Dell's range of UltraSharp monitors includes big names like the U2410, the 2209WA and the 2408WFP, and all of them received our top score of five stars when we tested them.
The new U2211H with its IPS panel is the latest member of the family, and if Dell has taken as much care over it than it did with its ancestors, then we could well have an excellent screen on our hands.
Build Quality and Design: Good, but could be better
One of this monitor's strengths is how flexible the hardware is, with a height-adjustable, rotating stand that can spin the display round to portrait orientation. At the back, there are VGA, DVI and Display Port inputs, and accessories include a four-port USB hub.
Not many manufacturers offer this much, but we're still disappointed that Dell didn't include anything on the audio side of things. There's neither a headphone jack nor a set of built-in speakers. The absence of a HDMI connection—much more common that Display Port—is also a disappointing choice. This would have allowed uses to connect a games console for instance.
Responsiveness: a touch slow for an IPS
The U211H is as responsive as a gaming monitor from two years ago, and while fast moving objects are sharp, this screen can't quite rival a thoroughbred gaming monitor. FPS fans will prefer the 2209WA, or better still, a 120 Hz screen.
It's a real shame that this new monitor isn't as responsive as the 2209WA, because its low input lag is a real strength for multi-player gaming.
Colours: accurate but not perfect
Dell's factory settings offer accurate colours without the need to adjust anything yourself. By accurate, we mean that the U2211H has an average deltaE of under 2.5, well below our limit of 3.0. In practice, there's still a slight blue tinge that well-trained eyes will be able to spot. To solve this problem, you need to choose the 'Custom (RGB)' colour space and turn blue down to 90. Even then, there's a slight tinge of blue, but if go any lower and you'll end up with whites that look pink. Configured like this, the deltaE, which is the average discrepancy between the colours requested by the graphics card and those actually displayed on screen, falls to 1.9. The only way to improve this any further is by using a calibration profile.
Whether you use the profile or not, the U2211H is a great choice for anybody editing photos. The combination of accurate colours and an even display give IPS panels two big strengths for anybody working in the field.
Movies
Although the U2211H keeps blurriness in check, you can't rely on it for upscaling. You should go for a specialist player (either hardware or software) to do the job.
The new U2211H with its IPS panel is the latest member of the family, and if Dell has taken as much care over it than it did with its ancestors, then we could well have an excellent screen on our hands.
Build Quality and Design: Good, but could be better
One of this monitor's strengths is how flexible the hardware is, with a height-adjustable, rotating stand that can spin the display round to portrait orientation. At the back, there are VGA, DVI and Display Port inputs, and accessories include a four-port USB hub.Not many manufacturers offer this much, but we're still disappointed that Dell didn't include anything on the audio side of things. There's neither a headphone jack nor a set of built-in speakers. The absence of a HDMI connection—much more common that Display Port—is also a disappointing choice. This would have allowed uses to connect a games console for instance.
Responsiveness: a touch slow for an IPS
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| Average ghosting over ten frames |
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The U211H is as responsive as a gaming monitor from two years ago, and while fast moving objects are sharp, this screen can't quite rival a thoroughbred gaming monitor. FPS fans will prefer the 2209WA, or better still, a 120 Hz screen.It's a real shame that this new monitor isn't as responsive as the 2209WA, because its low input lag is a real strength for multi-player gaming.
Colours: accurate but not perfect
| Measured Colours |
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| Ideal Colours Compare the Dell U2211H to other LCD monitors in our Product Face-Off |
Dell's factory settings offer accurate colours without the need to adjust anything yourself. By accurate, we mean that the U2211H has an average deltaE of under 2.5, well below our limit of 3.0. In practice, there's still a slight blue tinge that well-trained eyes will be able to spot. To solve this problem, you need to choose the 'Custom (RGB)' colour space and turn blue down to 90. Even then, there's a slight tinge of blue, but if go any lower and you'll end up with whites that look pink. Configured like this, the deltaE, which is the average discrepancy between the colours requested by the graphics card and those actually displayed on screen, falls to 1.9. The only way to improve this any further is by using a calibration profile.Whether you use the profile or not, the U2211H is a great choice for anybody editing photos. The combination of accurate colours and an even display give IPS panels two big strengths for anybody working in the field.
Movies
Although the U2211H keeps blurriness in check, you can't rely on it for upscaling. You should go for a specialist player (either hardware or software) to do the job.
Pros
- Great hardware
- Accurate colours
- Low energy consumption
Cons
- A little slow for FPS gaming
- Narrower viewing angles than most IPS displays
- No HDMI input
Conclusion
The U2211H is very rounded monitor with good performance in a lot of areas. It's an ideal choice for uses who do a little bit of everything.
OUR SCORE
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