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Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 12, 2024·
If image clarity and exceptional text quality for productivity are your priorities and you are willing to pay a premium, the Apple Studio Display would be a great fit. However, it is not the best for gaming due to its lower refresh rate and lack of variable refresh rate support. On the other hand, the Dell S2721DGF offers a good balance for both productivity and gaming, with a high refresh rate and variable refresh rate support, making it suitable for casual and competitive gaming at a midrange price, though it doesn't match the Apple display's image clarity and color accuracy for professional photo editing. 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 Apple Studio Display (IPS)
- Best in class for productivity
- Good for media consumption
- Best in class text clarity
- Best in class image clarity
- Good brightness
Advantages of the Dell S2721DGF (IPS)
- Good refresh rate
- Very good response time
Key differences
Competitive Gaming
5.0
5.8
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
20.4 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
6.3 ms
N/A
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
584 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
The Dell S2721DGF (IPS) and Apple Studio Display (IPS) are both poor for competitive gaming, though the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is somewhat better.
Productivity
9.5
6.2
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
218 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
No
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The Apple Studio Display (IPS) is best in class for productivity, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is only fair.
Media Consumption
7.0
5.9
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
1052:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
882:1
584 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
485 nits
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The Apple Studio Display (IPS) is good for media consumption, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Cost
$1,599
$300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple Studio Display (IPS) has a price of $1,599 and the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) costs $300.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
6.1
5.9
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
1052:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
882:1
584 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
485 nits
N/A
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
97.2 %
Glossy
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Studio Display (IPS) to be only fair for casual gaming, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
No
No
Both the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are not suitable for print photo editing.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Studio Display (IPS) | Dell S2721DGF (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,599 | $300 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 5120 x 2880 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | N/A | 8 | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1052:1 | 882:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 584 nits | 368 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | N/A | 485 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 99.1 % | 137.7 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 20.4 ms | 6.3 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | N/A | 20 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 8/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 218 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Glossy | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 0 | 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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