Dell Debuts First 120 Hz IPS Black Monitors

Dell UltraSharp U2724D and U2724DE
(Image credit: Dell / TFT Central)

Dell has announced a pair of new 27-inch monitors coming to its businesslike UltraSharp family. But these new cleanly styled monitors, the UltraSharp U2724D and U2724DE, also have a gamer-pleasing trick up their sleeves: they're the first monitors we know of featuring IPS Black display panels that run at 120 Hz refresh rates.

IPS Black display panels are actually made by Korea’s LG and were originally announced during CES 2022. As the name implies, the refined IPS technology offers deeper black reproduction, touted to be “a 35% deeper black than existing IPS products, doubling the contrast ratio.” Putting some numbers to that assertion, a typical IPS monitor contrast ratio would be approximately 1000:1, but IPS Black panels can do 2000:1. Moreover, LG says that IPS Black also offers improved viewing angles and bolsters color volume in low-gradation areas.

Dell's first monitors featuring IPS Black display panel technology were the 4K UltraSharp models, which come in 27- and 32-inch sizes. More recently, the company released the pixel-dense Dell UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor

While the first IPS Black monitors were limited to 60 Hz maximum refresh rates, the new 27-inch U2724D and U2724DE can run at up to 120 Hz. These newest IPS Black monitors have turned down the resolution, however — these aren’t 4K panels but are 1440p designs.

Here are the key specs of the new Dell UltraSharp U2724D and U2724DE:

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Spec

Dell UltraSharp U2724D/DE

Display size

27-inch diagonal

Panel

IPS Black WLED with wide viewing angles

Resolution

2560 x 1440 pixels (16:9)

Contrast

2000:1

Brightness

350 nits, ambient light adjustment

Color

1.07B colors, 98% DCI-P3, dE <2

Refresh / Response

48 – 120 Hz / 5 ms GtG

Stand

Swivel, tilt and height adjustments

As productivity-focused monitors, Dell highlights the “5-star Eye Comfort” delivered by the combination of the above qualities (like contrast, refresh rate, and ambient light management). There are also the familiar low blue light and flicker-free features present. These monitors also offer PbP and PiP functionality when using multiple video sources. No gaming features are mentioned, and support for VRR technology isn’t specified.

(Image credit: Dell / TFT Central)

Both the UltraSharp U2724D and U2724DE have the same specs, and vary solely by the connectivity they offer (and MSRP, of course). Dell’s UltraSharp U2724D offers 1x DisplayPort 1.4 input, 1 DP out, 1x HDMI in, 1x audio out, 1x USB type-C data connection with 15W PD, and a USB hub with 1x USB-C upstream for 3x USB connectors. Those wishing for enhanced connectivity may be attracted to the U2724DE model. The extra 'E' means that this monitor has an extra Thunderbolt 3 port, which offers DP Alt mode and 15W power delivery, as well as an Ethernet port and KVM functionality.

The Dell UltraSharp U2724D and U2724DE will be priced at $479 and $649, respectively. They're not out yet, but if you're looking for a monitor today you can check out our list of best monitors.

Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • Zaranthos
    I want the 16:10 aspect ratio version. I have the Dell U2412M and it has been my all time favorite display. But the technology has improved since I got it.
    Reply
  • oofdragon
    Mixed feelings about this... even if it had freesync I don't think it's worth paying double for it against a usual IpS monitor, maybe 50% would be ok. Without freesync it's definetly a nop. We have now OLEDS at 240hz and infinite contrast with freesync for around $800, those black ops are not worth more than $350
    Reply
  • brandonjclark
    Zaranthos said:
    I want the 16:10 aspect ratio version. I have the Dell U2412M and it has been my all time favorite display. But the technology has improved since I got it.
    You and I are in the same boat. Let's pick out curtains!
    Reply
  • BillyBuerger
    Zaranthos said:
    I want the 16:10 aspect ratio version. I have the Dell U2412M and it has been my all time favorite display. But the technology has improved since I got it.
    We picked up some U2421E monitors at my job in the last few years. They're really nice and one, if not the only 16:10 monitor Dell still sells. Would be great if they did a 27" 4K (3840x2400) 16:10 monitor. It's weird that laptops finally moved to 16:10 in the last few years but desktop monitors seem to have doubled down on 16:9.
    Reply
  • Neilbob
    BillyBuerger said:
    It's weird that laptops finally moved to 16:10 in the last few years but desktop monitors seem to have doubled down on 16:9.
    I keep my fingers crossed that 4:3 might one day make a comeback. I want my lovely old verticality!

    I miss the old 2048x1536 CRT I once had an age ago. It weighed about a ton and I almost did my back in moving it but darn, it was one of the best monitors I ever had.
    Reply
  • Lucky_SLS
    5ms GtG :(
    Reply
  • BillyBuerger
    Neilbob said:
    I keep my fingers crossed that 4:3 might one day make a comeback. I want my lovely old verticality!

    I miss the old 2048x1536 CRT I once had an age ago. It weighed about a ton and I almost did my back in moving it but darn, it was one of the best monitors I ever had.

    4:3 vertical does make for a nice vertical/portrait display. I have an old 19" 1024x1280 LCD vertical at work next to my 24" 1920x1200 monitors. Works great for things like teams/messaging and to have videos or something playing off to the side. Being an old IPS LCD, it's a bit washed out compared to my newer monitors that look much nicer. I picked up an EIZO Radiforce 22" 1536x2048 monitor for a decent price a while ago. It's larger than I was thinking so I didn't use it as is. I've been meaning to mod the case to try to make it a little more reasonable in the space it takes up. But as usual that hasn't happened. But it looks really nice and is made to be crazy bright. Would be great to use that for some coding development.
    Reply
  • charliey26
    I actually prefer IPS monitors to OLED (my LG 27" OLED has blurry text that often makes me squint), but still. For gamers, this makes no sense as you can buy an OLED for not so much more. For offices, they will not even consider this because its not cost effective compared to standard IPS screens. For creators, it's far too low-res. Only way I'd see this as worth it is if it was 16:10. Or scrap the E model and add all its functionality to the U2724D at the same lower pricepoint.
    Reply