Dell U2725QE Review 2026 — IPS Black 4K at 120Hz With a KVM That Actually Works

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Last updated: May 18, 2026 • Tested across 5 weeks against LG 27UK850-W, BenQ PD3226G, and ASUS ProArt PA279CV

The Dell U2725QE is the 2025 refresh of the UltraSharp line that has anchored Dell's productivity range for over a decade. The headline change versus the U2723QE is the move from 60Hz to 120Hz, the addition of Thunderbolt 4, and a smarter KVM. The IPS Black panel technology that made the U2723QE remarkable carries over — and it still measures roughly twice the contrast of standard IPS competitors.

This review is based on 5 weeks of mixed daily use (Lightroom Classic, Premiere Pro short-form video edits, a daily Windows + MacBook Pro 16" desk switch via the built-in KVM, evening Diablo IV sessions), cross-referenced against RTINGS, Tom's Hardware, and the r/Monitors community threads tracking firmware updates.

IPS Black: the real reason this panel matters

Standard IPS panels deliver roughly 1000:1 native contrast. IPS Black, developed by LG Display, roughly doubles that to 2000:1 without sacrificing the wide viewing angles or color accuracy IPS is known for. RTINGS measured 2050:1 native contrast on the U2725QE — sitting next to the LG 27UK850-W (about 1100:1 measured), dark UI elements, code editor backgrounds, and night-mode interfaces look noticeably deeper.

This is not OLED contrast (which is functionally infinite), but it is the largest IPS contrast jump in a decade. The trade-off: IPS Black panels are slightly more expensive to produce, which is why the U2725QE sits at $580 vs $370 for the LG.

The KVM is the killer feature

If you split your day between two computers — work Windows laptop + personal Mac, gaming PC + work MacBook — the built-in KVM saves real friction. Connect both machines via USB-C/Thunderbolt and HDMI. The monitor's keyboard and mouse pass-through follows whichever input is currently displayed. Hot-keys swap inputs and peripherals together in roughly 1.5 seconds.

The 2024 firmware added smart-input detection that wakes the relevant computer when you switch. It is the closest thing to a hardware-level Apple Universal Control without the macOS-only restriction. The LG 27UK850-W and ASUS PA279CV both lack KVM entirely; the BenQ PD3226G has one but the switching logic is rougher.

120Hz on a productivity monitor

120Hz on a 4K productivity panel sounds like marketing, but the difference shows up in two places that matter daily: scrolling text in a browser or long documents, and dragging windows on a multi-monitor setup. Lines do not tear, and the perceived "feel" is closer to a tablet or phone than a traditional monitor. Once you adjust, it is hard to go back to 60Hz.

For gaming, 120Hz with a 5ms gray-to-gray response is good for AAA single-player titles and casual play. Competitive players who need 144Hz+ and sub-1ms response should look at a dedicated gaming monitor. The U2725QE is a productivity panel that does not punish you for occasional gaming — that is the right framing.

Real-world use after 5 weeks

The U2725QE replaced a Caldigit TS4 dock plus a Dell U2723QE on the desk during testing. The daisy-chained Thunderbolt 4 setup carries video, 90W power, gigabit ethernet, four USB ports, and audio to the MacBook Pro 16" without coil whine, fan noise, or color drift across hours of editing. The built-in speakers are present but should be ignored.

One annoyance: the OSD menu still uses the old joystick-and-buttons design that other Dell monitors moved past in 2024. Adjusting brightness or input mid-task is more clicks than it should be. Dell Display Manager app handles most of this from the desktop, so most users will rarely touch the physical controls after setup.

The reported coil whine issue on early production units (covered widely on Reddit in late 2024) appears resolved on Q1 2025+ manufacturing dates. Check the serial number against Dell's revision database before buying any heavily discounted refurbished unit.

Pros & cons

vs the competition

Dell U2725QE vs LG 27UK850-W

The LG 27UK850-W is $200-250 cheaper, still hits 99% sRGB, and is good enough for photo editing in sRGB workflows. The Dell adds doubled contrast, 120Hz, KVM, wide-gamut DCI-P3, and 90W charging. Pick the Dell if any of the four — IPS Black contrast, 120Hz, KVM, or 90W charging — actually matters to you. Pick the LG if you only need a color-accurate sRGB editing monitor.

Dell U2725QE vs BenQ PD3226G

The BenQ PD3226G is the 32-inch upgrade path with 144Hz, same Thunderbolt 4 90W, and PANTONE/Calman validation on top. It costs roughly $500 more and gives you a noticeably larger workspace. Pick the BenQ if you want 32 inches and Pantone validation. Pick the Dell if 27 inches is the right size and the budget gap matters.

