Introduction
The Dell UltraSharp range has been one of the most
popular ranges of displays for over 10 years now. Dell seem to update their
models and add new options to the range every year or two and we've reached the
time where they've decided to refresh most of their popular models. We have with
us now the U2417HJ, the replacement to the very popular
U2414H from 2013/14. This screen is 23.8" in size like its predecessor, with the
H signifying it is 16:9 aspect ratio - offering a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Much
of the design, spec and feature set remains quite similar to the older model,
but we will make comparisons with the U2414H throughout the course of the review.
It's worth noting that there are actually 3 different
versions of the new U2417H display, all slightly different in terms of features and
extras, and with slightly differences with the underlying panel. All 3 versions
technically replace the U2414H screen, but there are a few differences you
should be aware of before making a decision. As well as this review of the HJ
model, we will also shortly be reviewing the U2417H, which will cover the H and
HA model performance.
The three slightly
different versions of the U2417H are:
U2417HJ - This is the model sent to us
first of all
for testing and what this review is based on. It is the most similar in design
to the old U2414H. It has the same video inputs as the U2414H, including DP,
Mini DP and 2x HDMI. The main difference on the new U2417HJ is that it has a wireless charging
function built in to the stand for Qi/PMA compliant devices. The stand is the
same design we've seen from previous UltraSharp models including the previous
U2414H from a couple of years ago. It has a light silver colour used for the
stand and base, and an elongated cable tidy hole in the back. The only difference with the stand is the integrated
wireless charging point and small LED charging light (see later pictures in this
review).
The screens bezel dimensions and appearance are
very similar to the old U2414H. The back of the screen is a matte black colour entirely
like the U2414H was. There are 4 USB 3.0 ports on this model, 3 on the underside
with the other connections, and one on the back (visible in the lower right area
above) which also has charging capabilities, again the same as the U2414H. Even
the OSD menu
is identical and has not been updated with any new options. Dell have forgotten
to update the model name in the OSD software so it still reads 'U2414H' in fact.
The underlying
panel has been changed though compared with the old U2414H, moving from an
LG.Display IPS panel to a Samsung PLS equivalent. So the main changes from the
U2414H are the different underlying panel, and the charging function built in to
the stand.
U2417H - the "normal" U2417H is
more different to the old U2414H. It has a four-side zero-bezel design,
minimising the size of the lower bezel from the U2414H and U2417HJ models. It
has a two colour toned back as shown in the pictures here (silver and black).
The front of the stand and the base is also a darker silver colour like we had
seen on the
Dell S2716DG recently, with a circular cable tidy hole in the back as shown
above. There are 2x USB 3.0 ports located on the left hand edge of the screen at
the bottom too (not on the HJ) for easy access, although there are still only 4
in total.
This H model is
missing one HDMI connection and the wireless charging function compared with the
HJ. It does have an updated OSD software though, including an additional response time setting in the
OSD menu. The HJ model doesn't have a response time setting in the OSD menu
although we've
seen in the past that actually the 'normal' setting tends to be optimal anyway
on models with an additional 'fast' option, so this extra setting probably isn't
even missed on the HJ model. The underlying panel is slightly different to the
HJ model. Again Dell have moved away from an LG.Display IPS panel from the
U2414H and to a Samsung PLS equivalent. It is a different revision in the H
model (LTM238HL04) compared with the HJ (LTM238HL01). We will review the H model
separately and make comparisons of the performance between that and the U2414H /
U2417HJ displays.
U2417HA - this model is basically the same
as the
U2417H, with the same underlying panel, four side zero-frame design, two coloured back, 2x USB ports on the left hand edge,
additional response time setting in the OSD menu and one less HDMI connection
than the U2417HJ model. The difference between this and the normal U2417H is
that rather than a monitor stand, it is provided with a mounting arm as shown in
the above pictures.
Dell U2417HJ Now Available
Specifications and Features
The following table gives detailed information
about the specs of the screen:
Monitor
Specifications |
Size |
23.8"WS (60.47 cm) |
Panel Coating |
Light AG coating |
Aspect Ratio |
16:9 |
Interfaces |
1x DisplayPort
(version 1.2a), 1x Mini DP, 2x HDMI (MHL), 1x DisplayPort out
|
Resolution |
1920 x 1080 |
Pixel Pitch |
0.2745 mm |
Design
colour |
Matte black bezel with silver stand and base |
Response Time |
8ms G2G |
Ergonomics |
Tilt, height, swivel and rotate |
Static Contrast Ratio |
1000:1 |
Dynamic Contrast Ratio |
2 million:1 |
VESA Compatible |
Yes 100mm |
Brightness |
250 cd/m2 |
Accessories |
Power cable, DisplayPort > Mini DP cable, USB
cable, charging power cable |
Viewing Angles |
178 / 178 |
Panel Technology |
Samsung PLS (IPS-type) |
Weight |
panel only: 3.56 Kg |
Backlight Technology |
W-LED |
Physical Dimensions |
(WxHxD)
539.1 x 415.2 - 505.2 x 201.0 mm |
Colour Depth |
16.7m |
Refresh Rate |
60Hz |
Special
Features |
4x
USB 3.0 ports, wireless device charging stand (Qi/PMA compliant), Factory
calibration and report, 1x audio output |
Colour Gamut |
Standard gamut
96% sRGB, ~72% NTSC |
The U2417HJ offers a very good range of connectivity
options with DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort and 2x HDMI (MHL supported)
connections offered. There is also a DisplayPort output for Daisy Chaining
support. The digital interfaces are HDCP certified for encrypted content and the
video cables are provided in the box for DisplayPort > Mini DP only. It's worth
noting that the normal U2417H and U2417HA models offer the same video
connections, minus one of the HDMI inputs.
The screen has an internal power supply and comes
packaged with the power cable you need. There are also 3x USB 3.0 ports located
on the underside of the screen with the video connections and 1x port on the
back of the screen, which also has charging capabilities. On the normal U2417H
and U2417HA models there are 2x USB ports on the underside, and 2x on the left
hand edge of the screen instead.
Below is a summary of the features and connections
of the screen:
Feature |
Yes / No |
Feature |
Yes / No |
Tilt adjust |
|
DVI |
|
Height adjust |
|
HDMI |
|
Swivel adjust |
|
D-sub |
|
Rotate adjust |
|
DisplayPort |
|
VESA compliant |
|
Component |
|
USB 2.0 Ports |
|
Audio connection |
|
USB 3.0 Ports |
|
HDCP Support |
|
Card Reader |
|
MHL Support |
|
Ambient Light Sensor |
|
Integrated Speakers |
|
Human Motion Sensor |
|
PiP / PbP |
|
Touch Screen |
|
Blur Reduction Mode |
|
Factory Calibration |
|
G-Sync |
|
Hardware calibration |
|
FreeSync |
|
Uniformity correction |
|
Wireless charging |
|
Design and Ergonomics
Above: front view of the screen
The U2417HJ is part of Dell's 'zero frame'
designed UltraSharp range. There is a thin bezel around all the edges
giving it a sleek and sharp design, ideal also for multi-screen set ups.
