Dell S2740L 27” IPS Monitor Review

Menu Layout & Observations

While the On Screen Display’s layout may be slightly different from those found on other Dell monitors we have looked at, the one found on the S2740L is extremely intuitive and easy to use. More importantly it will be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the Ultrasharp or Professional series.

With a simple press of any button – besides the power button - a quick access menu pops up which consists of Color Mode, Brightness / Contrast and Main Menu shortcut options. This allows for a direct link to the most used submenus without first digging through the main OSD section. Most consumers will never need to venture further than this area once the monitor properly calibrated.


If there’s a requirement for more in-depth options the primary menu system is sure to satisfy almost anyone’s craving for image tweaking and panel configuration. We were also impressed to see that Dell carried over a handy Energy Meter from previous models. The simple to understand meter shows (in real time) the effects certain settings have upon this display’s power consumption profile.


Unfortunately, while the S2740 has inherited many well respected traits from Dell’s more expensive lines, some weaknesses are carried over as well. Certain fine grain tweaking abilities have been buried awfully deep in sub menus, making them a chore to access. Beginners not used to the OSD may find it difficult to locate the advanced image options without resorting to the online only manual.


On the positive side, Dell allows RGB values to be corrected individually and once someone understands the logic behind the menu layout, every modification becomes quite easy. More importantly, these fine grain control features are usually accessed once for the initial setup and then left alone.

While the RGB values can be calibrated to your heart’s content, the S2740L’s gamma is oddly is fixed at a set value and Windows’ built in correction abilities will have to be used to get the optimal picture quality. Dell may have seen fit to include eight preset modes which should cover most consumers’ needs but none of them have gamma correction abilities.


Also missing are the Adobe RGB and sRGB modes found on other Dell IPS panels. This was likely done in order to keep some separation between the various monitor lineups in Dell’s stable. There are however eight presets to choose from so most home users should be satisfied with the options which include Standard, Multimedia, Movie, Game, Text, Warm, Cool, and the aforementioned Custom Color.


Overall, this simplified OSD with its intelligent presets should be easy to navigate and control for first time consumers.