Dell Monitor Buying Guide
Have you got your heart set on a Dell monitor but not sure exactly which one is best for you? Then read our buying guide, where the CCL team has set out their top tips for buying the best Dell monitor.
Choosing the right monitor for you
The first thing to do is to figure out what you’ll be using your new Dell monitor for.
Standard computing
If you’re intending to use your monitor for basic computing, office work, home study etc, then you’ll want to choose one of Dell’s E Series or P Series monitors.
These are affordable, eco-friendly monitors that are ideal for basic computing. They typically have IPS LCD panels, refresh rates in the 60Hz range, response times of 5ms or less and a mix of HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort input types.
Look for:
- P Series monitors.
- E Series monitors.
Gaming
Should you be an avid gamer, then you’re going to want one of Dell’s gaming monitors, which feature gaming-specific features and tech such as adaptive sync, edge-to-edge gameplay, sharp HD and 4K resolutions, and fast response times of 1ms or less.
If you want extreme performance from a Dell monitor, then choose one of their Alienware monitors. These are monitors which offer the highest possible gaming performance, with refresh rates of up to 240Hz, ultra fast sub-1ms response times, ultra sharp 4K and 8K resolutions and DisplayPort and HDMI inputs.
Look for:
- Dell Gaming monitors.
- Alienware monitors.
Content creation
Are you a budding content creator? Whether you’re creating videos for YouTube or graphic design for commercial clients, you’re going to want a monitor that can deliver an ultra sharp visual experience.
That’s where Dell’s range of UltraSharp monitors come in.
They are ideal for content creation, video and photo editing, displaying presentations and other documents in commercial settings and more.
A broad range of resolutions are available throughout the UltraSharp range including 4K UHD, WQHD, WQHD+, WQXGA and more.
Dell’s UltraSharp monitors are also available in multiple different aspect ratios and screen sizes ranging from compact 24-inch sizes all the way up to 49 inches. And, for a truly immersive experience, you can buy curved UltraSharp monitors.
Look for:
- Dell UltraSharp monitors.
Media consumption
If you’re an avid movie buff and want a monitor that’s going to provide the ultimate, cinema-like experience, then you’ll want to select one of Dell’s S Series monitors.
S Series monitors feature super-rich colours, crisp clarity and ultra-thin bezels to create the perfect viewing experience.
Ranging from HD to 4K, Dell’s S Series monitors aren’t just great for media consumption, but will also hold their own in the world of work, with a range of refresh rates, input types and price points making them highly versatile monitors.
Look for:
What size Dell monitor should you buy?
This is one of the most common questions we receive about Dell monitors, and the answer is similar to the one above; the size you should buy is largely determined by what you’ll be using the monitor for.
23 inch (or smaller) monitors
Dell monitors that are 23-inches or smaller are perfect for generic computing tasks such as answering and sending emails, working on Word documents, browsing the internet and other day-to-day tasks.
As they are on the smaller side of things, 23-inch (or smaller) monitors also tend to be budget friendly, with a large number of these monitors at CCL being in the £120-£200 price range.
Use a 23-inch (or smaller) monitor for:
- Browsing the web.
- Answering and sending emails.
- Working on Office docs etc.
24-27-inch monitors
Dell monitors that sit within the 24 to 27-inch size range are ideal for generic computing tasks, but offer just a little more screen real estate, making it easier for you to look at multiple documents/programs at once and take video calls etc.
Use a 24 to 27-inch monitor for:
- Video calls.
- Multitasking between documents and/or programs.
- Browsing the web.
- Answering and sending emails.
- Working on Office docs.
28-32 inch monitors
At this size you’re looking at monitors which aren’t just good for generic computing tasks, but also things like video conferencing and content creation.
So, whether you’re wanting to edit video or do some graphic design, you should be looking at a Dell monitor that is at least 28-inches in size.
In an office context, monitors in the 28 to 32-inch size range are great for presentations e.g. mounting on the wall of a boardroom, or for working on and reviewing large files such as financial spreadsheets.
Use a 28 to 32-inch monitor for:
- Generic computing tasks.
- Video conferencing.
- Content creation e.g. video or photo editing.
- Creating and reviewing large documents and spreadsheets.
34-40 inch monitors
Enter the gamers. Once you’re looking at Dell monitors in the 34 to 40-inch size range, you’re firmly in high-end gaming and content creation territory.
With larger screens and higher resolutions, these size monitors make gaming and content creation a breeze, with plenty of space to spread out your work - or spot the opposition during games.
From a work point of view, monitors that are 34 to 40-inches in size are useful if you tend to work on very large spreadsheets, or require a large monitor on which you can collaborate with others.
Use a 34 to 40-inch monitor for:
- Gaming.
- Content creation.
- Creating and reviewing large documents and spreadsheets.
- Collaboration.
40-inch (or bigger) monitors
At the top of the scale you’ve got Dell monitors which are 40-inches plus.
These monitors are ideal for all tasks, from gaming to content creation to more mundane jobs like browsing the web and checking emails.
Large 40-inch (or bigger) monitors are also increasingly being used to replace dual-monitor setups.
Whether you’ve got two monitors at home or work, you’ve no doubt spotted what’s called the ‘bezel gap’. This is the annoying space between screens that you get when you’ve got a dual-monitor setup.
A 40-inch (or bigger) monitor can eliminate the need for two separate monitors, thus eliminating that annoying bezel gap and providing a more immersive working/gaming experience where you’re less likely to be distracted by external factors.
Other Dell monitor features
Aside from getting the right type and size of monitor, there are a number of other features that you may find useful.
These include:
Curved display
Many Dell monitors are now available with a curved display. Curved displays have a number of benefits, but are particularly useful for gaming as they provide you with an extremely wide field of vision.
Curved monitors can not only make your gaming sessions more competitive, but also more immersive, reducing distractions in your peripheral vision.
Built-in USB hub
It’s possible to buy Dell monitors with built-in USB hubs. These are particularly useful if you tend to use lots of peripherals and have used up all of the available ports on your PC.
A built-in USB hub will allow you to connect more peripherals to your setup and charge items whilst you’re working on your PC.
Touchscreen
If you’re a content creator, it can be useful to have a monitor that allows for touchscreen functionality. This is a particularly useful feature for graphic designers and video editors, where it can be easier to use your figures to manipulate items or pieces of content rather than a mouse.
VESA mount
A VESA mount is a simple, standardised way of mounting a monitor to walls or display stands and display arms.
Here at CCL, the majority of our Dell monitors are VESA mountable, making it easy to find compatible mounting arms or wall mounting points.
Webcam
If you’re one of those people spending more of their work and leisure time on video calls, it might be wise to buy a Dell monitor which includes a built-in webcam.
Not only will it make your video conferences more convenient, but it’ll save you the hassle of buying and installing an external webcam.
Speakers
Just as a built-in webcam can be more convenient, so too can built-in speakers.
Not only will a Dell monitor with built-in speakers provide a streamlined, convenient working and gaming experience, but it’ll mean you don’t have to pay for separate external speakers.
Where to buy the best Dell monitors UK
As you have read, Dell monitors are some of the best around, offering high-end features and technology at really competitive price points.
If it’s a Dell monitor you’re after, then buy one from CCL.
Why?
Well, not only do we have one of the biggest ranges of Dell monitors on the web, but we offer them at fantastically-competitive prices, with free delivery and a range of payment options such as PayPal Credit and Klarna to help you spread the cost of your new monitor.
That’s not all.
If you have any questions about a Dell monitor prior to purchase, then our friendly, expert team are happy to help. You can reach them on 01274 471200 at: sales@cclonline.com
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