Dell UltraSharp U2725QE vs Dell UltraSharp U2724DE
The Dell UltraSharp U2725QE is 22 pixels per degree sharper at a desk distance — 68 against 46, and that is the line between sharp and retina-class. Every other published specification for both is in the table, with the rows where they differ tinted.
Dell
Dell UltraSharp U2725QE
68ppd · retina-classAccepts an HDR signal~$850
Dell's IPS Black panel technology exists to fix the one thing IPS has always been bad at, and it works: 3000:1 static contrast is triple a normal IPS panel and puts it within sight of VA without giving up the viewing angles.
Best for: A two-machine desk that should run from one cable and one keyboard
- HDMI 2.1· full speed
- DisplayPort 1.4· full speed(DSC)
- Thunderbolt (DP 1.4)· full speed(DSC)
Dell
Dell UltraSharp U2724DE
46ppd · sharpNo HDR~$640
Everything the U2725QE offers except the pixels and part of the power budget: IPS Black contrast at 2000:1 rather than 3000:1, Thunderbolt 4 at 90 W rather than 140, the same KVM, at 1440p instead of 4K.
Best for: A docked work laptop where 100% scaling matters more than pixel density
- HDMI 2.1· full speed
- DisplayPort 1.4· full speed
- Thunderbolt (DP 1.4)· full speed
| Specification | Dell UltraSharp U2725QE | Dell UltraSharp U2724DE |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$850 | ~$640 |
| Type | Productivity | Productivity |
| Screen size | 27 in | 27 in |
| Resolution | 3840×2160 | 2560×1440 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Pixels per degree | 68 — retina-class | 46 — sharp |
| Pixels per inch | 163 | 109 |
| Panel | IPS | IPS |
| Finish | matte | matte |
| Curvature | Flat | Flat |
| Max refresh | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Response time | 5 ms GtG | 5 ms GtG |
| VRR | Adaptive-Sync | Adaptive-Sync |
| HDR tier | Accepts an HDR signal | No HDR |
| HDR certification | DisplayHDR 600 | None |
| Peak brightness | 600 nits claimed | 350 nits claimed |
| SDR brightness | 450 nits | 350 nits |
| Local dimming | — | None |
| Static contrast | 3,000:1 | 2,000:1 |
| Colour gamut | 99% DCI-P3 | 98% DCI-P3 |
| Colour depth | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| HDMI | 1 × HDMI 2.1 | 1 × HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | 1 × DisplayPort 1.4 | 1 × DisplayPort 1.4 |
| DSC | Supported | Not supported |
| Port speed | 3 of 3 inputs at full speed | 3 of 3 inputs at full speed |
| USB-C | Video in over USB-C | Video in over USB-C |
| USB-C power | 140 W — 16-inch workstation | 90 W — 14-inch class laptop |
| Thunderbolt | Yes | Yes |
| KVM | Built in | Built in |
| USB hub | 7 ports | 5 ports |
| Speakers | None | None |
| Stand | height, tilt, swivel, pivot | height, tilt, swivel, pivot |
| VESA | 100x100 | 100x100 |
| Weight | 15.56 lb | 16.25 lb |
| $ per inch | $31 | $24 |
| $ per megapixel | $102 | $174 |
Dell UltraSharp U2725QE: what it gives up
- Dell describes an LED Edgelight System and publishes no dimming-zone count behind the DisplayHDR 600 badge, so HDR content gets brighter without any promise of more contrast
- 5 ms response, and the adaptive-sync range only runs to 120 Hz — this is not a gaming monitor
- No speakers, which is an odd omission on a monitor built around docking a laptop
- The Thunderbolt hub adds meaningfully to the price over the plain USB-C versions of the same panel
Dell UltraSharp U2724DE: what it gives up
- 90 watts is enough for a thin-and-light and marginal for a 16-inch workstation
- 46 pixels per degree, well short of the 68 the 4K version of this monitor reaches
- One HDMI and one DisplayPort input, so on a three-machine desk the Thunderbolt port has to carry the third
- No HDR at all — Dell does not claim even HDR10 here, and 350 nits would not carry it
Full specifications: Dell UltraSharp U2725QE · Dell UltraSharp U2724DE