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The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 12, 2024·
If you're looking for a budget-friendly option that offers a sharp image for productivity and is suitable for casual gaming, the Dell S3221QS might be the right fit for you. However, if you're a serious gamer or a media enthusiast seeking top-notch image quality, especially in darker scenes, and are willing to invest more, the MSI MEG 342C with its superior contrast, brightness, and wider color gamut will deliver an excellent gaming and media experience. Keep in mind that for professional photo editing, the MSI's color accuracy for print might be more appealing, despite its higher 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 text clarity
Advantages of the MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Excellent for media consumption
- Good refresh rate
- Best in class contrast
- Best in class color volume
- Best in class response time
Key differences
Casual Gaming
6.6
9.5
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
3440 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
175Hz
3194:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
300 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
236 nits
371 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
446 nits
90.6 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
99.5 %
Matte
COATING
Glossy
The MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the Dell S3221QS (VA) is only fair.
Competitive Gaming
3.8
5.1
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
175Hz
20.9 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
1.4 ms
40 - 60 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 175 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
300 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
236 nits
The MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) and Dell S3221QS (VA) are both poor for competitive gaming, though the MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) is somewhat better.
Productivity
8.5
5.7
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
3440 x 1440
140 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
110 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Glossy
The Dell S3221QS (VA) is very good for productivity, while the MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) is poor.
Media Consumption
7.2
9.4
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
3440 x 1440
3194:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
300 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
236 nits
371 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
446 nits
Matte
COATING
Glossy
The MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) is excellent for media consumption, while the Dell S3221QS (VA) is good.
Cost
$320
$850
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell S3221QS (VA) has a price of $320 and the MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) costs $850.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
Yes
The Dell S3221QS (VA) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
No
The Dell S3221QS (VA) is suitable for digital photo editing while the MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) is not suitable for digital photo editing.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell S3221QS (VA) is not suitable for print photo editing while the MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell S3221QS (VA) and MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell S3221QS (VA) and the MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell S3221QS (VA) | MSI MEG 342C (QD-OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$320 | $850 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 32" | 34" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 3440 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | OLED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | VA | QD-OLED | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 175Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 3194:1 | Inf:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 300 nits | 236 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 371 nits | 446 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | Yes | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 99.7 % | 98.9 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 20.9 ms | 1.4 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 40 - 60 Hz | 20 - 175 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 140 PPI | 110 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Matte | Glossy | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 8/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 8/10 | 7.1/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 2 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 0 | 2 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 1 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell S3221QS (VA)
See more
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."
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We're constantly perfecting our model
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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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