Around the sides and top of the screen is a very thin 1.5mm plastic edge,
and then a 4mm inner panel border before the image starts (total of 5.5mm
black edges around the sides and top). Along the bottom edge of the screen
is a matte black bezel measuring ~15mm. There is a shiny silver Dell logo
in the middle of this bottom bezel, and in the right hand corner are the
touch sensitive OSD control buttons and power button. It should be noted
that the design is very similar to the U2414H which was also a zero-frame
screen. The U2417H and U2417HA models move to an even smaller four-side
zero-frame design as well, minimising the lower bezel as well.
Above:
front and back views. Click for larger versions
The stand and base are finished in a light silver
colour as shown, while the back of the screen is a matte black plastic
enclosure. There is a cable tidy hole in the back of the stand as you can
see from the above images. Front and back, it looks pretty much identical
to the old U2414H incidentally.
Above: the
wireless charging feature built in to the stand
The HJ model features an integrated wireless
charging point in the base as indicated above and talked about in more
detail in the introduction section of this review. We liked this as a
feature and no doubt this will become increasingly useful in the coming
years as more and more phones switch to this technology. A cool new
feature we would like to see more often.
Above: full
tilt range shown. Click for larger versions
The screen offers a full range of ergonomic
adjustments. Tilt is smooth to move but a little stiff. It offers a good
adjustment range as shown above.
Above: full
height adjustment range shown. Click for larger versions
Height adjustment is also available with
smooth movement which is a little easier to re-position than tilt. At the
lowest setting the bottom edge of the screen is ~95mm from the top of the
desk, and at maximum extension it is ~180mm. This gives a total adjustment
range of ~85mm which is fairly modest but adequate.
Side to side swivel is smooth but fairly
stiff, sometimes resulting in the whole screen and base moving instead of
just the screen shifting side to side and the base remaining stationary.
Rotation is also offered but is stiff to use, although at least fairly
useable on a screen this size. Overall the screen remained stable on the
desk with no wobbling.
A summary of the screens ergonomic adjustments
is shown below:
Function |
Range |
Smoothness |
Ease of Use |
Tilt |
Yes |
Smooth |
A little stiff |
Height |
85mm |
Smooth |
Easy |
Swivel |
Yes |
Smooth |
Moderately stiff |
Rotate |
Yes |
Quite Smooth |
Stiff |
Overall |
Good range of adjustments and
easy enough to use overall. |
The materials were of a good standard and the
build quality felt good as well. There was no audible noise from the screen,
even when conducting specific tests which can often identify buzzing issues.
The whole screen remained cool even during prolonged use as well which
was pleasing.
Above:
interface connections. Click for larger version
The back of the screen features the interface
connections as shown above. There are (from left to right) the power
connection, DisplayPort in, Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort out, 2x HDMI (MHL),
audio out, USB upstream and 3x USB downstream. To the right you can also see
the additional USB port (with charging capabilities) in the back of the screen
for easier access. It's not as easy as when they are located on the side of
the screen like they are on the U2417H and U2417HA models, but still a bit
easier to get to than those underneath. The lack of DVI or VGA connections may
be limiting for some older systems, but most modern devices and graphics cards
should be offering HDMI or DisplayPort nowadays.
OSD Menu
Above: OSD control buttons on the bottom right hand corner. Click for larger
version
The OSD menu is controlled from a series of 4
touch-sensitive buttons on the lower right hand edge of the front bezel. There
are 4 small grey circles on the front bezel to mark where the controls are.
There is also a
touch-sensitive power button which has a small rectangular LED beneath it which
glows white during operation and pulsates on and off (white) during standby.
Pressing any of the four buttons pops up a quick access menu as shown above. There are quick access
options to get to the preset modes and the brightness/contrast controls by
default. Note that we've actually changed the preset quick launch in the photo
above to instead offer access to the input selection. These can be customised
within the main OSD menu if you would prefer quick access to other settings as
well.
As an example of what the quick launch option
looks like when selected,
the brightness and contrast quick access menu is
shown above.
The main OSD menu is split into 8 sections down
the left hand side as shown above. We spotted an error on Dell's part here, as
the model name says U2414H here at the top left, even though it is the updated U2417HJ model! On
the U2417HJ at least, they've used the exact same OSD software and forgotten to
update the model name at the top. We have confirmed that Dell will have updated the software
properly on the U2417H / HA versions though. Anyway, because of this error we can shamelessly use the images from
the previous U2414H review as nothing has changed!
In the top right hand corner is Dell's "energy
use" bar which gives you an idea of your power consumption. You can scroll down
the left hand menu sections and the options available within each section are
then shown on the right.
The input source section allows you to switch
between the video inputs as shown above.
The 'color settings' section allows you to access
the preset modes and make a few other alterations relating to colour control.
The preset mode options are shown above as well for reference.
The 'Display settings' section allows you to
control a few advanced features. There is access to the hardware aspect ratio
control settings (16:9, 4:3 and 5:4 modes available) and the
Dynamic Contrast Ratio as well, if you're in a suitable preset where it is
available.
The other sections shown above are pretty self
explanatory. All in all the menu was fast and easy to use. Navigation felt
simple and intuitive and the touch-sensitive controls worked well. No complaints here.
Power Consumption
In terms of power consumption the manufacturer
lists typical usage of 16.0W and <0.5W in standby mode. We carried out our normal tests to
establish its power consumption ourselves.
|
State and Brightness
Setting |
Manufacturer Spec (W) |
Measured Power Usage
(W) |
Default (75%) |
16.0 |
20.4 |
Calibrated (30%) |
- |
13.0 |
Maximum Brightness (100%) |
74.0 |
22.0 |
Minimum Brightness (0%) |
- |
9.2 |
Standby |
<0.5 |
1.1 |
|
We tested this ourselves and found that out of the
box the screen used 20.4W at the default 75% brightness setting. At 100%
brightness this increased a little to 22.0W. Additional
power draw in the spec is related to having USB and SoundBar devices connected. Once calibrated the screen reached
13.0W consumption, and in standby it
used only 1.1W. We have plotted these results below compared with other screens
we have tested. The consumption is comparable actually to the previous
U2414H
model as you might expect and a little less than the bigger sized screens and
those with wide gamut LED backlights like the
Dell U2413 and
U2713H.
