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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 12, 2024·
If you are a serious gamer, particularly in competitive gaming, or a professional requiring precise colors for photo editing, the Acer X27U with its superior response time and color depth may be worth the investment. However, if you're looking for a balance between gaming, productivity, and media consumption without breaking the bank, the Dell S2721DGF offers good performance at a more accessible price point. The Acer X27U excels in HDR content, which is appealing if you consume a lot of media in this format, while the Dell remains a solid choice for general use with decent image quality and versatility at a lower cost. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer X27U (W-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Very good for competitive gaming
- Good for media consumption
- Very good refresh rate
- Best in class contrast
- Best in class response time
Advantages of the Dell S2721DGF (IPS)
- Good text clarity
Key differences
Casual Gaming
9.5
5.9
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
882:1
211 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
603 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
485 nits
95.5 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
97.2 %
Matte
COATING
Matte
The Acer X27U (W-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Competitive Gaming
8.8
5.8
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
1.4 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
6.3 ms
20 - 240 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
211 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
The Acer X27U (W-OLED) is very good for competitive gaming, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Media Consumption
7.5
5.9
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
882:1
211 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
603 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
485 nits
Matte
COATING
Matte
The Acer X27U (W-OLED) is good for media consumption, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Cost
$1,000
$300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer X27U (W-OLED) has a price of $1,000 and the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) costs $300.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
Yes
No
The Acer X27U (W-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Key similarities
Productivity
5.8
6.2
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
111 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell S2721DGF (IPS) to be only fair for productivity, while the Acer X27U (W-OLED) is poor.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the Acer X27U (W-OLED) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Acer X27U (W-OLED) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
No
No
Both the Acer X27U (W-OLED) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are not suitable for print photo editing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer X27U (W-OLED) and the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer X27U (W-OLED) | Dell S2721DGF (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $300 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | OLED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | W-OLED | IPS | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | N/A | 8 | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | Inf:1 | 882:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 211 nits | 368 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 603 nits | 485 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | Yes | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 100 % | 137.7 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 1.4 ms | 6.3 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 20 - 240 Hz | 20 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 8/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 111 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Matte | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 6.7/10 | 7/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7.2/10 | 7/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 2 | 2 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell S2721DGF (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Christian Eberle | January 2021
"The Dell S2721DGF checks all the boxes for an upper-mid priced display that can take on the best gaming monitors, and you might even be able to find it for under $500 (it's $450-$500 as of writing). The monitor's 1440p, runs at 165 Hz without overclock, has AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatibility, covers a large portion of the DCI-P3 color gamut and includes a lighting effect on the back."
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec monitors team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest monitor information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the monitor team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Monitors Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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