Dell UltraSharp U2723QE Review

IPS Black Panel: Deeper Blacks Than Standard IPS

The headline feature of the U2723QE is the IPS Black panel, an LG Display technology that doubles the contrast ratio of standard IPS from about 1000:1 to 2000:1. In practice dark UI elements, photo shadows, and letterboxed video look noticeably deeper and less gray than on a typical office monitor, a meaningful upgrade for dark-mode interfaces and shadow detail.

The panel covers 98% of DCI-P3 and 100% of sRGB, and Dell ships it factory-calibrated to Delta E less than 2. Brightness peaks at 350 nits, which is adequate for an office but not bright enough for HDR or direct sunlight. Color accuracy is genuinely good enough for non-broadcast photo and video work, without the cost of a reference display.

Viewing angles are 178 degrees horizontal and vertical with minimal color shift, a benefit of the IPS Black technology. The anti-glare coating is mild and less aggressive than older UltraSharp panels, so text stays crisp without the grainy look that plagued earlier matte monitors.

Resolution and Text Clarity: 4K at 27 Inches

The U2723QE is a 27-inch 4K UHD panel at 109 PPI. At native resolution text is sharp without the soft edges of 1440p at the same size. On macOS the default scaled mode produces near-Retina text quality with a slight GPU-scaler performance cost, while on Windows 150% scaling is the sweet spot for crisp text across most apps.

The 60Hz refresh is the obvious limitation. Compared with 120Hz+ panels, UI motion feels less smooth, though not in a way that affects productivity, and there is no overclock option. Buyers who prioritize refresh should look at a 120Hz model, at the cost of the full IPS Black KVM-plus-Ethernet package.

The monitor supports Picture-by-Picture and Picture-In-Picture for viewing two inputs at once, which is useful for keeping an eye on a laptop feed while working on a desktop. The PiP window has a thick border and only a few size options, so it is functional rather than elegant.

USB-C, KVM, and Ethernet: A Dock Inside the Monitor

The most practical feature of the U2723QE is its port selection. A single USB-C cable from a laptop drives 4K60 video, up to 90W of charging power, and all downstream USB and Ethernet traffic through the monitor, which is what makes the U2723QE a genuine dock replacement for a USB-C laptop.

The integrated KVM switches one keyboard, mouse, and Ethernet connection between two computers. One PC connects over USB-C (which also carries display and power) and a second connects over DisplayPort plus the included USB-B upstream cable; a button on the front bezel swaps all three between inputs. That alone can replace a separate KVM switch.

Built-in Gigabit Ethernet is a quiet but useful feature. Modern laptops that ship with only USB-C ports no longer have native wired networking, and a separate USB-C to Ethernet adapter is one more dongle to carry. The U2723QE puts wired Ethernet on the desk, available to whichever PC the KVM has selected.

The downstream arrangement includes rear USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a rear USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port with 15W charging, and side USB-A and USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports at 15W — the side ports are convenient for a flash drive or phone without reaching behind the monitor. One catch: when USB-C Alt Mode is active for video, the downstream ports drop to USB 2.0 speeds, a DisplayPort bandwidth limitation rather than a Dell decision.

DisplayPort Daisy-Chain: Two Monitors, One Cable

The U2723QE supports DisplayPort 1.4 MST daisy-chaining, so a second DisplayPort monitor can be chained off the first over a single cable. Two U2723QEs can run at 4K60 from a single USB-C cable, and the first monitor passes the second monitor video signal and USB downstream traffic through, so the second monitor inherits the same KVM and Ethernet benefit.

The bandwidth limit is the catch. A single DisplayPort 1.4 stream has about 32 Gbps of usable bandwidth, enough for two 4K60 signals; adding a third 4K panel to the chain would require dropping to 30Hz. For most users, two U2723QEs from a single USB-C cable is plenty.

Design, Stand, and Build Quality

The U2723QE uses the standard Dell UltraSharp chassis — a silver aluminum back, black bezel, and matte plastic base. The bezel is 6 mm on three sides and slightly thicker on the bottom edge, which is fine for solo use but creates a visible gap in a dual-monitor setup. The build is solid with no flex in the panel or base, and the monitor weighs about 7.6 kg with the stand attached.

The stand offers height adjustment over a 110 mm range, tilt from -5 to +21 degrees, and swivel of +/-45 degrees. There is no portrait pivot, which is a real omission at this price. The stand footprint is about 24 cm deep, which is fine for most desks but eats into a small standing-desk surface. The stand is removable, and the panel has a standard 100 x 100 mm VESA mount for arm installation.

The on-screen display is controlled by a joystick on the back-right of the panel plus four capacitive buttons on the front bezel. The joystick handles navigation, while the front buttons control quick functions such as input switching, KVM, and brightness. The built-in 5W stereo speakers are the weakest part of the package — fine for video calls, thin for music and media.