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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
The Apple Studio Display offers top-notch text quality and image clarity, making it a strong choice for productivity and high-resolution digital photo editing. However, it falls short in gaming due to its lower refresh rate and lack of variable refresh rate support, making it less suitable for both casual and competitive gaming. On the other hand, the Dell S2721QS provides a good balance for productivity and media consumption at a midrange price. While its gaming performance and text clarity are not as high as the Apple monitor, it's better for casual gaming thanks to support for a variable refresh rate. If budget is a concern and you want a monitor that's decent for a variety of uses, including casual gaming, the Dell would be your choice. If you require a monitor with exceptional clarity for professional tasks and are willing to invest more, consider the Apple Studio Display. 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 S2721QS (IPS)
- The Dell S2721QS (IPS) has no clear advantages over the Apple Studio Display (IPS).
Key differences
Productivity
9.5
7.9
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
218 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
164 PPI
No
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The Apple Studio Display (IPS) is best in class for productivity, while the Dell S2721QS (IPS) is good.
Cost
$1,599
$230
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple Studio Display (IPS) has a price of $1,599 and the Dell S2721QS (IPS) costs $230.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
6.1
5.9
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
1052:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1221:1
584 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
373 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
386 nits
N/A
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
85.2 %
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 S2721QS (IPS) is poor.
Competitive Gaming
5.0
4.9
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
20.4 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
14.5 ms
N/A
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
40 - 60 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
584 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
373 nits
The Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721QS (IPS) are both poor for competitive gaming.
Media Consumption
7.0
6.7
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
1052:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1221:1
584 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
373 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
386 nits
Glossy
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Studio Display (IPS) to be good for media consumption, while the Dell S2721QS (IPS) is only fair.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721QS (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721QS (IPS) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721QS (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
No
No
Both the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and Dell S2721QS (IPS) are not suitable for print photo editing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple Studio Display (IPS) and the Dell S2721QS (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Studio Display (IPS) | Dell S2721QS (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,599 | $230 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 5120 x 2880 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1052:1 | 1221:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 584 nits | 373 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | N/A | 386 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 % | 100 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 20.4 ms | 14.5 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | N/A | 40 - 60 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5/10 | 5/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 218 PPI | 164 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Glossy | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 10/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 10/10 | 8.1/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
Shopping
Dell S2721QS (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Scharon Harding | September 2021
"The Dell S2721QS 4K monitor brings IPS-level colors and some handy features, like a versatile stand with height adjustments and picture-in-picture for connecting dual systems. But don’t get it for HDR."
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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.
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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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