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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're a competitive gamer looking for high refresh rates, the Dell Alienware AW2723DF offers better performance with a smoother gaming experience. However, for productivity and media consumption, both monitors perform similarly with high screen resolution and size. If you're focused on digital photo editing, both are suitable, but the Alienware has a slight edge in color gamut coverage. Conversely, if you're on a budget, the Dell S2721DGF provides good value with decent gaming and productivity capabilities, but may not be as future-proof for gaming as the Alienware due to its lower refresh rate. 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 Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS)
- Very good for competitive gaming
- Very good refresh rate
Advantages of the Dell S2721DGF (IPS)
- Very good response time
Key differences
Competitive Gaming
8.6
5.8
280Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
7.6 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
6.3 ms
20 - 280 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
384 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) is very good for competitive gaming, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Cost
$429
$300
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) has a price of $429 and the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) costs $300.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
6.4
5.9
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
280Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
1020:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
882:1
384 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
672 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
485 nits
99.6 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
97.2 %
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) to be only fair for casual gaming, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Productivity
6.4
6.2
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
109 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are both only fair for productivity.
Media Consumption
6.0
5.9
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
1020:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
882:1
384 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
368 nits
672 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
485 nits
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) to be only fair for media consumption, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
No
No
Both the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and Dell S2721DGF (IPS) are not suitable for print photo editing.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) | Dell S2721DGF (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $300 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | 16 | 8 | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1020:1 | 882:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 384 nits | 368 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 672 nits | 485 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 103.1 % | 137.7 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 7.6 ms | 6.3 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 20 - 280 Hz | 20 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 8.6/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 7.7/10 | 8/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 109 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Semi-Gloss | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7/10 | 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 Alienware AW2723DF (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PC Gamer
Jeremy Laird | March 2023
"Put all the pieces together, the high quality IPS image quality, the punchy backlight, the good response and the buttery smooth 280Hz refresh and you have a pretty outstanding gaming panel that's also decent for general computing duties thanks to the 1440p resolution."
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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Why trust us
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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Monitors evaluated
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Monitors stats compiled
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Proprietary Monitors ratings developed
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Recommendations made
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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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