Panel and Backlighting
Panel Manufacturer |
Samsung |
Colour Palette |
16.7 million |
Panel Technology |
PLS (IPS-type) |
Colour Depth |
6-bit+ FRC |
Panel Module |
LTM238HL01 |
Colour space |
Standard gamut |
Backlighting Type |
W-LED |
Colour space coverage (%) |
96% sRGB, ~72% NTSC |
Panel Part and Colour Depth
The Dell U2417HJ features a
Samsung LTM238HL01 PLS (IPS-type) technology panel which is capable of producing 16.7 million colours.
This is achieved through a 6-bit+FRC colour depth as with most modern IPS-type
panels of this size range. It should be noted that this is a move away from
LG.Display for Dell as the old
U2414H model featured an LG.Display IPS panel
instead. They've moved this time to a Samsung PLS (IPS-type) panel with borderless
design. Note that the panel is slightly different in the U2417H / HA models as
it's the LTM238HL04 panel from Samsung. See the U2417H review for testing of
that version.
A note about PLS technology. This is Samsung's
answer to LG.Display's very popular, and long-established IPS (In Plane
Switching) technology. Testing of this technology has revealed that it is for
all intents and purposes the same as IPS. Performance characteristics, features
and specs are all pretty much identical. Samsung weren't allowed to simply call
their technology IPS due to trademark issues, which is why they adopted their
own new name of PLS. AU Optronics are the same with their AHVA panel tech, which
is another IPS-clone. You will see pretty much all monitor manufacturers now
simply use the term IPS, since it is so well known in the market, but underneath
they may be using an IPS version from LG.Display, AU Optronics or Samsung
potentially. People should not get concerned with the semantics here, which is
why we will continually refer to this as an "IPS-type" panel throughout the
review.
The panel part is confirmed when accessing the service menu as shown
below.
Screen
Coating
The
screen coating is a light anti-glare (AG) offering. It isn't a semi-glossy
coating, but it is light as seen on other modern IPS type panels. Thankfully it
isn't a heavily grainy coating like some old IPS panels feature and is also
lighter than modern TN Film panel coating. It retains its anti-glare properties
to avoid too many unwanted reflections of a full glossy coating, but does not
produce an too grainy or dirty an image that some thicker AG coatings can. No
cross-hatching patterns were visible on the coating at all. The coating remains
unchanged compared with the old U2414H model.
Backlight Type and Colour Gamut
The screen uses a White-LED (W-LED) backlight unit
which is standard in today's market. This helps reduce power consumption
compared with older CCFL backlight units and brings about some environmental
benefits as well. The W-LED unit offers a standard colour gamut which is
approximately equal to the sRGB colour space. Dell quote 96% coverage in their
spec. Anyone wanting to work with wider colour spaces would need to consider
wide gamut CCFL screens or the newer range of GB-r-LED type (and similar)
displays available now. If you want to read more about colour spaces and gamut
then please have a read of our
detailed article.
Backlight
Dimming and Flicker
We tested the screen to establish the methods used
to control backlight dimming. Our in depth article talks in more details about a
common method used for this which is called
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). This in itself gives cause for concern to some
users who have experienced eye strain, headaches and other symptoms as a result
of the flickering backlight caused by this technology. We use a photosensor +
oscilloscope system to measure backlight dimming control
with a high level of accuracy and ease. These tests allow us to establish
1) Whether PWM is being used to control the
backlight
2) The frequency and other characteristics at which this operates, if it is used
3) Whether a flicker may be introduced or potentially noticeable at certain
settings
If PWM is used for backlight dimming, the higher
the frequency, the less likely you are to see artefacts and flicker. The duty
cycle (the time for which the backlight is on) is also important and the shorter
the duty cycle, the more potential there is that you may see flicker. The other
factor which can influence flicker is the amplitude of the PWM, measuring the
difference in brightness output between the 'on' and 'off' states. Please
remember that not every user would notice a flicker from a backlight using PWM,
but it is something to be wary of. It is also a hard thing to quantify as it is
very subjective when talking about whether a user may or may not experience the
side effects.
100% 50%
0%
Above scale = 1
horizontal grid = 5ms
At 100% brightness a constant voltage is applied
to the backlight. As you reduce the brightness setting to dim the backlight a
Direct Current (DC) method is used, as opposed to any form of PWM. This applies
to all brightness settings from 100% down to 0%. The screen is flicker free as a
result which is excellent news (as was the U2414H before it).
Pulse Width
Modulation Used |
No |
Cycling
Frequency |
n/a |
Possible
Flicker at |
|
100% Brightness |
No |
50% Brightness |
No |
0% Brightness |
No |
For an up to date list of all flicker-free (PWM free) monitors please see our
Flicker Free Monitor Database.
Contrast
Stability and Brightness
We wanted to see how much variance there was in
the screens contrast as we adjusted the monitor setting for brightness.
In theory, brightness and contrast are two independent parameters, and good
contrast is a requirement regardless of the brightness adjustment.
Unfortunately, such is not always the case in practice. We recorded the
screens luminance and black depth at various OSD brightness settings, and
calculated the contrast ratio from there. Graphics card settings were left at
default with no ICC profile or calibration active. Tests were made using an
X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter. It should be noted that we used the
BasICColor calibration software here to record these, and so luminance at
default settings may vary a little from the LaCie Blue Eye Pro report.
OSD
Brightness |
Luminance
(cd/m2) |
Black
Point (cd/m2) |
Contrast
Ratio
( x:1) |
100 |
239.51 |
0.21 |
1141 |
90 |
202.89 |
0.18 |
1127 |
80 |
165.63 |
0.15 |
1104 |
70 |
138.43 |
0.12 |
1154 |
60 |
124.10 |
0.11 |
1128 |
50 |
108.51 |
0.10 |
1085 |
40 |
93.71 |
0.08 |
1171 |
30 |
77.59 |
0.07 |
1108 |
20 |
62.15 |
0.05 |
1243 |
10 |
45.46 |
0.04 |
1136 |
0 |
29.66 |
0.03 |
989 |
Total Luminance Adjustment Range
(cd/m2) |
209.85 |
Brightness OSD setting controls backlight? |
|
Total Black Point
Adjustment Range (cd/m2) |
0.18 |
Average Static Contrast Ratio |
1126:1 |
PWM Free? |
|
Recommended OSD setting
for 120 cd/m2 |
57 |
We conducted these tests in the default 'standard'
preset mode. The brightness control gave us a very good range of adjustment. At
the top end the maximum luminance reached 240
cd/m2 which was
only a tad lower than the specified maximum brightness of 250 cd/m2
from the manufacturer. There was a decent 210 cd/m2 adjustment range
in total, and so at the minimum setting you could reach down to a low luminance
of 30 cd/m2. This should be more than adequate for those wanting to
work in darkened room conditions with low ambient light. A setting of 57 in the OSD menu should return you a
luminance of around 120 cd/m2 at default settings in this preset mode
(standard).
