I needed a genuine 4K (not UHD) display to replace my ancient (2021) LG monitor for my main work-from-home office. Plus, I wanted to "upgrade" to a curved panel, but not one of the huge "ultra-wides" that I see kids playing video games on at Best Buy. So I grabbed this model (specifically, the Dell S3221QS 32") for less than $400 with free Prime 2-day shipping. Unboxed it, hooked it up and it's great. I mean: GREAT.
Now, I'm a Windows user so I can't speak to the flickering issue some Mac users have reported, but as hooked up to my 2021 Dell desktop PC (Windows 11 Pro) with a braided HDMI cable that's at least 15 years old, the picture is GREAT. No flickering. Colors look good. Brightness (or lack thereof) is not a problem.
I know this monitor is special because I did go to Best Buy to see some monitors in action, and they didn't have anything (ANYTHING) like it. The curved monitors are all for gaming (and priced accordingly!). There's no reason a boring office/productivity monitor has to be BORING.
Some may be turned off by this monitor's lack of USB-C ports--if that's your thing, I'd suggest the Dell S2722QC with its 3(+?) USB-C ports. For my needs, however, the S3221QS's 2 USB 3 ports seem to be enough. (If you do want to connect a USB-C device, Amazon sells a good USB-C to -A converter: search for the NIMASO USB C to USB 3.0 Adapter.)
A lot of monitor bases/stands are dinky. As in, totally inappropriate for holding a monitor straight and without wobble. I know this because my LG monitor wobbled a lot and didn't sit level... the issue is so bad I almost bought a VESA mount for it.
A big win for Dell is their base/stand. They make the best stands in the industry. This Dell, and the 27" mentioned above, come with the standard Dell base/stand--I swear it hasn't changed in years--that gets the job done with NO DRILLING and no C-clamps. It's depressing how many monitors have the cheaper/worse LG-style base/stand. Very happy Dell has never gone that direction.
My biggest concern is the monitor won't last, but my older Dell monitors are still going strong and some of them are 20+ years old. For real... take a look at your garden-variety Goodwill... chances are they'll have an assortment of 2005-era Dell screens that still work.
That's all I have. I'll update this review if anything changes or happens.
Update!
Well, my first attempt to write an update to this review got eaten by either my browser or Amazon, so here's attempt #2:
So after using this monitor for 5 days, I have some comments:
1--I wish the base/stand pivoted left and right. Old monitor and television stands used to do this (including Dells from the mid-aughts). It's a nice feature to have. If I want to move the screen, I have to move the whole base/stand/pedestal, which is cumbersome. Also, I wish the monitor rose higher up on its included base. It only travels up about 4 inches (102 mm) as it is.
2--The ports are hard to reach. Basically, I have to turn the whole monitor sideways and almost upside down to be able to plug anything in. That's one win in the LG's column: the ports are accessible (located directly on the back).
3--Color: I vacillate between different color modes, including the various settings on the Intel Graphics Command Center and Dell Display Manager apps. I shouldn't have to monkey around with any of that--the monitor should look good out-of-the-box. The color on all normal settings (not changing anything) looks like it has the slightest pink/rose hue or tint. It's just barely noticeable, but it's there. I don't think it's bad enough to return the monitor, but if you demand absolute perfect color, it might be a deal breaker for you.
| Standing screen display size | 34 Inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 3440x1440 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 3440 x 1440 Pixels |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 3 |
