In this Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q 4K 27-inch monitor review, we’ll look at what’s so good about this beautiful product and why you might want to think about getting one for your MacBook. I bought a Dell U2720Q monitor to use with my MacBook and it’s made my life a lot easier when I do my design work. Read on to find out how it’s been such a game-changer and why it’s so impressive in its own right.
First off, let’s look at its specifications.
Specifications
- Price: $579.99
- Device Type: LED-backlit LCD monitor – 27″
- Energy Class: Class A
- Energy Consumption per Year / 44 kWh
- Power Consumption (On mode): 30 W
- Features: USB 3.0 hub
- Panel Type: IPS
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Native Resolution: 4K 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz
- Pixel Pitch: 0.1554 mm
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Contrast Ratio: 1300:1
- Response Time: 8 ms (grey-to-grey normal); 5 ms (grey-to-grey fast)
- Color Support: 1.07 billion colors
- Input Connectors: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C
- Display Position Adjustments: Height, pivot (rotation), swivel, tilt
- Screen Coating: Anti-glare, 3H Hard Coating
- Dimensions (WxDxH) – with stand: 61.13 cm x 18.5 cm x 39.52 cm
- Weight: 6.6 kg
Design
The Dell U2720Q has a classic Dell design with black trim around the front of the monitor and is grey and black on the back. It has very slim bezels along the sides of the front which means there’s more screen size available.
The monitor features the usual small control buttons that run along the bottom of the screen. This Dell monitor has up to 5.1 inches of height adjustment which is great if you need to move it around from work or home and it also means it will accommodate all desks. It has a tilt range from 5 degrees downwards, 21 degrees upwards, swivel control of up to 45 degrees and the ability to pivot 90 degrees in each direction. This is a very versatile monitor that can be moved around in many ways to suit the user’s personal needs.
The U2720Q’s port selection includes one HDMI port, one D
isplayPort connector, two USB-C ports, a hub of three USB type-A ports, and an audio-out jack.
Display Screen
Of course, if you’re reading this Dell U2720Q review, then you probably already know that this monitor is stunning. The Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q has a 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution. This monitor is color accurate and displays photos and artwork in crisp, clear 4K UHD. This model sits between very high-end and professional monitors used by art studios and the like. For its price, this makes it a very accessible monitor for the budding artist.
If you compare this to the MacBook Pro 16 inch’s resolution of 3072×1920, you can see that Dell is out-shining Apple in this area and could be a good reason for you to take your display game to the next level for your MacBook. This is why I bought a Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q for my MacBook in the first place.
Whilst the MacBook Pro has a fantastic display screen, it is not as color accurate as the Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q. This might not seem too important but it is when you do creative jobs that you need to be able to view the right contrasts.
Why I Bought a Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q for My MacBook
Don’t get me wrong, I love my MacBook and I do all of my most important work on it. Because I create digital art for a living, I knew I had to get a MacBook so that I’d have a fast system to work on and a processor that could keep up with all the layers I end up using in Photoshop. However, good MacBooks are for creative design work, they are limited in physical size. Of course, the biggest screen you can buy is the 16-inch model which is just about good enough to get most jobs done, especially for simple jobs with 2D color textures, for example.
I also like the way I can pick up my MacBook and carry it around with me, allowing me to do my work wherever I go. The problem is, the display screen is not big enough and there’s no 4K option which is a real shame. For more complicated creative work with multiple layers and detailed textures, it’s important to have a larger screen that you can zoom in on, for example.
MacBooks allow you to change the screen contrast and brightness but side by side the color accuracy on the Dell Ultrasharp comes out on top. Having a larger 4K screen is vital for complicated design work and is why professionals won’t use anything less. Using a MacBook with the Dell Ultrasharp U2720, you’re really getting the best of both worlds on your desk at once. I like having the power of a MacBook and all the fast apps with an Ultrasharp 4K display to view them on. It also couldn’t be easier to set them up.
Here’s how to do it;
- Connect your Mac system to the monitor using the USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 cable.
- On your Mac’s System Preferences, select Displays to choose your external monitor.
- Select Display tab to set your desired screen resolution.
- Select Color and set to Millions of Colors.
- Select Refresh Rate and set your Hertz to 60 Hz.
- Select Arrangement Tab to set your display mode to either Extended Desktop
Final Verdict
If you want to view your apps on an impressively large 4K display (something MacBook’s still lacks) then the Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q 4K 27 inch is one of the best options to go for. Whilst this is another cost to factor in, it makes design work so much easier and you’ll be blown away with the color display.