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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a tight budget and need a monitor primarily for general use with some casual gaming, the Dell S2721DS (IPS) offers a solid option with good screen size and resolution, but with limited gaming features and average color performance. On the other hand, if your budget allows for a higher investment and you desire a monitor with superior contrast, better suitability for HDR content, and improved gaming performance, especially for competitive gaming, the KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) could be worth the extra cost. It also has a higher refresh rate and is better suited for tasks requiring accurate color representation, making it versatile for both media consumption and productivity tasks where color accuracy is important. 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 KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED).
Advantages of the KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Good for productivity
- Very good for media consumption
- Good refresh rate
- Excellent contrast
- Good brightness
- Very good color volume
- Very good response time
Key differences
Casual Gaming
5.8
9.5
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
75Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
1015:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
4000:1
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1200 nits
N/A
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
93.0 %
Matte
COATING
Matte
The KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Competitive Gaming
5.0
6.1
75Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
17.4 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
3.0 ms
48 - 75 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
48 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
The KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) is only fair for competitive gaming, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Productivity
5.9
7.1
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
109 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
No
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
The KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) is good for productivity, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Media Consumption
5.9
8.6
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
1015:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
4000:1
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1200 nits
Matte
COATING
Matte
The KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) is very good for media consumption, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Cost
$309
$500
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Dell S2721DS (IPS) has a price of $309 and the KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) costs $500.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DS (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DS (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing while the KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Digital Photo Editing
No
No
Both the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) are not suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) 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 KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell S2721DS (IPS) | KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$309 | $500 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | MiniLED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | VA | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | N/A | 576 | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1015:1 | 4000:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 334 nits | 500 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | N/A | 1200 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | Yes | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 98.6 % | 99 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 17.4 ms | 3 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 48 - 75 Hz | 48 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5.2/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
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."
KTC M27T20 (VA MiniLED)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Notebook Check
Allen Ngo | March 2024
"The KTC M27T20 brings mini-LED and HDR1000 features to much more affordable price levels than before. It cuts some corners, however, and the settings require a lot of tuning for optimal colors and black levels."
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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