A dual monitor setup definitely has its advantages over single monitor setups. For one, you can improve your productivity and workflow due to the increased screen real estate. You can multitask more effectively since you can have multiple windows open simultaneously. Dual monitor setups are also great for gamers and/or streamers since you can have one monitor dedicated for gaming and the other for various apps like Discord, etc. That said, here are our recommendations for the best Dell monitors for dual setup. Why Dell? Because they offer some of the best monitors that work great in a dual setup, including the Dell S2721D, S2721QS, S2721DGF, U3818DW and more.
Best Dell Monitors For Dual Setup Comparison Chart
Dell S2721D
The Dell S2721D is a monitor that’s perfect for dual monitor work or productivity setups. It’s more affordable than premium Dell U-series monitors like the U2721DE, while still having great features and excellent picture quality.
It is a 27-inch monitor with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, which provides more than enough screen real estate for browsing, looking at worksheets and more. Since it has an IPS panel, viewing angles are very good and color reproduction is excellent, so it will work as both primary and secondary screens. Moreover, it has super thin bezels that are not very noticeable.
The stand allows you to adjust the monitor however you want to get the best viewing angle. If you want to save some desk space, the monitor is VESA compliant and will work with any VESA arm or desk mount.
Although it is geared more towards work and productivity, the Dell S2721D is also a decent gaming monitor. It has a refresh rate of 75 Hz so it will offer a better gaming experience than monitors that are locked at 60 Hz. Also, it comes with Freesync adaptive sync, which will further improve your gaming experience.
Dell S2721QS
Best 4K monitor for dual monitor work and productivity setup.
A 1440p monitor is usually more than enough for work and productivity, but there are still a few that require more screen real estate. If you are one of them, then stepping up to 4K is the most logical choice. The Dell S2721QS is our recommendation for the best 4K monitor in a dual monitor setup for work and productivity.
Like the S2721D, it is also a 27-inch monitor, but it has a screen resolution of 3840 x 2160 or 4K instead of 1440p. With a 4K display, you essentially have four 1080p screens in one, and with that much screen real estate, you’ll be able to improve your workflow. The Dell S2721QS also has an IPS panel and the bezels are super slim for seamless dual screen setup.
The Dell S2721QS comes with an adjustable stand that allows you to adjust the orientation of your monitor in a dual screen setup. Alternatively, you can also mount the monitor using any monitor arm as it is VESA compliant.
While the Dell S2721QS is great for work and productivity, it is only decent if you are also planning on using it for some gaming. Its 4K resolution will display crisp and clear images, but since it only has a 60 Hz panel, it won’t be as smooth as other high refresh rate monitors. Also, 4K is very demanding so if your pc or laptop is not up to spec, then it will struggle with majority of AAA games.
Dell S2721DGF
Best monitor for dual monitor gaming/streaming setup.
The Dell S2721DGF is our best primary monitor choice in a dual monitor gaming or streaming setup. It is a 27-inch 1440p monitor with a 165 Hz refresh rate, and it also has an IPS panel for excellent color reproduction and wider viewing angles. Moreover, it has very thin bezels that are not very noticeable in a dual screen setup.
A 1440p screen will display better images than 1080p screens, but it is not as demanding as 4K. With its native 165 Hz refresh rate, you’ll be able to enjoy smoother gameplay, provided that your PC has the specs for it. Additionally, it has native Freesync support and G-Sync compatibility, so even if your GPU is not the best, you’ll still enjoy a smooth gaming experience without stutter or screen tearing.
For a dual monitor gaming or streaming setup, it’s more economical to have a high refresh rate primary monitor and a lower refresh rate secondary monitor, like the Dell S2721D, since you’ll only be gaming on the primary monitor anyway. The secondary screen is only for monitoring chat, opening apps and more.
With that said, having two high refresh rate screens is certainly better. Everything will look and feel smoother. Actions such as dragging windows, moving the mouse cursor and scrolling are smoother and nicer to look at.
Dell U3818DW
Ultrawide monitor alternative.
If you’re still unsure whether you want a dual monitor setup, you might want to look into getting an ultrawide monitor. The Dell U3818DW is a 38-inch 21:9 ultrawide monitor with a resolution of 3840 x 1600. It won’t have as much screen real estate as two 1440p monitors but it also doesn’t have the annoying bezels at the center. Also, if you have a smaller desk, an ultrawide might fit better than two monitors.
For work and productivity, the Dell U3818DW can fit two windows side by side or four windows in each corner using Windows Snap. Also, horizontally scrolling is nice, since there are no bezels in the middle. The Dell U3818DW is curved, but because it has an IPS panel, viewing angles are excellent.
Another alternative that you should consider if you are still unsure is a super ultrawide monitor like the Dell U4919DW. It is a 49-inch 32:9 monitor with a resolution of 5120 x 1440. For work and productivity, it behaves just like two 27-inch 1440p monitors, but without the bezels in the middle.
Summary
Dell offers some of the best monitors when it comes to quality and performance.
For work and productivity, the best Dell monitor when it comes to price to performance is the Dell S2721D. It is a 1440p monitor that provides plenty of screen real estate to improve your workflow. Also, it has an IPS panel so it has great viewing angles, and it will work as a primary or secondary screen in a dual monitor setup. A good 4K alternative is the Dell S2721QS. It is basically the 4K version of the Dell S2721D.
For dual monitor gaming or streaming setups, the Dell S2721DGF offers the best performance at a reasonable price. It has a native refresh rate of 165 Hz, which is perfect for smoother gameplay. Also, it supports AMD Freesync and it is compatible with NVIDIA G-Sync, so even if your GPU is not the most powerful, you’ll still enjoy high framerate gaming.
If you want a single screen but you still want to get the benefits of a dual monitor setup, then you can go with either the ultrawide Dell U3818DW or the super ultrawide Dell U4919DW. Both are great alternatives to dual monitor setups since they offer the extra screen real estate with just one display.
FAQs
? What is the best Dell monitor for a dual setup?
It will depend on what your primary purpose for a dual setup is. For work and productivity, we chose the Dell S2721D as the best monitor since it offers the best price to performance.
? Is a dual monitor setup worth it?
Yes, it can improve your efficiency and workflow since you’ll have more screen space to work with.
? Should I go with a dual monitor setup or a single ultrawide?
Ultrawide monitors are great if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of setting up two monitors. However, it won’t give you the same amount of screen space that dual monitors can. If you want more screen space, then go with a dual monitor setup or a super ultrawide monitor.
? Are Dell monitors worth it?
Yes, even though they are priced higher than the competition, Dell monitors usually come with the best image quality and performance. They also offer a ton of input and output ports at the back for flexibility.