It should be noted that the
brightness regulation is controlled without the need for
Pulse Width Modulation, using a Direct Current (DC) method for all
brightness settings between 100 and 0% and so the screen is flicker free.
We have plotted the
luminance trend on the graph above. The screen behaves as it should in this
regard, with a reduction in the luminance output of the screen controlled by the
reduction in the OSD brightness setting. This is not linear relationship as you
can see, with the adjustments between 100 and 70 controlling a slightly steeper
luminance range.
The average contrast ratio of
the screen was excellent for an IPS panel at 1126:1. This was fairly stable
across the brightness adjustment range as shown above with some fluctuation at
the lower brightness adjustment end below 50%.
Testing
Methodology
An
important thing to consider for most users is how a screen will perform out of
the box and with some basic manual adjustments. Since most users won't have
access to hardware colorimeter tools, it is important to understand how the
screen is going to perform in terms of colour accuracy for the average user.
We restored our graphics card to default settings
and disabled any previously active ICC profiles and gamma corrections. The
screen was tested at default factory settings using our new
X-rite i1
Pro 2 Spectrophotometer combined with
LaCie's Blue Eye Pro software suite. An X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter was
also used to verify the black point and contrast ratio since the i1 Pro 2
spectrophotometer is less
reliable at the darker end.
Targets for these tests are as follows:
-
CIE Diagram - validates the colour space
covered by the monitors backlighting in a 2D view, with the black triangle representing the
displays gamut, and other reference colour spaces shown for comparison
-
Gamma - we aim for 2.2 which is the default
for computer monitors
-
Colour temperature / white point - we aim
for 6500k which is the temperature of daylight
-
Luminance - we aim for 120
cd/m2, which is
the recommended luminance for LCD monitors in normal lighting conditions
-
Black depth - we aim
for as low as possible to maximise shadow detail and to offer us the best
contrast ratio
-
Contrast ratio - we aim
for as high as possible. Any dynamic contrast ratio controls are turned off here
if present
-
dE average / maximum -
as low as possible.
If DeltaE >3, the color displayed is significantly different from the
theoretical one, meaning that the difference will be perceptible to the
viewer.
If DeltaE <2, LaCie considers the calibration a success; there remains a
slight difference, but it is barely undetectable.
If DeltaE < 1, the color fidelity is excellent.
A word of warning before we start. Oddly we found that the U2417HJ seemed to
make our NVIDIA graphics card default back to a limited RGB range when it was
initially connected. The screen didn't quite look right, showing particularly
weak blacks and contrast ratio, which is a dead giveaway that it had switched
to a limited RGB setting. That is sometimes the case when connecting via HDMI,
where the graphics card thinks you are connecting an LCD TV instead, which
typically operates in that limited range. We had connected here using
DisplayPort > Mini DP though. It's very easy to change, but we would just
recommend double checking your graphics card settings when you first connect
the screen to make sure it hasn't changed to limited RGB range.
Default Performance and
Setup
Default settings of the screen were as follows:
Monitor OSD Option |
Default Settings |
Preset Picture Mode |
Standard |
Brightness |
75 |
Contrast |
75 |
RGB |
n/a |
Dell U2417HJ - Default Settings, Standard mode
|
Default Settings |
luminance (cd/m2) |
166 |
Black Point (cd/m2) |
0.145 |
Contrast Ratio |
1141:1 |
Initially out of the box the screen was set in the
default standard preset mode. Despite the high 75% brightness setting out of the
box the screen didn't look overly bright which is quite unusual, and you don't
need to lower it much to get a comfortable setting for every day use. You could
tell the screen was using a standard gamut backlight as well with the naked eye,
and the image felt a little warm.
We went
ahead and measured the default state with the i1 Pro. The
CIE diagram on the left of the image confirms that the monitors colour gamut
(black triangle) is fairly equal to
the sRGB colour space. There is some minor over-coverage in green and blue shades but not by anything significant.
Default gamma was recorded at 2.2 average, leaving it with a
0% deviance
from the target which was excellent news. Given there is no gamma control (other
than switching between PC and Mac modes) in the OSD menu, this is pleasing as it
would have been hard to correct otherwise without a calibration device. White
point was measured at a slightly warm 5994k, being 8%
out from the 6500k we'd ideally want for desktop use. The factory calibrated
sRGB preset mode (see the
following section) is deliberately set at 6000k it
seems, so perhaps that has carried over to this default 'standard' mode as well.
Luminance was recorded at a moderate 166
cd/m2 which is
a little too high for prolonged general use but not overly bright. The screen was set at a default
75% brightness in the OSD menu but that is easy to change of course to reach a
more comfortable setting without impacting any other aspect of the setup. The
black depth was 0.145 cd/m2 at this default
brightness setting, giving us an excellent (for an IPS-type panel) static contrast ratio of
1141:1.
Colour accuracy was also excellent out of the box
with an average dE of only 1.6, maximum of 3.6. Testing the screen with colour
gradients showed smooth transitions in all shades, with only very minor
gradation evident in darker tones. Overall this default setup was very good and
we were pleased with the results.
We also wanted to test the screen out of the box in the 'custom color' preset
mode. This looked visibly different to the standard preset, and would also allow
us access to the RGB controls in the menu for calibration later on.
Monitor OSD Option |
Settings |
Preset Picture Mode |
Custom Color |
Brightness |
75 |
Contrast |
75 |
RGB |
100, 100, 100 |
Dell U2417HJ - Default Settings, Custom Color mode
|
Default Settings,
Custom Color mode |
luminance (cd/m2) |
244 |
Black Point (cd/m2) |
0.20 |
Contrast Ratio |
1229:1 |
This preset mode showed a different setup to the
standard mode. Gamma remained nice and accurate at 2.2 average, but white point
was now a little cooler (noticeable to the naked eye) at 6778k. The RGB channels
were defaulted to 100 each, and so this also resulted in a brighter screen (244
cd/m2),
despite the same 75% brightness setting, and also a stronger contrast ratio of
1229:1. Colour accuracy remained excellent. This mode is perhaps a better
starting point for most users, being a little nearer to the 6500k white point
target and also easy to adjust further through OSD controls. In fact, if you use
the RGB settings from our
calibration
section you should be able to bring that white point even closer to 6500k and
provide a very good setup without the need for further calibration equipment.
Factory Calibration
There is also a factory calibrated sRGB preset
mode on this screen. In the box there is a calibration report provided which is
unique to your particular unit. This shows that the sRGB preset mode has been
factory calibrated to offer a dE of <4 and tighter grey scale tracking. If you
look at the grey scale tracking graph you can tell that the screen has been
calibrated to 6000k, and not 6500k for some reason.
