so there is no need to invest in the new, expensive 48G HDMI cables.
Ultra-Thin Design
The Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) was designed with aesthetics in mind. It has a very sleek design with ultra-thin edges that slope gently across the back. Even the stand uses the same elegant design language.
It thinnest at the sides – just 5.5 mm, and gently curves to 10 mm at the top midpoint, and 29 mm at the bottom. This clever design makes the S2719DM look exquisitely thin.
Fixed Hinged Stand
For what we believe are aesthetic reasons, the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) comes with a fixed hinged stand. If you are planning to mount your monitor on the wall, or a multi-monitor stand, you will have to consider another monitor.
The fixed hinged stand can tilt downwards by 5°, and upwards by 21°. However, it cannot swivel, and does not allow height adjustments. That’s the price you pay for such a slim and elegant curved stand.
Next Page > Dell S2719DM Display Features
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Corning Iris Glass Light-Guide Plate
Edge-lit LED displays use a light-guide plate (LGP) to distribute light uniformly throughout the panel, Usually they are made up from pure PMMA resin, but such polymer LGPs can warp and expand with changes in heat and humidity. They therefore require a wider bezel, greater thickness and an air gap to account for movement and expansion.
To keep it thin and reduce the bezel size, the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) features the Corning Iris Glass Light-Guide Plate technology.
Because it’s made from glass, the Corning Iris Glass Light-Guide Plate is rigid. This removes the need for an air gap, and a thicker backlight, greatly reducing the thickness of the display. Its dimensional stability also ensures reliable transmission of light from the LED edge lighting.
Extra-Bright QHD Panel
The Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) has a QHD panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 – a popular resolution for both gaming and work. That is nothing special, of course. What lifts it above the crowd though is its brighter panel.
The increased brightness is not only about a brighter panel. Higher brightness is a critical aspect of the monitor’s HDR performance.
DisplayHDR 400
Many HDR-ready monitors support the open HDR10 format, but this does not mean that they are necessarily “true” HDR monitors. This is where the VESA DisplayHDR program comes in. It is a set of standards that HDR monitors should comply with, so that consumers can be guaranteed of certain levels of HDR performance.
The Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) is a VESA DisplayHDR 400-certified monitor, which means it has to meet or exceed these requirements :
- Deliver true 8-bit image quality – on par with top 15% of PC displays today
- Support global dimming for better dynamic contrast ratio
- Have a peak luminance of 400 cd/m2 or better – up to 50% higher than typical SDR
- Minimum requirements for color gamut and contrast exceed SDR (95% of sRGB)
The Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) exceeds those requirements with a peak luminance of 600 cd/m2, and a colour gamut of over 99% sRGB. However, it does not support local dimming, and is thus considered to be an entry-level HDR monitor.
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sRGB Colour Gamut
The Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) supports a colour gamut of over over 99% sRGB, and 85% DCI-P3. What’s the difference between the sRGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces? Take a look.
Don’t get confused by the two numbers. What they basically mean is that the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) is essentially an sRGB monitor. It may offer an almost 100% sRGB coverage, which is better than many sRGB monitors, but you will need to look elsewhere if you need your monitor to support a wider colour gamut like Adobe RGB.
AMD FreeSync
Dell does not mention this, but the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) monitor supports AMD FreeSync. When used with AMD graphics cards and APUs, the monitor will dynamically adjust the refresh rate to prevent tearing and stuttering.
While the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) has a vertical scan range of 48 Hz to 75 Hz, it is limited to 60 Hz at its native 2560 x 1440 resolution. As long as the frame rate of your games are 48 fps or higher, FreeSync will ensure that they are tear-free.
Next Page > Our Verdict, Dell S2719DM Specifications, Price + Availability
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Our Verdict
The Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) is a work of art. It is not only incredibly thin, it is really sleek and sexy. Quite unlike the utilitarian design of the traditional Dell monitors. It was obviously designed to be proudly displayed in public, not hidden in an office.
In addition to its slim form factor, the S2719DM also has very thin bezels, qualifying it as an InfinityEdge display. This allows for a more immersive working or gaming experience, especially when you plan to use two or three of them together.
The Dell S2719DM has some gaming chops, even though it is not a gaming monitor. It supports AMD FreeSync, albeit with a maximum refresh rate of 60 Hz at its native resolution. It won’t match the high refresh rates and low response time of gaming monitors, but it will do just fine for gaming after a hard day’s work.
It is also a VESA DisplayHDR 400-certified monitor, although this is the most basic HDR certification. It lacks local dimming capability, which is necessary to deliver deeper blacks.
