Dell Ultrasharp U3824DW assessment: A monitor that is all work, no play

Massive ultrawide screens typically prioritize picture high quality to fulfill avid gamers, however Dell’s U3824DW takes a unique tactic. It’s a beefy 38-inch show that mixes good picture high quality with in depth USB connectivity, first rate audio system, and easy-to-use image-quality customization. The monitor makes vital sacrifices, however its perks are certain to please consumers trying to join many units and peripherals to a single show.

Additional studying: See our roundup of the perfect ultrawide screens to find out about competing merchandise.

What are the Dell U3824DW specs?

The Dell Ultrasharp U3824DW’s connectivity leaps out. The monitor has an unbelievable vary of ports (14 in complete), which help quite a few show inputs, USB-C, USB-A, and Ethernet. It additionally has an IPS Black show panel that roughly doubles the distinction ratio of older IPS shows.

• Show measurement: 38-inch 21:9 ultrawide
• Native decision: 3840×1600
• Panel kind: IPS Black LCD
• Refresh price: 60Hz
• Adaptive Sync: None
• HDR: None
• Ports: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with 90 watts Energy Supply and DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 upstream (knowledge solely), 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 downstream, 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 downstream with 15 watts Energy Supply, 3.5mm audio-out, RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
• Audio system: Included, twin 9-watt
• Value: $1,529.99

Nevertheless, Dell skips quite a few leisure options comparable to HDR, an enhanced refresh price, and Adaptive Sync. These omissions are annoying given the monitor’s excessive worth, however its perks outweigh its issues.

Dell U3824DW design

Matt Smith

The Dell UltraSharp U3824DW depends on the corporate’s acquainted design language to supply a subdued {and professional} look. A sweeping silver rear panel is paired with white accents and a slim black bezel surrounding the show. It’s easy but traditional, and may work effectively in any house or company workplace. Dell’s rivals, such because the Asus ProArt and Viewsonic VP/Elite Sequence, are engaging however much less luxurious, as they have a tendency to depend on black or grey plastic with a rougher really feel.

Although curved, the U3824DW’s curve is modest. That is sensible given its give attention to productiveness. A extra pronounced curve could be extra immersive in leisure however distorts the looks of the picture, which could be distracting when enhancing a photograph or video. This can be a matter of private style, after all, however I believe the U3824DW’s refined curve is suited to its function.

Plastic is used throughout all show panel surfaces, however as with most Dell screens, the supplies really feel sturdy and don’t permit a lot flex when the monitor is dealt with. The monitor is comparatively heavy for its measurement at almost 20 kilos with out the stand, so that you’ll want a high-quality monitor arm when you intend to make use of one.

Fortuitously, the bundled stand is superb. It feels sturdy, retains the monitor planted, and takes minimal desk area regardless of the monitor’s giant general measurement. It additionally adjusts for peak, swivel, and tilt, although it doesn’t rotate right into a vertical orientation. A 100x100mm VESA mount is accessible for third-party monitor arms and stands.

Dell U3824DW options and menus

Matt Smith

Connectivity is arguably the rationale to purchase the Dell UltraSharp U3824DW over its rivals. The monitor has in depth USB connectivity and loads of video inputs.

Let’s begin with video: The monitor has two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and one USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode, for a complete of 4 video inputs—a wholesome quantity for any monitor.

The USB-C port additionally extends connectivity to 4 further USB-A downstream ports, in addition to two USB-C downstream ports. Gigabit Ethernet and audio out are additionally out there. These downstream ports could be pushed by both the USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode or a second USB-C upstream port. Due to this, the monitor presents a KVM swap mode, which lets you simply swap between two related computer systems.

One factor the monitor doesn’t have is a USB-B upstream port, and this implies that you will want a USB-C port in your pc or an adapter to entry the monitor’s downstream USB connectivity. This looks like an indication of the occasions as previous Dell UltraSharp screens have included USB-B.

Matt Smith

The U3824DW presents intuitive, easy-to-use menus managed by a joystick on the monitor’s proper flank. Picture-quality choices span the same old, like brightness and distinction, but in addition supply a number of colour temperature modes and a customized colour mode that enables for personalisation of colour saturation, hue, achieve, and offset. The image-customization choices listed below are appropriate for many content material creators. The monitor additionally presents a picture-by-picture mode which successfully turns the monitor into two screens, every displaying a unique enter.

Whereas the joystick is clean and responsive, the monitor will also be managed with Dell Show Supervisor, a Home windows utility that has entry to a lot of the monitor’s options and may change them on the fly. Show Supervisor is a helpful addition, and one not discovered on most productiveness screens.