The report provided with our test sample is shown
below:
Monitor OSD Option |
Default Settings |
Preset Picture Mode |
sRGB |
Brightness |
75 |
Contrast |
75 |
RGB |
n/a |
Dell U2417HJ - Factory Calibration, sRGB mode
|
Factory calibrated
sRGB mode |
luminance (cd/m2) |
226 |
Black Point (cd/m2) |
0.24 |
Contrast Ratio |
940:1 |
The factory calibrated sRGB mode offers a decent
setup as well. The 2.2 gamma target is nicely met, with only a small 1%
deviance. White point is "correct" in that it is calibrated to the target of
6000k nicely, although we would have rather it had been calibrated to 6500k
personally. Colour accuracy is within targets nicely, with dE of 2.0 average.
The only slightly weaker area is the contrast ratio at 940:1 which is still
strong for an IPS-type panel. This mode doesn't offer much different to the default
'standard' preset mode, other than a slightly brighter picture. With the lack of
control in the OSD menu to adjust the RGB values and change the white point we
would probably find the 'custom color' mode is a better starting point and easier
to adjust to your needs.
Calibration
We used the
X-rite i1 Pro 2
Spectrophotometer combined with the LaCie Blue Eye Pro software package to
achieve these results and reports. An X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter was used
to validate the black depth and contrast ratios due to lower end limitations of
the i1 Pro device.
Monitor OSD Option |
Calibrated Settings |
Preset Picture Mode |
Custom Color |
Brightness |
30 |
Contrast |
75 |
RGB |
99, 100, 95 |
Dell U2417HJ - Calibrated Settings
|
Calibrated Settings |
luminance (cd/m2) |
119 |
Black Point (cd/m2) |
0.097 |
Contrast Ratio |
1228:1 |
We changed to the 'custom color' preset mode which
had delivered the optimal starting point for our calibration, and offered us
access to the RGB controls from within the menu. We adjusted the RGB channels
and brightness setting as shown in the table above. All these OSD
changes allowed us to obtain an
optimum hardware starting point and setup before software level changes would be
made at the graphics card level. We left the LaCie software to calibrate
to "max" brightness which would just retain the luminance of whatever brightness
we'd set the screen to, and would not in any way try and alter the luminance at
the graphics card level, which can reduce contrast ratio. These adjustments
before profiling the screen would help preserve tonal values and limit
banding issues. After this we let the software carry out the LUT adjustments and create an
ICC profile.
Average gamma was now corrected to 2.2 average
with a 0% deviance,
correcting the minor 1% deviance we'd seen out of the box in this preset mode. The
white point had now been corrected nicely to 6518k, bringing it in line with the
target and correcting the small 4% deviance we'd seen by default where it was a
little too cool. Luminance had been improved thanks to the adjustment to the
brightness control and was now being measured at 119
cd/m2. This
left us a black depth of 0.097 cd/m2 and gave us an excellent static
contrast ratio (for an IPS-type panel) of
1228:1. Colour accuracy of the resulting
profile was excellent, with dE average of 0.4 and maximum of 1.3. LaCie would
consider colour fidelity to be very good overall.
Testing the screen with various colour gradients
showed smooth transitions. There was some very slight gradation in darker tones
but no banding introduced due to the adjustments to the
graphics card LUT from the profilation of the screen which was pleasing.
You can use our settings and
try our calibrated ICC profile if you wish, which are available in
our ICC profile database. Keep in mind that results will vary from one
screen to another and from one computer / graphics card to another.
Calibration Performance Comparisons
The comparisons made in this section try to give
you a better view of how each screen performs, particularly out of the box which
is what is going to matter to most consumers. When comparing the default factory
settings for each monitor it is important to take into account several
measurement areas - gamma, white point and colour accuracy. There's no point
having a low dE colour accuracy figure if the gamma curve is way off for
instance. A good factory calibration requires all 3 to be well set up. We have
deliberately not included luminance in this comparison since this is normally
far too high by default on every screen. However, that is very easily controlled
through the brightness setting (on most screens) and should not impact the other
areas being measured anyway. It is easy enough to obtain a suitable luminance
for your working conditions and individual preferences, but a reliable factory
setup in gamma, white point and colour accuracy is important and not as easy to
change accurately without a calibration tool.
From these comparisons we can also compare the
calibrated colour accuracy, black depth and contrast ratio. After a calibration
the gamma, white point and luminance should all be at their desired targets.
Default setup of the screen out of the box was
very good with an accurate gamma of 2.2, low dE of 1.6 and a high contrast
ratio. The white point was the only area really that was skewed from our target,
being measured at 5994k which was "accurate" in the sense that Dell have
deliberately factory calibrated to that white point, but a little out from our
review target of 6500k. Thankfully it's very easy to adjust with some basic OSD
changes. It's worth comparing the U2417HJ with the previous U2414H model. The
U2417HJ offers some decent improvements over the old model, which showed a 5%
gamma deviance (5% out), slightly higher dE average (2.3) and weaker contrast
ratio than the newer model. That old U2414H was closer to the desired 6500k
white point out of the box, but the U2417HJ's setup was better overall.
The display was excellent when it came to contrast
ratio for an IPS-type panel. It offered a very impressive 1228:1 calibrated contrast
ratio, significantly surpassing the previous
U2414H model which reached 970:1.
It was actually the highest calibrated contrast ratio we have seen from any
IPS-type panel, going beyond our previous champion, the
Dell U2515H at 1138:1. Of course
it can't compete with VA panel types which can reach over 2000:1 easily, and
commonly up to 3000:1, even close to 5000:1 in the case of the
Eizo FG2421. These VA panels are not shown in the graph above.
Viewing Angles
Above: Viewing
angles shown from front and side, and from above and below. Click for
larger image
Viewing angles of the screen were a little worse
than we had expected. We've grown to expect very similar performance from all
IPS-type panels in this regard, whether they are manufactured by LG.Display,
Samsung, AU Optronics or anyone else really. In the case of the Samsung panel
used here, the viewing angles were a little more restrictive than other IPS
offerings. Horizontally they were fairly comparable with other IPS panels,
although there was a slightly more apparent contrast shift from some positions.
Vertically however there was a more restrictive view than we are used to, where
the image went noticeably blue and darker. You can see this in the photos above
and if you compare it to
the old U2414H (with LG.Display IPS panel) you can see the differences.
The viewing angles were still superior to those
from VA panels and TN Film panels of course, but we were a little disappointed
they seemed to have taken a bit of a step back here.
Above: View of an
all black screen from the side. Click for larger version
On a black image there is a moderate pale glow
introduced to the image when viewed from a wide angle, commonly referred to as
IPS glow. This is perhaps slightly less than we've seen from some IPS panels
like the
24" Dell U2415 for instance. It's not a low-glow panel like the
previous U2414H was, where that showed very little IPS glow at all.
Dell U2417HJ Now Available
Panel Uniformity
We wanted to test
here how uniform the brightness was across the screen, as well as identify any
leakage from the backlight in dark lighting conditions. Measurements of the
luminance were taken at 35 points across the panel on a pure white background.
