The brand that stands out from others when it comes to monitors is certainly Dell. Today we will compare the Dell P2715Q vs U2718Q and see what the differences are between these 27” 4K monitors.
If you are a content creator by profession, you know exactly why investing in a color-accurate monitor is best for your job. The advantage of buying a professional-grade monitor is color calibrated out of the box. You don’t have to tinker with the RGB setting of your monitor just to get those natural colors. I can still remember the time when 4K monitors were priced like gold when it was first released. It would set you back thousands of dollars just to get a hand on those ultra-high-resolution monitors and televisions. Nowadays, the market has now reached equilibrium resulting in reasonably priced 4K monitors.
Dell has been one of the main players in professional-grade monitors. Although LG is the only monitor recommended by Apple for its products, Dell has dominated its Windows counterpart. In this article, we are going to compare two Ultra HD 4K monitors from Dell – the P2715Q and U2718Q! We will comb over each of their similarities and differences. Then I am going to help you decide which is suited better for you.
Dell P2715Q |
Dell U2718Q |
|
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
 |
| Diagonal Viewing Size | 27 inches (68.47 cm) | 27 inches (68.47 cm) |
| HDR10 Support | No | Yes |
| Panel Type | In-Plane switching Technology (IPS) | In-Plane switching Technology (IPS) |
| Backlight Technology | LED Edgelight System | LED |
| Maximum Preset Resolution | 3840 x 2160 pixels | 3840 x 2160 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Brightness | 350 cd/m² (typical) | 350 cd/m² (typical) |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 (Typical), 2M:1 (Dynamic) | 1300:1 (Typical) |
| Response Time | 9 ms (GTG), 6 ms (fast) | 5 ms (GTG) |
| Color Gamut | 99.9% sRGB | 99.9% sRGB, 99.9% Rec 709, 80.7% DCI-P3 |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort out, HDMI (MHL), Audio-line out, 4 x USB3 downstream, USB upstream | DP (ver. 1.2), mDP (ver. 1.2), HDMI (ver. 2.0), USB 3.0 port – Upstream, 4 x USB 3.0 ports, Audio line-out |
| Adjustability | Height adjustable (115 mm), Tilt (-5° to 21°), Pivot (90°, clockwise & anti-clockwise directions) | Height adjustable (130 mm), Tilt (-5° to 21°), Swivel (-45° to 45°), Pivot (90°, clockwise & anti-clockwise directions) |
| VESA Mount | 100 x 100 mm | 100 x 100 mm |
| Weight | 5.03 kg | 3.70 kg |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Similarities between Dell P2715Q and U2718Q
Before we see how the Dell Ultra HD P2715Q and Dell UltraSharp U2718Q monitors differ, let’s see what their similarities are.
Display Size and Display Technology
The Dell P2715Q and U2718Q are huge monitors with a diagonal viewing size of 27”. The main advantage of a 27” monitor is its size. You can take advantage of that large screen real estate for photo and video editing. Streaming content from YouTube or Netflix is equally impressive due to this humongous screen. Both 27” displays from Dell use the In-Plane Switching technology or IPS for short. This technology is widespread as you can see it in smartphones, laptops, televisions, and of course, monitors. The advantages of using this over other display technology are vivid colors and better viewing angles.
Display Resolution and Refresh Rate
The large screen of the P2715Q and U2718Q is complemented by their 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels). You can multitask better with both monitors since you can open 4 windows side-by-side and still look sharp. These 4K monitors are extra helpful when editing 4K content since you can see the whole 4K content. Moreover, watching ultra-HD content is going to be a great experience on both Dell monitors. Their refresh rate is not that impressive at 60 Hz. It is perfectly reasonable, however, since Dell targets both monitors for content creators and not gamers.
Ports
Surprisingly, both the P2715Q and U2718Q have the same set of ports. You have three choices for outputting videos into these monitors. You can either connect via DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, or the traditional HDMI port. However, both monitors just include DisplayPort to mini DisplayPort cable. So, if you are looking to use this with your laptop, you have to buy an extra HDMI cable. Lastly, both monitors have USB 3.0 ports for your peripherals such as mouse and keyboards.
