Dell 4K S3221QS Curved Monitor
Performance and design meet in an affordable package.
The Dell 4K S3221QS curved monitor is unique among its peers. Though most displays have kept up with ever-increasing refresh rates and higher resolutions, their aesthetic has been, frankly, lacking. In fact, other than a logo or maybe some RGB lighting, most monitors could best be described as homogenous. That’s not the case with the Dell 4K S3221QS, which seems to draw inspiration from the arctic white Dell XPS.
Of course, it offers more than just a pretty design. The Dell 4K S3221QS curved monitor matches its aesthetic with a quality high-resolution panel and unique multitasking features ideal for productivity-minded users. Add in surprisingly decent built-in audio, and this display is almost perfect for any office setup.
The monitor does come with some unfortunate flaws for one seemingly aimed at working professionals. Not only is there no USB-C port, but it lacks true HDR as well. Anyone considering this for Esports will also be turned off by its slow response rate. However, if you can live without those features or your media consumption consists of movies and immersive games like
Red Dead Redemption 2, you’ll find little to fault with the
Dell S3221QS.
It’s reasonably priced too, setting you back $748. While you can get the USB-C and HDR 10 equipped BenQ EW3270U at a somewhat similar price, you do miss out on the curved screen and Dell’s suite of multitasking features. Alternatively, the slightly larger AOC CU34G2X, which typically goes for $680, offers some great gaming-related features like a 1ms response rate and 144Hz refresh rate. However, it’s not 4K and also doesn’t have Dell’s feature set.
It’s obvious that Dell wanted to make something a little different with the Dell S3221QS. Sure, its bezels have that same matte black plastic that adorn every other monitor, but the similarities end there. The back panel is composed of high-quality, woven white plastic reminiscent of the arctic white found on the Dell
XPS laptops.
The monitor can be tilted down to -5 and up to 21 degrees, and the height can be adjusted as well. However, it can’t swivel side to side. Since the base doesn’t take up too much desk space, it’s easy to turn it if needed.
Since it is a sizable monitor, getting to the ports is not going to be easy. Not only do they sit more toward the middle of the monitor’s back panel, as the speakers sit on either end of the ports, but they’re downward-facing as well. We have to put the monitor face down every time we need access to its ports.
The lack of USB-C connectivity or true HDR doesn’t stop the Dell 4K S3221QS from being a terrific curved monitor. Its elegant design, stunning 4K picture, and useful multitasking features like Picturein-Picture make it an excellent and surprisingly affordable option. Michelle Rae Uy