The measurements for luminance were taken using BasICColor's calibration
software package, combined with an X-rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter with a
central point on the screen calibrated to 120 cd/m2. The below
uniformity diagram shows the difference, as a percentage, between the
measurement recorded at each point on the screen, as compared with the central
reference point.
It is worth
noting that panel uniformity can vary from one screen to another, and can depend
on manufacturing lines, screen transport and other local factors. This is only a
guide of the uniformity of the sample screen we have for review.
Uniformity of Luminance
The luminance uniformity of the screen was
moderate but not great. There was a drop in
luminance
as you moved
towards the top and bottom of the screen, where it ranged down from the
centrally calibrated 120 cd/m2 to 94 cd/m2 in the most
extreme example. Only around 37% of the screen remained within a 10%
deviance from the central area which was a bit of a shame.
Backlight Leakage
Above: All black screen in a darkened room. Click for larger version
We also tested the screen with an all black image
and in a darkened room. A camera was used to capture the result. The camera
showed there was some clouding detected from the bottom two corners with some
minor backlight bleed evident. It was not possible to see this during normal
every day uses.
Note: if you want to test your own screen for
backlight bleed and uniformity problems at any point you need to ensure you have
suitable testing conditions. Set the monitor to a sensible day to day brightness
level, preferably as close to 120
cd/m2 as you can get it (our tests are
once the screen is calibrated to this luminance). Don't just take a photo at the
default brightness which is almost always far too high and not a realistic usage
condition. You need to take the photo from about 1.5 - 2m back to avoid
capturing viewing angle characteristics, especially on IPS-type panels where
off-angle glow can come in to play easily. Photos should be taken in a darkened
room at a shutter speed which captures what you see reliably and doesn't
over-expose the image. A shutter speed of 1/8 second will probably be suitable
for this.
General and Office Applications
With a 1920 x 1080 resolution, the desktop real
estate of the U2417HJ feels a step down compared with all the high
resolution panels we've tested, and the 27" 2560 x 1440 models we are used to
using day to day. You do lose a large amount of desktop space, and although side
by side split screen working is possible, it's not as easy due to the more
limited resolution and space. With a 0.2745mm pixel pitch, text is comfortable
and easy to read natively, providing a sharp and crisp image. It is not as sharp
as the 1440p panels we've become accustomed to, or of course any ultra HD/4K
resolutions where scaling is used, but it is perfectly adequate. For this size
screen, 1920 x 1080 is about your limit of sensible resolution without needing
to use operating system scaling options.
The very thin
bezel design mean that the U2417HJ could be easily integrated into a
multi-screen set up if you wanted. The light AG coating of the panel is
welcome, and much better than the grainy and 'dirty' appearance of older IPS AG
coatings. The
wide viewing angles provided by this panel technology on both horizontal and
vertical planes, helps minimize on-screen colour shift when viewed from
different angles although they weren't quite as wide as we were used to from
other IPS-type offerings.
The default setup of the screen was very good as
well, offering an accurate gamma curve, decent contrast ratio and low dE. The
white point had been set to 6000k in the factory calibrated and standard modes,
but easy to adjust if you need to via the custom color preset.
The brightness
range of the screen was also very good, with the ability to offer a luminance
between 240 and 30 cd/m2. This should mean the screen is perfectly
useable in a wide variety of ambient light conditions, including darkened rooms.
A setting of ~57 in the OSD brightness control should return you a luminance
close to 120 cd/m2 out of the box if you stick to the 'standard'
preset mode. Otherwise you might want to try the settings from our
calibration
section. On another positive note, the brightness regulation is controlled
without the need for the use of the now infamous
Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM), and so those who suffer from eye fatigue or
headaches associated with flickering backlights need not worry. We don't know
why Dell don't start promoting this as a feature really, as it's a big pro.
There was no audible noise or buzzing from the screen, even when specifically
looking for it using test images with a large amount of text at once. The screen
also remains cool even during prolonged use.
There are a few extras provided here as well
including a 4 port USB 3.0 hub (1x easy access with charging support on the
back), an audio output for speaker connection and on the HJ model, the wireless
charging function in the stand. That was a nice new feature we thought. There
were no further extras such as ambient light sensors or card readers on this
model which can be useful in office environments.
There was a good range of ergonomic adjustments available from the stand
allowing you to obtain a comfortable position for a wide variety of angles. The
VESA mounting support may also be useful to some people as well.
Above: photo of
text at 1920 x 1080 (top) and 1600 x 900 (bottom)
The screen is designed to run at its native
resolution of 1920 x 1080 and at a 60Hz recommended refresh rate. However,
if you want you are able to run the screen outside of this resolution. We tested
the screen at a lower 1600 x 900 resolution to see how the screen handles the
interpolation of the resolution, while maintaining the same aspect ratio of
16:9. At native resolution the text was sharp and clear. When running at a the
lower resolution the text is still
reasonably clear, with moderate
levels of blurring. You do lose a lot of screen real-estate as well of course but
the image seems to be interpolated quite well from lower resolution sources.
Responsiveness and Gaming
Quoted G2G Response Time |
8ms G2G |
Quoted ISO Response Time |
n/a |
Panel Manufacturer and
Technology |
Samsung PLS (IPS-type) |
Panel Part |
LTM238HL01 |
Overdrive Used |
Yes |
Overdrive Control Available to
User |
No |
Overdrive Settings |
n/a |
The U2417HJ is rated by Dell as having an 8ms G2G response time, which indicates the panel uses
overdrive /
response time compensation (RTC) technology to boost pixel transitions
across grey to grey changes. On this version of the model there is no user
control over the overdrive impulse within the OSD menu at all. On the normal
U2417H and the U2417HA models there is an additional 'response time' setting
available which allows you to switch from the 'normal' 8ms G2G mode, to a 'fast'
6ms G2G mode. In fact we've found this setting on other Dell screens to not
really offer anything practically useful and would expect the 'normal' mode to
be optimal anyway. If you refer to our following tests you will see that
actually the overdrive impulse seems to be about as aggressive as it can be
before too much overshoot is introduced, and so we wouldn't really want to push
it any further anyway. The additional overdrive control is not therefore missed
here.
The
part
being used is the
Samsung LTM238HL01 PLS (IPS-type) panel. Have a read about response time in
our
specs section if you need additional information about this measurement.
We will first test the screen using our thorough
response time testing method. This uses an oscilloscope and photosensor to
measure the pixel response times across a series of different transitions, in
the full range from 0 (black) to 255 (white). This will give us a realistic view
of how the monitor performs in real life, as opposed to being reliant only on a
manufacturers spec. We can work out the response times for changing between many
different shades, calculate the maximum, minimum and average grey
to grey (G2G) response times, and provide an evaluation of any overshoot present
on the monitor.
