Skip the OLED monitor—this Dell IPS Black LCD has everything you need

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Skip the OLED monitor—this Dell IPS Black LCD has everything you need

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It’s been six months since I reviewed the Dell UltraSharp 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE), an LCD computer screen that convinced me to give up my search for an OLED upgrade.

As the name implies, the Dell UltraSharp 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor features an integrated TB4 hub with a wealth of high-speed ports—there are five Type-A ports, four USB-C ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, DisplayPort and HDMI input, plus an additional DP jack for daisy-chaining monitors. There’s built-in KVM, too. This port selection would be valuable in any monitor, particularly for laptop users like myself, but it’s not just the ports that I care about. Really, this monitor has the best LCD panel I’ve ever tested.

The Dell U2725QE utilizes a 27-inch “IPS Black” panel. IPS Black is a unique offshoot of IPS technology that leverages a reversed pixel-activation system to achieve a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. It’s not as contrast-rich as OLED, of course, but this IPS Black screen offers 47% deeper black levels than a conventional IPS display. And the difference is very noticeable, especially when compared to the Dell U2720QM monitor I bought back in 2021.

Of course, the monitor also boasts a 4K video resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 99% DCI-P3 color coverage. It’s an incredibly snappy, bright, and rich solution for professional work or content creation—an easy sell for someone like me.

There are certainly some caveats here. Like, I don’t mind gaming on the U2725QE, as its 120Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time are more than good enough for me, but hardcore gamers should probably opt for a monitor that actually supports G-Sync or FreeSync (and you can probably find one with a snappier refresh rate or response time, if you’re obsessive about that kind of stuff). Dell also failed to include a webcam or speakers with this monitor—fine by me, I already own a good webcam and an expensive set of speakers—and the monitor’s design language is very Dell-esque. I’m not a particularly big fan of the silver plastic, although it doesn’t really matter if your desk is against a wall.

Backside of the Dell Ultrasharp 27 Thunderbolt Hub monitor-1

Read my review!

Dell UltraSharp 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE) Review: The Best Looking LCD Monitor I’ve Tested

I thought I needed an OLED monitor, but Dell showed me that LCD is still a great option.

There’s also the price. At $700 MSRP (or approximately $620 if you come across a decent sale), the U2725QE isn’t exactly cheap. Still, I think that the price tag is pretty easy to justify. The monitor’s IPS Black panel is fantastic, and the built-in TB4 hub with KVM functionality should feel modern for at least half a decade (and useful for far longer than that). Plus, this monitor won’t suffer from OLED burn-in, which is a big plus for nervous people like me.

I’ll gladly recommend the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE) to anyone who does professional or creative work. It’s a big investment, for sure, but a worthwhile one at that.

Screen Size: 27 inches
Display Technology: IPS Black (3,000:1 contrast, DCI-P3 99% color)
HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 600
Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160)
Aspect Ratio: 16:9

The Dell UltraSharp 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE) features a surprisingly deep 3000:1 contrast ratio, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an integrated Thunderbolt 4 hub. It’s one of the most versatile and attractive professional monitors available today.