Also read: Philips 276E8VJSB vs AOC U2790VQ: Which 4K Monitor is Better?
Differences between Dell P2715Q and U2718Q
Physical Design
One of their striking differences in their physical design is apparent.
Dell Ultra HD P2715Q
Both 4K monitors are released in the same year. However, their design difference made me think that the P2715Q was released first. The reason behind this is its aging design. We are already in the age of disappearing bezels. However, the P2715Q has thicker bezels than I would like in a monitor. Although bezels are thick, it is quite uniform all around.
Dell UltraSharp U2718Q
On the other hand, U2718Q is the definition of a modern monitor. It has ultra-thin bezels. Its grey-colored base can be paired with the Dell XPS laptops. Moreover, this stand has a hole visible even on the front. This hole is for cable management to keep your desktop tidier. If someone said that this monitor was released just recently, I won’t bat an eye because it looks modern. With that said, U2718Q wins by a landslide.
The Winner Is- Dell UltraSharp U2718Q
HDR10 Support
If you are a content creator editing HDR content, having an HDR-capable monitor is a plus. And even if not, HDR10 will get your watching experience to the next level.
Dell Ultra HD P2715Q
Unfortunately, the Dell P2715Q also falls short in this category since it does not support HDR10 content. However, that does not mean that it is a horrible display. It still has the same brightness of 350 cd/m², comparable contrast ratio, and a color-accurate display with a 99.9% coverage of the sRGB gamut.
Dell UltraSharp U2718Q
In contrast, the UltraSharp U2718Q has HDR10 support amplifying your photos and videos color and sharpness. One thing it lacks, however, is a higher brightness. To fully take advantage of the HDR10, you need at least 600 nits (it only has 350 nits of peak brightness). Then again, having support for HDR10 is still better than nothing. Moreover, it also has a factory-calibrated display with 99.9% sRGB coverage and accuracy of Delta-E less than 2.
The Winner Is- Dell UltraSharp U2718Q
Contrast Ratio, Response Time, and Adjustability
Lastly, there are small things that both of these Dell monitors differ such as contrast ratio, response time, and adjustability.
Dell Ultra HD P2715Q
The contrast of the P2715Q is inferior to its competitor at only 1000:1. Thus, blacks aren’t going to be that darker, and shadows lose its details. Response time is also worse with a Grey-to-Grey response time of 9 milliseconds. The response time of 9ms is not that terrible and noticeable anyways. The P2715Q has full adjustability, so you can adjust the height, tilt, and pivot. However, Dell does not mention on its website if it has swivel adjustments.
Dell UltraSharp U2718Q
The Dell UltraSharp U2718Q has overall better specifications. It has a better typical contrast ratio of 1300:1 making blacks as natural as it can be. It also has a faster response time of 5ms which arguably respectable when you use it for gaming. And lastly, it has full adjustability. With that said, there is no doubt that the Dell UltraSharp U2718Q takes this category.
The Winner Is- Dell UltraSharp U2718Q
Pros and Cons
Dell Ultra HD P2715Q
<h4<Pros:
- The Dell Ultra HD P2715Q is designed with content creators in mind due to its factory-calibrated display with 99.9% sRGB coverage.
- Watching and creating multimedia content with this monitor is impressive because it has a 27” panel with 4K resolution.
- You have plentiful display output ports to choose from.
Cons:
- Aside from the thick bezels, the lack of HDR10 support is a disadvantage for content creators.
Dell UltraSharp U2718Q
Pros:
- The Dell UltraSharp U2718Q supports HDR10 content giving you a more vivid and lifelike video experience.
- Expanding your setup to a multi-monitor one will never look horrible due to its ultra-thin bezels.
- Little things such as higher contrast ratio, faster response time, and full adjustability make the U2718Q better overall.
Cons:
- Both Dell 4K monitors come with only a DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable.
Final Verdict
Dell is a powerhouse in manufacturing color-accurate monitors. In this comparison of Dell’s 27 “monitors Dell P2715Q vs U2718Q we have shown you the similarities and differences between them, as well as pros and cons, now is the time to decide which is better. If their prices are not considered, the Dell U2718Q wins by a unanimous decision. It has a much better display and design than the Dell P2715Q.
Manufacturer: Dell