We use an
ETC M526
oscilloscope for these measurements along with a custom photosensor device.
Have a read of
our response time measurement article for a full explanation of the testing methodology and reported
data.
The average G2G response time was measured at 8.7ms which was
very good overall for a 60Hz IPS-type panel. Rise times (changes from dark to light shades) were slightly slower
than fall times (changes from light to dark shades) but not by anything significant. Some measurements reached
below the 8ms advertised figure as well.
If we evaluate the Response Time Compensation
(RTC) overshoot then the results are pleasing and there is very little to be
seen. A couple of the measured transitions showed a fairly high overshoot,
mostly when changing between two very similar shades, more so if that
transitions was getting slightly darker. The 9.7 - 11.1% overshoot was apparent,
but really only affected a couple of the transitions. Quite a few other
transitions had a very slight overshoot between 3 and 6%, but that is so slight
that you shouldn't see any problems with that in practice. Overall this was a
pleasing result from the U2417HJ. Given there are some low levels of overshoot
starting to creep in, we do know that the panel is probably being pushed about
as much as it can by the overdrive circuit before high levels start to become
evident. With that in mind, we don't miss the additional 'response time' control
from the OSD menu which would allow you to push the overdrive impulse more, and
almost certainly lead to much more apparent overshoot problems.
The above comparison table and graph shows you the
lowest, average and highest G2G response time measurement for each screen we
have tested with our oscilloscope system. There is also a colour coded mark next
to each screen in the table to indicate the RTC overshoot error, as the response
time figure alone doesn't tell the whole story.
The response time performance of the U2417HJ is on
par with the best 60Hz IPS-type panels we've tested. With an average G2G
response time of 8.7ms it offers decent pixel transition times, while remaining
free from most overshoot. There are some low levels of overshoot introduced in
some cases, slightly more so than the
U2414H and
U2415 but still nothing to worry about. High refresh rate IPS-type panels
like the
Asus ROG Swift PG279Q and
Acer XB270HU for instance can reach lower response times of around 5 ms G2G
thanks to the boosted refresh rate. For a 60Hz IPS-type panel, we don't have any
complaints here from the U2417HJ.
The screen was also tested using the chase test in
PixPerAn for the following display comparisons. As a reminder, a series of
pictures are taken on the highest shutter speed and compared, with the best case
example shown on the left, and worst case example on the right. This should only
be used as a rough guide to comparative responsiveness but is handy for a
comparison between different screens and technologies as well as a means to
compare those screens we tested before the introduction of our oscilloscope
method.
23.8"
8ms
G2G Samsung PLS (IPS-type) @ 60Hz
In practice the Dell U2417HJ showed low levels of
blurring on moving images and no noticeable overshoot. It was the same as we had
seen from other decent 60Hz IPS-type panels in the past in these tests. It
didn't have the motion clarity of high refresh rate panels, which offer
improvements thanks to reduced response times and the increased frame rate.
23.8"
8ms
G2G Samsung PLS (IPS-type) @ 60Hz
23.8" 8ms G2G
LG.Display AH-IPS
24"
8ms
G2G LG.Display AH-IPS (Response Time = Normal)
25"
8ms
G2G LG.Display AH-IPS (Response Time = Normal)
27"
8ms
G2G LG.Display AH-IPS (Response Time = Normal)
If we compare the U2417HJ with a range of other
recent UltraSharp screens you will see that the motion performance is very
similar between all 5 models. There's very little to separate them all in
practice, although the
U2515H and
U2715H are perhaps ever so slightly slower with a little more pronounced
blur. Again, the U2417HJ is on par with its predecessor, the
U2414H which is good news.
Additional Gaming Features
Aspect Ratio Control -
Like the U2414H, U2515H and U2715H models, the
new U2417HJ has 3 options for
aspect ratio control through the OSD 'Display' menu as shown above. There
are options for wide 16:9, 5:4 and 4:3 only. There is no 1:1 pixel mapping mode
specifically but given a lot of content from external devices is 16:9 aspect
ratio by default, the native aspect of the screen can at least accommodate that
nicely. You will have to put up with the screen interpolating content up
to the full size of the screen when using an external device, as you can't use
any kind of 1:1 scaling option on this model.
Preset Modes -
There is a specific 'game' available in the
OSD which appears to make the image a tad cooler than our calibrated custom
mode. It gives you access to the dynamic contrast ratio control if you want to
use it as well.
Lag
We have written an in depth article about
input lag and the various measurement techniques which are used to evaluate
this aspect of a display. It's important to first of all understand the
different methods available and also what this lag means to you as an end-user.
Input Lag vs. Display Lag vs. Signal
Processing
To avoid confusion with different terminology we
will refer to this section of our reviews as just "lag" from now on, as there
are a few different aspects to consider, and different interpretations of the
term "input lag". We will consider the following points here as much as
possible. The overall "display lag" is the first, that being the delay between
the image being shown on the TFT display and that being shown on a CRT. This is
what many people will know as input lag and originally was the measure made to
explain why the image is a little behind when using a CRT. The older stopwatch
based methods were the common way to measure this in the past, but through
advanced studies have been shown to be quite inaccurate. As a result, more
advanced tools like SMTT provide a method to measure that delay between a TFT
and CRT while removing the inaccuracies of older stopwatch methods.
In reality that lag / delay is caused by a
combination of two things - the signal processing delay caused by the TFT
electronics / scaler, and the response time of the pixels themselves. Most
"input lag" measurements over the years have always been based on the overall
display lag (signal processing + response time) and indeed the SMTT tool is
based on this visual difference between a CRT and TFT and so measures the
overall display lag. In practice the signal processing is the element which
gives the feel of lag to the user, and the response time of course can
impact blurring, and overall image quality in moving scenes. As people become
more aware of lag as a possible issue, we are of course keen to try and
understand the split between the two as much as possible to give a complete
picture.
The signal processing element within that is quite
hard to identify without extremely high end equipment and very complicated
methods. In fact the studies by Thomas Thiemann which really kicked this whole
thing off were based on equipment worth >100,1000 Euro, requiring extremely high
bandwidths and very complicated methods to trigger the correct behaviour and
accurately measure the signal processing on its own. Other techniques which are
being used since are not conducted by Thomas (he is a freelance writer) or based
on this equipment or technique, and may also be subject to other errors or
inaccuracies based on our conversations with him since. It's very hard as a
result to produce a technique which will measure just the signal processing on
its own unfortunately. Many measurement techniques are also not explained and so
it is important to try and get a picture from various sources if possible to
make an informed judgement about a display overall.
For our tests we will continue to use the SMTT
tool to measure the overall "display lag". From there we can use our
oscilloscope system to measure the response time across a wide range of grey to
grey (G2G) transitions as recorded in our
response time
tests. Since SMTT will not include the full response time within its
measurements, after speaking with Thomas further about the situation we will
subtract half of the average G2G response time from the total display lag. This should allow us to give a good estimation of
how much of the overall lag is attributable to the signal processing element on
its own.
