Skip the OLED monitor—this Dell IPS Black LCD has everything you need
HTG Wrapped 2025: 24 days of technology
24 days of our favorite hardware, gadgets and technologies
It’s been six months since I reviewed the Dell UltraSharp 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE), an LCD computer display that convinced me to abandon my search for an OLED upgrade.
As the name suggests, the Dell UltraSharp 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor includes a built-in TB4 hub with a host of high-speed ports: there are five Type-A ports, four USB-C ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, a DisplayPort and HDMI input, as well as an additional DP jack for daisy-chaining monitors. There is also a built-in KVM. This selection of ports would be useful on any monitor, especially for laptop users like me, but it’s not just the ports that interest me. Truly, this monitor has the best LCD panel I have ever tested.
The Dell U2725QE uses a 27-inch “IPS Black” panel. IPS Black is a unique offshoot of IPS technology that leverages an inverted pixel activation system to achieve a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. It’s obviously not as contrast-rich as OLED, but this IPS Black display offers 47% deeper black levels than a typical IPS display. And the difference is very noticeable, especially compared to the Dell U2720QM monitor I purchased in 2021.
Of course, the monitor also features 4K video resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 99% DCI-P3 color coverage. It’s an incredibly fast, bright and rich solution for professional work or content creation – an easy sell for someone like me.
There are definitely some caveats here. For example, 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 go for a monitor that actually supports G-Sync or FreeSync (and you can probably find one with a faster refresh rate or response time, if you’re obsessed with that sort of thing). Dell also failed to include a webcam or speakers with this monitor (fine for me, I already own a good webcam and an expensive set of speakers) and the design language of the monitor is very The Dell way. I’m not particularly a fan of the silver plastic, although it doesn’t really matter if your desk is against a wall.
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 is also the price. At $700 MSRP (or around $620 if you find a decent sale), the U2725QE isn’t exactly cheap. Still, I think the price is pretty easy to justify. The monitor’s IPS Black panel looks fantastic, and the built-in TB4 hub with KVM functionality should look modern for at least half a decade (and useful for much longer than that). Plus, this monitor won’t suffer from OLED burn-in, which is a big plus for nervous people like me.
I will happily recommend the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE) to anyone doing professional or creative work. It’s a big investment, sure, but well worth it.
- Screen size
-
27 inches
- Display technology
-
IPS Black (3000:1 contrast, 99% DCI-P3 color)
- HDR
-
VESAHDR 600 screen
- 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, 120Hz refresh rate, and an integrated Thunderbolt 4 hub. It’s one of the most versatile and attractive professional monitors available today.
Finally, a high-performance gaming keyboard that doesn’t look like a toy
Attractive design turned me into a Hall Effect fan.
