Dell S2422HG 24-inch Curved 165 Hz Gaming Monitor Review: Big Fun And Solid Performance On A Budget
If you’re looking for an affordable gaming monitor under $200, FHD resolution is almost a sure bet. But that doesn’t mean you should give up image quality or performance. Dell’s S2422HG is a perfect example of what you can get for this money. It includes a 165 Hz refresh rate, a 24-inch high-contrast VA panel, wide color gamut, and Adaptive-Sync.
It is also slightly curved, which gives it an advantage over flat panels. Albeit subtle, that curve makes for a little more immersion as the image fills the user’s peripheral vision, making the S2422HG compete with the best gaming monitors available.
Dell S2422HG specifications
| Panel type/backlight | VA/W-LED, edge array |
| Screen size/aspect ratio | 24 inches/16:9 |
| Curve radius: 1500mm | |
| Maximum resolution and refresh rate | 1920×1080@165Hz |
| Free Sync: 48-165Hz | |
| G-Sync compatible | |
| Native color depth and color gamut | 8bit(6bit+FRC)/DCI-P3 |
| Response time (GTG) | 4ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 350 nits |
| Contrast (mfr) | 3,000:1 |
| speaker | none |
| video input | 1x DisplayPort 1.2 |
| 2x HDMI 2.0 | |
| audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB | none |
| power consumption | 22.6w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel dimensions WxHxD (including base) | 21 x 14-17.9 x 7.5 inches (533 x 356-455 x 191mm) |
| panel thickness | 3.5 inches (89mm) |
| bezel width | Top/Side: 0.2″ (6mm) |
| Bottom: 0.7 inch (19mm) | |
| weight | 11.1 lbs (5kg) |
| guarantee | 3 years |
Built-in speakers and USB are the only things missing here, but the Dell S2422HG has everything a gamer could want for $170 at the time of this writing. Let’s see.
The S2422HG is a no-frills gaming monitor with smooth, responsive gameplay and rich colors and contrasts that make your images stand out. VA panels are good around 3,000:1. That’s three times the dynamic range of his IPS screen. Despite the FHD resolution, the pixel density is a reasonable 93ppi, enough to keep jagged lines from distracting the view at a two-to-three-foot seating distance.
This is one of the few small FHD panels that offer an extended color gamut. Dell doesn’t mention this in its marketing, instead stating “99% sRGB” as the claimed volume on the side of the box. It’s actually 125% or 88.5% of DCI-P3, a noticeable improvement in color saturation. There is no less important sRGB mode, as most users prefer more color than less, regardless of whether they are viewing SDR or HDR content. The S2422HG doesn’t include HDR, but it does a great job with all his SDR material due to its extremely high contrast ratio.
Gamers can find all the video processing options and enhancements they need to enhance their playing experience. According to my tests, Adaptive-Sync works between 48-165 Hz and the S2422HG is compatible with G-Sync. The Dell S2422HG is not currently certified by Nvidia, but its predecessor, his S2421HGF, is. So it seems likely that new models will be added to the list soon.
Assemblies and accessories for the Dell S2422HG
Dell continues our tradition of recyclable packaging using molded corrugated pulp to protect the S2422HG during transit. Panels, uprights and bases assemble into a lightweight, sturdy package without the need for tools. The power supply is internal so we got the IEC code for that and a DisplayPort cable is also included.
Product 360: Dell S2422HG
image 1 of Four
The Dell S2422HG has a subtle 1500R curve radius, so it’s barely noticeable from the front. There’s no hint of image distortion, just a slight wrap effect. Your mileage will vary, but I’ve played the game on several extremely curved monitors.
From the front, the styling is simple and to the point, with no real visible clues as to the S2422HG’s game intent. At the back is his now-familiar 1970s Cylon-style grille, which draws heat out of the panel’s interior. Also on the back are his four control keys and a joystick for navigating the OSD. The power switch is on the bottom as a white LED. Lights can be turned off to avoid distractions in the dark.
The stand is of very good quality and has a small but stable base. -5/21 degree tilt and 3.9 inch height adjustment. Movement gives the feel of more expensive monitors. It’s the epitome of Dell build quality, lightweight yet robust.