Lag Classification
To help in this section we will also introduce a broader classification system
for these results to help categorise each screen as one of the following levels:
-
Class 1)
Less than 16ms / 1 frame lag - should be fine for gamers, even at high levels
-
Class
2)
A lag of 16 -
32ms / One to two frames - moderate lag but should be fine for many gamers.
Caution advised for serious gaming and FPS
-
Class
3)
A lag of more
than 32ms / more than 2 frames - Some noticeable lag in daily usage, not
suitable for high end gaming
For the full reviews of the models compared here and the dates they were written
(and when screens were approximately released to the market), please see our
full
reviews index.
(Measurements in ms) |
|
Total Display Lag (SMTT
2) |
5.00 |
Pixel Response Time
Element |
4.35 |
Estimated Signal
Processing Lag |
0.65 |
Lag Classification |
1 |
|
Class
1 |
We have provided a comparison above against other
models we have tested to give an indication between screens. The screens
tested are split into two measurements which are
based on our overall display lag tests (using SMTT) and half the average G2G
response time, as measured by the oscilloscope. The response time is split from
the overall display lag and shown on the graph as the green bar. From there, the
signal processing (red bar) can be provided as a good estimation.
The screen showed a total average display lag of
only 5.00 ms as measured with SMTT 2. Taking into account half the average G2G
response time at 4.35ms, we can estimate that
there is ~0.65 ms of signal processing lag on this screen. Basically nothing at
all. This puts it on par with the old U2414H model as well which is great news
and means the screen should be fine for gamers.
Movies and Video
The following summarises the screens performance
in video applications:
-
23.8"
screen size makes it a reasonable option for an all-in-one multimedia screen,
but being quite a bit smaller than most modern LCD TV's of course.
-
16:9
aspect ratio is more well suited to videos than a 16:10 format screen, leaving
smaller borders on DVD's and wide screen content at the top and bottom.
-
1920 x
1080 resolution can support full 1080 HD resolution content
-
Digital interfaces support HDCP for any encrypted and protected content
-
Good range of connectivity options provided
with DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort and 2x HDMI (with MHL) offered.
-
Cables provided in the box
for DisplayPort to
Mini DP only.
-
Light
AG coating a positive change providing clean and clear images, without the
unwanted reflections of a glossy solution.
-
Wide
brightness range adjustment possible from the display, including a maximum
luminance of ~240
cd/m2 and a decent minimum luminance
of 30 cd/m2. This should afford you good control for different
lighting conditions. Contrast ratio remains stable across that adjustment
range as well and is excellent for an IPS-type panel. Brightness regulation is
controlled without the need for PWM and so is flicker free for all brightness
settings.
-
Black
depth and contrast ratio are strong for an IPS-type panel at 1228:1 after
calibration. Detail in darker scenes should not be lost as a result.
-
There
is a specific 'movie' preset mode available for movies or video if you want
but it is much cooler than our calibrated custom mode. May be useful to some though.
-
Good
pixel responsiveness which should still be able to handle fast moving scenes
in movies without issue. No overshoot issues which is pleasing.
-
Wide viewing angles thanks to IPS-type panel
technology meaning several people could view the screen at once comfortable
and from a whole host of different angles. They are not quite as wide as we
would have liked vertically, showing more colour tone shift compared with
other IPS panels we've tested.
-
IPS glow is moderate meaning you might
experience some annoying white glows on darker content from an angle. It is
not a low-glow panel like the U2414H before it.
-
Very good and mostly easy to use range of
ergonomic adjustments available from the stand, so should be easy to obtain a
comfortable position for multiple users or if you want to sit further away
from the screen for movie viewing.
-
No
particularly noticeable backlight leakage, and none from the edges which is
good. This type of leakage may prove an issue when watching movies where black
borders are present but it is not a problem here.
-
No
integrated stereo speakers on this model but it is compatible with Dell's
SoundBar if you want. There is also an audio output connection.
-
Moderate
range of
hardware aspect ratio options with 16:9, 5:4 and 4:3 modes available which
should be fine for most uses.
-
Picture in picture (PiP) and Picture By Picture (PbP) are not available.
Conclusion
Dell have produced another excellent all round
screen here, and one that does the well-established UltraSharp brand proud. The
design remains basically identical to the old model but is sleek and attractive,
and also very practical for multi-screen setups should you want. As ever, Dell
have provided a decent stand and a wide range of connectivity options for what
is still a very reasonably priced display. We really liked the addition of the
wireless charging function on this HJ model and we hope to see that become more
popular as the technology is integrated in to more devices in the future.
The default setup and factory calibration of the
screen was strong and we were very impressed with the high contrast ratio from
this IPS-type panel. The light AG coating and flicker-free backlight were as
welcome as ever of course. Response times were as good as you can hope for from
a 60Hz IPS-type panel and lag was non-existent too. We were a little
disappointed with the viewing angles of this Samsung panel, being a little more
restrictive vertically than we are used to. Also the U2414H had been a nice
low-glow panel which has been dropped here which is a shame. It was never part
of their spec or anything, but it's a shame they couldn't continue to use a
low-glow panel option here.
If we compare it to the old U2414H there isn't a
huge amount that's changed. The design, stand and connectivity options are
basically identical. On this HJ model they have at least added the wireless
charging function which is welcome. Underneath all that the panel
characteristics are very comparable in many places, and both offer excellent all
round performance. The pixel response times and lag are basically the same,
flicker free backlights are used on both and of course things like the
resolution remain unchanged. There is a little difference between the two
though. We felt the U2417HJ had the edge in terms of the out-of-the-box setup,
with a more accurate factory calibration and certainly a decent contrast ratio
improvement. On the flip side, the viewing angles were a little more
restrictive, it didn't use a low-glow panel like its predecessor and the
uniformity wasn't as good (on our sample). There's not really much to separate
the two unless you specifically want the wireless charging function, or if the
U2414H is no longer available to buy.
In terms of the 3 versions of this U2417H, again
that really just comes down to whether you want the wireless charging function
and additional HDMI port that the HJ model offers. Regardless, all 3 should
offer very good all round performance and would be excellent choices in the 24"
space we expect. Our U2417H review should be published soon as well to compare
if you are more interested in the H / HA models.
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Pros |
Cons |
Good factory calibration,
strong contrast ratio and great all-round performance |
Viewing angles more
restrictive than we are used to from this technology |
Decent responsiveness and very
low lag for gaming |
Moved away from a low glow
panel of the U2414H |
We liked the new wireless
charging function on the HJ model |
Uniformity could have been
better (may vary) |
Dell U2417HJ Now Available