Dell UltraSharp UP2720Q: Review, Pros & Cons

Summary

A 27-inch 4K IPS monitor for photographers and designers, with 100% Adobe RGB, 98% DCI-P3 and a built-in pop-up colorimeter. Check availability and your budget first: Dell lists it unavailable new, and the colorimeter scans only the bottom of the panel.

Strengths

Factory color accuracy is strong: PCMag measured post-calibration Delta E of 0.5/0.4/0.6 across sRGB/Adobe/DCI-P3.
Built-in colorimeter calibrates CAL1/CAL2 targets on its own, without external hardware.
Thunderbolt 3 gives video, data and up to 90 W charging over one cable.
Uniformity compensation passed all 25 measured areas in Photography Life’s test.
Full ergonomic adjustment: height, tilt, swivel and pivot, plus a shading hood.

Weaknesses

Brightness is only 250 nits for a professional monitor.
No HDR support; the predecessor UP2718Q had 1000 nits and HDR10.
Colorimeter scans only the bottom of the panel and cannot check uniformity.
CalMAN software is sold separately; DUCCS has been reported buggy.
Some owners report flickering, ghosting or glitching, especially with Mac and Apple Silicon.

Verified specifications

Model	Dell UltraSharp 27 4K PremierColor, UP2720Q (Dell part 210-AVBP, order code up2720qsap, manufacturer part FYF16).
Panel	27-inch IPS, W-LED backlight, 3840x2160, 16:9, 10-bit color (no FRC), 1.07 billion colors.
Pixel pitch	0.1554 mm; 163 ppi.
Brightness	250 cd/m² typical.
Contrast ratio	1300:1 rated (static).
Refresh rate	60 Hz; response time 8 ms (normal), 6 ms (fast) gray-to-gray.
Viewing angles	178/178 degrees.
Color gamut	100% sRGB, 100% Adobe RGB, 98% DCI-P3, 80% BT.2020.
Factory color accuracy	Delta E ≤2 average for DCI-P3, ≤1 average for Adobe RGB (manufacturer); independent tests measured average Delta E 0.27 (IT Pro) and post-calibration 0.4–0.6 for sRGB/Adobe/DCI-P3 (PCMag).
Built-in colorimeter	pop-up from the bottom bezel; hardware calibration to CAL1/CAL2, comprehensive or extended speed, schedulable.
External colorimeter support	yes.
Color modes	DCI-P3, BT.709, BT.2020, sRGB, Adobe RGB (D65/D50), Native, Custom 1–3, CAL1, CAL2.
Uniformity compensation	yes.
Gamma range	1.6–2.6.
HDCP	2.2.
Features	CalMAN Ready, Dell Display Manager, flicker-free, low blue light, picture-in-picture, PremierColor.
VESA mount	100 × 100 mm.
OS support	Windows 7–10, macOS, Ubuntu.
Dimensions	24.1 × 8.3 × 17.1 in (611.9 × 212.0 × 433.4 mm) with stand; 24.1 × 2.0 × 14.8 in (611.9 × 212 × 376.8 mm) without; shipping weight 31.08 lb.
Ergonomics	5.1 in (130 mm) height adjustment; tilt -5/+21 degrees; swivel +/-45 degrees; pivot +/-90 degrees.
Power	120/230 V, 50/60 Hz; 44 W typical, 230 W maximum, 0.5 W standby/sleep.
Cables included	power, HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), USB Type-C to Type-A.
Included accessories	stand riser, stand base, monitor shading hood (landscape only), cables above.
Screen coating	anti-glare 3H hard coating.
Bezel	about 3 mm top and sides, about 6 mm bottom (Photography Life).
Warranty	3 years (Advanced Exchange Service + Premium Panel Guarantee).

Full research notes and sources

Color accuracy and calibration

The monitor ships with factory calibration and the built-in colorimeter can be scheduled to recalibrate CAL1 and CAL2 targets without external hardware. Photography Life found factory calibration within Delta <1, with uniformity compensation passing all 25 measured squares. The colorimeter scans only the bottom part of the panel, so uniformity still needs checking with external tools. CalMAN Ready does not include CalMAN software; that workflow is sold separately, and Dell Calibration Assistant only assists scheduling.

Contrast, brightness and HDR

There is no HDR support; the predecessor UP2718Q offered 1000 nits and HDR10. For color-critical photo work the low brightness and missing HDR are acceptable trade-offs, but not for HDR grading or bright-room use.

Connectivity and ergonomics

One DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0, two Thunderbolt 3 (one upstream with 90 W charging), four USB 3.2 downstream and audio out. Full ergonomic adjustment includes 5.1 in of height, tilt, swivel and pivot, plus a landscape-only shading hood. Ports face downward, so access requires pivoting the monitor.

Reliability and owner reports

Some owners report flickering, strobing or ghosting, including on M1 Mac Studio setups, and a Dell community thread describes sudden glitching after about two years. Apple Silicon users report MacBook units not recognizing native 3840x2160 in daisy-chain setups, and Thunderbolt daisy-chaining hits Mac external-display limits. These are owner reports, not measured failure rates.

Is it worth it?

MSRP was $1,999.99. Dell’s US page lists $1,199.99 but the product is unavailable. PCMag recorded $1,129 during a sale, and StorageReview saw $1,600 at launch. At roughly $1,100–$1,200 the UP2720Q is a strong buy for color-critical work that needs self-calibration. Used or refurbished units are the realistic path now.

Which model this is

This page covers the 2019 Dell UltraSharp 27 4K PremierColor monitor, model UP2720Q, Dell part 210-AVBP. Do not confuse it with the non-PremierColor Dell U2720Q (no built-in colorimeter, different I/O) or the UP2720QA variant. The Amazon listing for this model is ASIN B084FTTMQH. Dell lists the product as currently unavailable on its US site.