The U3824DW’s in depth function set is rounded out by a pair of 9-watt audio system that are competent, if not wonderful. They supply robust, clear audio that may deal with podcasts, YouTube, informal gaming, and music at decrease volumes. BenQ’s EW3880R has a built-in woofer that beats the Dell U3824DW’s audio high quality, however the U3824DW is in any other case superior to its rivals.

How is the Dell U3824DW’s SDR picture high quality?

The Dell UltraSharp U3824DW is a dear monitor designed to deal with each workplace productiveness and content material creation, so its SDR picture high quality must be as much as par. Fortuitously, it has an IPS Black panel that delivers robust outcomes.

Matt Smith

Admittedly, the monitor doesn’t get off to the perfect begin with brightness, because it achieved a most of solely 239 nits. That’s effective to be used in a typical workplace with blinds to manage outdoors gentle, however it could possibly look a bit dim in brilliant rooms. Rivals just like the Asus ProArt PA348CGV and Philips Evnia 34 7000 are extra succesful right here.

Matt Smith

Dell strikes again in distinction because of the IPS Black panel, which may attain decrease black ranges than standard IPS panels. That interprets to an improved distinction ratio of 2080:1. The Philips Evnia 34 can do higher, because of its Mini-LED backlight, however most IPS screens lag far behind the U3824DW.

The monitor’s superior distinction supplies higher ends in darkish content material, the place shadowy scenes present extra element. IPS glow, an issue that creates a hazy grey look in darkish scenes, isn’t eradicated however noticeably much less seen than with most IPS screens.

Matt Smith

Dell’s colour gamut is extraordinarily robust for this class, overlaying as much as 97 % of DCI-P3 and 90 % of Adobe RGB. These outcomes are much like the Philips Evnia 34 7000 and a bit higher than most comparable screens. The monitor’s colour gamut is appropriate for {most professional} images, videography, and different content material creation duties, and lends a vivid, vibrant look in day-to-day use.

Matt Smith

Colour accuracy is merely okay out-of-the-box. The U3824DW presents a number of picture customization choices, so errors within the monitor’s colour ought to be manageable with calibration. Nonetheless, I believe Dell ought to step up its recreation on its manufacturing unit colour calibration. A monitor of this caliber shouldn’t be defeated by inexpensive options.

The U3824DW achieved a default gamma of two.2, which is exactly what we wish to see. It signifies content material ought to look about as brilliant as its creator meant. Colour temperature got here in at 6300K, which is a bit heat, and the monitor’s default picture is a tad reddish in comparison with most of its friends.

Sharpness is stable, because the monitor’s 3840×1600 decision supplies a pixel density of 109 pixels per inch. That’s basically equivalent to a 27-inch 1440p monitor or a 34-inch ultrawide with 3440×1440 decision. Sadly, native 4K content material stays out of attain, as that requires a decision of 3840×2160, however the U3824DW stays a lot sharp for productiveness, internet looking, and gaming.

The Dell U3824DW’s general picture high quality is well-suited for each day-to-day workplace productiveness and extra demanding content material creation duties. Whether or not it’s ok to justify the worth depends upon your wants. Mini-LED screens, just like the Philips Envision 34, will ship significantly better brightness and distinction at a comparable worth—however they lack the U3824DW’s in depth connectivity.

How is the Dell U3824DW’s HDR picture high quality?

Matt Smith

The Dell U3824DW doesn’t help HDR. It will show an issue for content material creators who plan to work on HDR content material. Nevertheless, it’s clear that this monitor isn’t well-positioned to supply an excellent HDR expertise, so I don’t assume the dearth of HDR will disappoint most homeowners. Simply maintain it in thoughts when making your choice. If you need HDR, you’re going to wish to have a look at a Mini-LED or OLED monitor.

How is the Dell U3824DW’s movement efficiency?

Players ought to give the U3824DW a move. It supplies a most refresh price of simply 60Hz and lacks Adaptive Sync. Video games look fairly good on the monitor because of its extensive colour gamut and stable sharpness, however fast-paced titles present a number of movement blur. It’s one other trade-off for the monitor’s in depth connectivity.

Is the Dell U3824DW price it?

The Dell Ultrasharp U3824DW goals squarely at workplace productiveness, and that’s the place it excels. It delivers a one-two punch of nice picture high quality and in depth USB connectivity. These key options are supported by an easy-to-use menu and lots of image-quality customization choices. Some nice-to-have options like HDR, an enhanced refresh price, and Adaptive Sync are sacrificed, and that limits the monitor’s attraction. Nevertheless, these searching for a giant ultrawide particularly constructed for work will discover the U3824DW supplies a wealth of connectivity and performance unavailable from most rivals.