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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize high-resolution for productivity and media consumption, the Dell S3221QS with its 4K display is suitable, but it's not ideal for HDR gaming. For budget-conscious buyers who focus on casual to moderate competitive gaming, the Dell S3222DGM offers a good refresh rate and response time with a lower resolution, which may not be as sharp for productivity tasks. The former offers better image clarity and text quality due to its higher pixels per inch, while the latter has a higher contrast ratio and is better suited for dark room viewing. Consider the Dell S3221QS if your work involves digital photo editing; otherwise, for general use and gaming, the Dell S3222DGM provides good performance at a lower cost. 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 S3221QS (VA)
- Very good for productivity
- Good for media consumption
- Good text clarity
- Good image clarity
Advantages of the Dell S3222DGM (VA)
- Good refresh rate
- Very good contrast
- Good response time
Key differences
Competitive Gaming
3.8
4.6
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
20.9 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
10.6 ms
40 - 60 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
Yes
300 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
333 nits
The Dell S3222DGM (VA) and Dell S3221QS (VA) are both poor for competitive gaming, though the Dell S3222DGM (VA) is somewhat better.
Productivity
8.5
5.1
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
140 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
93 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
The Dell S3221QS (VA) is very good for productivity, while the Dell S3222DGM (VA) is poor.
Media Consumption
7.2
5.9
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
3194:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
4365:1
300 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
333 nits
371 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
N/A
Matte
COATING
Matte
The Dell S3221QS (VA) is good for media consumption, while the Dell S3222DGM (VA) is poor.
Cost
$320
$250
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
The Dell S3221QS (VA) has a price of $320 and the Dell S3222DGM (VA) costs $250.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
No
The Dell S3221QS (VA) is suitable for digital photo editing while the Dell S3222DGM (VA) is not suitable for digital photo editing.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
6.6
6.9
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
3194:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
4365:1
300 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
333 nits
371 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
N/A
90.6 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
N/A
Matte
COATING
Matte
The Dell S3222DGM (VA) and Dell S3221QS (VA) are both only fair for casual gaming.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the Dell S3221QS (VA) and Dell S3222DGM (VA) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell S3221QS (VA) and Dell S3222DGM (VA) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
No
No
Both the Dell S3221QS (VA) and Dell S3222DGM (VA) are not suitable for print photo editing.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell S3221QS (VA) and the Dell S3222DGM (VA) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell S3221QS (VA) | Dell S3222DGM (VA) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$320 | $250 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 32" | 32" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | VA | VA | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 3194:1 | 4365:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 300 nits | 333 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 371 nits | N/A | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 99.7 % | 98.1 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 20.9 ms | 10.6 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 40 - 60 Hz | 20 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | Yes | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 140 PPI | 93 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Matte | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
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 | 1 | 1 | |
Shopping
Dell S3221QS (VA)
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Anj Bryant | May 2021
"The Dell S3221QS offers a 4K, 32-inch panel that’s great for streaming videos and casual gaming, with an effective, gentle curve. But color accuracy and HDR performance leave much room for improvement."
Dell S3222DGM (VA)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Christian Eberle | February 2022
"Aside from its omission of HDR, the Dell S3222DGM has no flaws of consequence. For a surprisingly low price, it delivers premium quality gaming performance with 165 Hz and Adaptive-Sync through a high-contrast curved VA panel with a wide and accurate color gamut."
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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