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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and need a monitor primarily for everyday tasks like browsing and office work, the Dell S2721DS is a wallet-friendly option, though it lacks some advanced features. For a more fluid and responsive gaming experience, especially competitively, the Gigabyte M27Q-X offers high refresh rates and faster response times, but it's more costly. The Gigabyte is also the better choice for digital photo editing with its wider color gamut. For media consumption, neither are ideal for HDR content. Choose the Dell if costs are a major concern, or the Gigabyte if performance in gaming and photo editing justifies the higher price. 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 S2721DS (IPS)
- The Dell S2721DS (IPS) has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS).
Advantages of the Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS)
- Very good for competitive gaming
- Very good refresh rate
- Good brightness
- Very good response time
Key differences
Casual Gaming
5.8
6.5
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
75Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
1015:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1088:1
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
459 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
508 nits
N/A
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
73.0 %
Matte
COATING
Matte
The Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) is only fair for casual gaming, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Competitive Gaming
5.0
8.0
75Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
17.4 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
6.8 ms
48 - 75 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 240 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
Yes
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
459 nits
The Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) is very good for competitive gaming, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Productivity
5.9
6.5
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
109 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
No
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
The Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) is only fair for productivity, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Cost
$309
$365
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The Dell S2721DS (IPS) has a price of $309 and the Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) costs $365.
Digital Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DS (IPS) is not suitable for digital photo editing while the Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) is suitable for digital photo editing.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DS (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing while the Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Media Consumption
5.9
6.1
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
1015:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1088:1
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
459 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
508 nits
Matte
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) to be only fair for media consumption, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and the Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell S2721DS (IPS) | Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$309 | $365 | ||
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 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 75Hz | 240Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1015:1 | 1088:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 334 nits | 459 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | N/A | 508 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 98.6 % | 100.1 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 17.4 ms | 6.8 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 48 - 75 Hz | 20 - 240 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | Yes | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5.2/10 | 8/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 8/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 109 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Matte | 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 | 1 | 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 | 1 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell S2721DS (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tech Radar
Ural Garrett | November 2021
"General users or casual PC gamers in need of a solid and affordable QHD monitor with a few extras may walk away satisfied with the Dell S2721D."
Gigabyte M27Q-X (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Zachery Cuevas | August 2022
"The company delivers again with the Gigabyte M27Q X, a 1440p monitor that comes equipped with just about everything you want and need from a gaming monitor. It may not be a 4K panel, but it more than makes up for its lower resolution in performance, bringing a whopping 240Hz refresh rate and a host of unusual features, including an onboard KVM and plenty of ports. It's a great performer, though low brightness levels and a so-so contrast ratio keep it short of top marks."
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.
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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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