Dell UltraSharp 25 USB-C review: A cut above

The Dell UltraSharp 25 makes a superb first impression. With slim bezels on every side and a smart black-and-grey colour scheme, it’s a fine choice for a front desk.

It continues that impression when you switch it on, with clean whites thanks to its finely tuned electronics. Unusually for a business monitor, each unit comes with its own colour calibration factory report that details its Delta E across 32 tests. Our sample showed a figure of less than one in each test, and we saw almost identical results in our own tests: an average of 0.51 and maximum of 1.19 is superb.

Both Dell’s test and ours were in the sRGB colour space, but switching to DCI-P3 produced equally accurate results. The panel covers 89% of the DCI-P3 gamut compared to 95% of sRGB, which are among the best figures we’ve seen at this price range. A strong contrast ratio of around 1,140:1 adds to the panel’s punch, and there’s DisplayHDR 400 certification for good measure. Although, in day-to-day scenarios, you’re more likely to appreciate the peak brightness of 366cd/m2.

The monitor has numerous attractive features, including a USB-C connection that delivers up to 90W of power – more than enough for most laptops – and the ability to daisy chain a second monitor via a DisplayPort out. With its skinny bezels, and a dual monitor stand such as the Iiyama DS1002C or Dell’s more expensive MDA20 for £311, this would make a fantastic dual-monitor setup.

Dell also provides DisplayPort and HDMI inputs, but the only way to take advantage of the three USB-A ports is to connect over USB-C as there’s no USB-B connector. Two of those USB-A ports sit at the rear, but one conveniently lies on the left along with a handy USB-C port.

Where Dell falls behind some rivals is its dated approach to the OSD, which relies on four awkward and small buttons on the underside of the bottom bezel. Nor is it the easiest to navigate. The base and stand are more up to date, consuming minimal desk space and offering all the flexibility most people need. From its support for pivot mode to the 90° of swivel, Dell’s engineering is top-notch, with smooth movement throughout.

But what really lifts this panel above most of its 24in opposition is not only its extra inch of diagonal but also its higher resolution. A jump to 2,560 x 1,440 from 1,980 x 1,080 fully justifies Dell’s UltraSharp moniker, which lends this panel extra class and helps to justify its high price.

Dell UltraSharp 25 USB-C specifications