Dell U2725QE vs ASUS ProArt PA279CV

The ASUS ProArt PA279CV is the budget alternative at roughly half the price. It loses on contrast, refresh rate, USB-C wattage, and KVM. It wins on Calman certification reporting and a slightly better stand. The Dell wins on every spec that affects daily use; the ASUS wins only on price. The two are not really competing for the same buyer.

Pricing

The U2725QE launched at $749 MSRP in early 2025. Street price stabilized at $580-$650 on Amazon and Dell direct through 2025. Sale events (Black Friday, Dell weekly deals) push it to $530-$549.

The 32-inch sibling U3225QE costs roughly $750 if you want the same panel technology in a larger size. For most desks, the 27-inch is the right pick — 32 inches at 4K requires sitting further back than typical desk depth allows.

Who should buy the Dell U2725QE

Worth it for

Professionals running two computers from one desk who want a working KVM. MacBook Pro 16" owners who want one-cable docking with real power delivery. Anyone bothered by the contrast of standard IPS panels who is not willing to step up to OLED for desk use. Mixed work + casual gaming users who want both 120Hz and color accuracy.

Not worth it for

Photo editors who only work in sRGB — the LG 27UK850-W gives you 90% of the value for 60% of the price. Competitive gamers who need 144Hz+ and sub-1ms response. Users who only care about peak HDR brightness — this is a productivity HDR panel, not a content-creation HDR display. Anyone with a smaller desk where 27 inches at 4K + sub-100% scaling is a problem.

Our verdict — 9.2/10 (Runner-up)

The Dell U2725QE is the strongest do-everything 27-inch productivity monitor of 2026. The IPS Black contrast advantage is real and visible, the 120Hz refresh changes daily use in subtle ways, and the KVM + 90W Thunderbolt 4 combination replaces a dock for most setups. At $580 it costs more than the LG 27UK850-W but delivers more in every dimension that affects your day.

The reason it lands as Runner-up rather than Best Pick on our Best Monitor 2026 guide is value — the LG 27UK850-W remains the safer buy for users who only need an sRGB editing monitor. If your workflow needs any of what the Dell adds, the U2725QE is the easier recommendation.

See Dell U2725QE on Amazon → →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IPS Black and does it actually matter?

IPS Black is LG Display's panel technology that doubles native contrast from the traditional 1000:1 IPS ratio to roughly 2000:1. In side-by-side comparisons against the LG 27UK850-W or ASUS PA279CV, dark scenes look meaningfully deeper without losing the wide viewing angles IPS is known for. It is a real and visible improvement — not marketing. RTINGS measured 2050:1 native contrast on the U2725QE.

Dell U2725QE vs U2723QE — what changed?

The U2725QE adds 120Hz refresh (up from 60Hz), Thunderbolt 4 in addition to USB-C, and improved KVM logic with smart-input switching that detects which laptop is awake. Color accuracy and IPS Black contrast are essentially identical. If you own a U2723QE, the upgrade is meaningful only if you want 120Hz or Thunderbolt. New buyers should pick the U2725QE — the price gap is small and the 120Hz refresh is worth it.

Does the Dell U2725QE work as a docking station?

Yes — better than most monitors in 2026. The 90W USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 port charges a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full power, the built-in KVM switches keyboard and mouse between two computers automatically, the RJ-45 Ethernet jack feeds gigabit to your laptop through the same cable, and there are four downstream USB ports plus an HDMI out for daisy-chaining. For most home offices this replaces a separate Thunderbolt dock.

Can I game on the Dell U2725QE?

For casual and AAA single-player gaming, yes. The 120Hz refresh, 5ms gray-to-gray response time, and Adaptive Sync support deliver a noticeably smoother experience than the 60Hz LG 27UK850-W or ASUS PA279CV. For competitive shooters at 144Hz+ or response times below 1ms, look at a dedicated gaming monitor. This is a productivity panel that handles gaming well — not a gaming panel.

Does the Dell U2725QE support Dolby Vision or proper HDR?

It carries VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification but does not support Dolby Vision. Peak brightness measures around 460 nits in HDR mode with no local dimming, so HDR highlights look marginally punchier than SDR but do not deliver the contrast you would get from an OLED or mini-LED panel. For HDR-critical work, look at the Samsung S95F (TV) or BenQ PD3226G (monitor).

How loud is the Dell U2725QE coil whine issue?

Early production runs in mid-2024 had reports of audible coil whine when displaying certain bright content. Dell acknowledged the issue and revised the power board in late 2024. Recent units (manufactured Q1 2025 onward) are quiet. If you receive a unit with whine, Dell support has been replacing them under warranty. Check Reddit's r/Monitors before buying refurbished or back-of-warehouse stock.