The input panel is basic, two HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.2. All have enough bandwidth to run at 165 Hz with Adaptive-Sync. It also has a 3.5mm audio port. No USB, no built-in speaker, no lighting effects.
OSD Features on Dell S2422HG
The S2422HG’s OSD doesn’t skimp on features like multiple color modes, gaming enhancements, and video processing options.
image 1 of 6
The game menu is displayed first. This is where you spend the most time. Choose from 12 color modes that use the full color gamut of your monitor, covering 125% of sRGB. Three game modes allow you to create separate sets of video processing options. Custom colors, on the other hand, include a 2-point white balance and hue and saturation. It doesn’t have a gamma preset, but I found the luminance tracking to be fine in my testing.
Game Enhance Mode displays a countdown timer, frame rate indicator, and alignment marks to help you accurately attach multiple panels. There are two overdrive speeds in the Response Time submenu and they looked the same in the test patterns I ran. Also included is MPRT, a backlight strobe that replaces Adaptive-Sync. Cuts brightness by about 30%, causing a slight fading effect that was distracting in more detailed games. If you’re in low light and visibility is poor, the Dark Stabilizer will increase the black level to make it easier to spot enemies lurking in the shadows.
The Personalize menu allows users to program three control keys for quick access to monitoring functions. You can also turn off the power LED if you prefer.
Calibration Settings for Dell S2422HG
The Dell S2422HG’s default mode, Normal, provides decent color accuracy and slightly purple grayscale in the brighter stages above 60%. Custom Color is a better choice as it allows you to adjust both gain and offset. I tweaked both to achieve a more accurate and natural image. Gamma performs correctly on the 2.2 baseline. This is good because there is no way to adjust it. Try the following instrument-derived settings to optimize the S2422HG.
| picture mode | custom color |
| Brightness 200 nits | 80 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 48 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 38 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 27 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 11 (minimum 30 nits) |
| contrast | 75 |
| color temperature user | Gain – Red 97, Green 100, Blue 100 |
| Offset – Red 50, Green 49, Blue 50 |
Gaming and hands-on with the Dell S2422HG
The Dell S2422HG proved to be a smooth performer in both slow and fast-paced games.rapid movements such as those required in Doom Eternal Horde mode showed slightly weaker overdrive. Motion resolution was good, but not as good as what I’ve seen on other 165 Hz monitors such as the BenQ EX2510S. The test pattern showed undershoot conditions with thin black outlines tracking moving objects. In most cases, the actual game content does not show black trails, but there is a slight softness when moving quickly. This was partially mitigated by the higher frame rate. I was stuck at 165 fps almost all the time.
Adaptive-Sync worked flawlessly with no frame tearing on both FreeSync and G-Sync platforms. MPRT backlit strobes were less successful at preserving motion resolution due to phase issues typical of most gaming monitors with this feature. Very few displays have been able to beat this, with the Dough Spectrum series being the most notable.
It seems like I’m saying something niche here, but in reality, my gaming experience with the Dell S2422HG was solid. You can’t fault the performance it offers for the money.It has very little input lag and is very responsive. During the most fast-paced battles, I kept my aim precise and precise. Photographically, there are no issues here.
That quality carried over to a job that was easy and comfortable to accomplish. The 24-inch screen has a pixel density of 93ppi, so FHD resolution is not an obstacle. As already mentioned, it contributes to consistently high frame rates in games. The small black text was easy to read against the white background and there were no visible jaggies even when sitting about 3 feet back. Working with detailed photos and videos would reveal them on closer inspection, but for the most part there was no lack of clarity.
Colors proved to be accurate and vibrant when watching videos and viewing stills. All content should use a wide color gamut, but not be extremely oversaturated. More importantly, it’s well-balanced so the monitor just looks more colorful without feeling like it’s too much.Given all the image and video processing attributes of the S2422HG, it’s a display that can do it all well .
more: best gaming monitor
more: How to test your PC monitor
more: How to Buy a PC Monitor: The 2022 Guide
more: How to choose the best HDR monitor