It is also important to point out that the Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) has a typical brightness of 400 nits, with a peak brightness of 600 nits. This is much brighter than typical WQHD monitors, which is not only important for HDR, but also allows for better image quality in bright environments.
Its sleek design comes with some disadvantages though. The fixed hinged stand, which looks great, does not allow for changes in the display height. Heck, it doesn’t even swivel. All it can do is tilt downwards by 5°, and upwards by 21°. This is the price you have to pay for such a sleek design.
[adrotate group=”2″]The other problem – its limited connectivity options. It only comes with two HDMI ports. While HDMI is, no doubt, common and supported by practically all computers and media players, a DisplayPort or a mini-DP port would have been most welcomed.
This is particularly important for those who intend to use two or more of these monitors – most graphics cards come with just one HDMI port, but two or more DisplayPorts. With only HDMI input, you will need a DP-to-HDMI converter for the second and third monitors.
But if you can live with these relatively minor disadvantages, you can literally have your cake and eat it too. The Dell S2719DM (Malaysia | US | UK) offers a great combination of features and capabilities in a beautiful package.
As such, we feel it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award. Great job on the S2719DM!
Dell S2719DM Specifications
| Specifications | Dell S2719DM | Dell S2718D | Dell S2718H | Dell S2716DG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tear-Free Technology | AMD FreeSync 48 Hz to 60 Hz | None | AMD FreeSync 48 Hz to 60 Hz | NVIDIA G-SYNC 30 Hz to 144 Hz |
| HDR Capable | Yes, HDR10 | Yes, HDR10 | Yes, HDR10 | No |
| Viewable Size | 27" / 68.6 cm | 27" / 68.6 cm | 27" / 68.6 cm | 27" / 68.6 cm |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 @ 60 Hz | 2560 x 1440 @ 60 Hz | 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz | 2560 x 1440 @ 144 Hz |
| Panel Type | IPS (In-Plane Switching) | IPS (In-Plane Switching) | IPS (In-Plane Switching) | TN (Twisted Nematic) |
| Face Plate Coating | 3H anti-glare coating | 3H low-haze coating | 3H anti-glare coating | 3H anti-glare coating |
| Backlight | LED Edge Light | LED Edge Light | LED Light Bar | LED Edge Light |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000 : 1 8 million : 1 (DCR) | 1000 : 1 8 million : 1 (DCR) | 1000 : 1 8 million : 1 (DCR) | 1000 : 1 |
| Brightness | 400 cd/m2 (typical) 600 cd/m2 (peak) | 300 cd/m2 (typical) | 250 cd/m2 (typical) | 350 cd/m2 (typical) |
| Response Time | 8 ms (normal) 5 ms (fast) | 8 ms (normal) 6 ms (fast) | 6 ms (normal) | 3 ms (normal) 1 ms (fast) |
| Max. Viewing Angle | 178° vertical / 178° horizontal | 178° vertical / 178° horizontal | 178° vertical / 178° horizontal | 160° vertical / 170° horizontal |
| Colour Gamut | >99% of sRGB; >85% of DCI-P3 | 99% of sRGB | 99% of sRGB | 82% (CIE1976), 72% (CIE 1931) |
| Connectivity | 2 x HDMI 2.0 1 x Audio Line-Out | 1 x HDMI 1 x USB- C / DP 1.2 2 X USB 3.0 ports 1 x USB 3.1 input port 1 x Audio line-out | 1 x VGA 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x Audio Line-in 1 x Audio Line-out 1 x Speaker port | 1 x HDMI 1.4 connector 1 x DP 1.2 connector 4 x USB 3.0 ports 1 x Audio Line-out 1 x Headphone port |
| Adjustability | Tilt : 5° down, 21° up | Tilt : 5° down, 21° up Swivel : 45° left, 45° right | Tilt : 5° down, 21° up | Tilt : 5° down, 21° up Swivel : 45° left, 45° right Height : 130 mm |
| Power Consumption | 29 W (Typical) 42 W (Maximum) | 30 W (Typical) 35 W (Maximum) | 24 W (Typical) 50 W (Maximum) | 47 W (Typical) 90 W (Maximum) |
| Warranty | 3 years Advanced Exchange Service | 3-Year Advanced Exchange Service and Premium Panel Guarantee | 3 years Advanced Exchange Service | 3 years Advanced Exchange Service |
Dell S2719DM Price + Availability
The Dell S2719DM is available with immediate effect with a recommended retail price of RM 1,889 / US$499.99. If you are in the US, it’s currently on offer :
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