By Brady Betzel

I’ve been using dual monitors for most of my life. When I was a kid learning Avid, Premiere, Photoshop and more, I had two separate monitors. This was so I could watch tutorials on one monitor while working in the app on the other. What I love about using two separate monitors is the ability to section off different parts of my monitoring. So basically, OCD.

When I started seeing giant, curved screens at Fry’s and Best Buy, I was very interested, but also worried I wouldn’t like it being one big fluid monitor. Weird, I know. So when Dell sent me a 49-inch curved monitor for review, I jumped at the opportunity. In addition, they sent me a 27-inch 4K UltraSharp monitor to check out as well. I figured it would be a good output monitor to use with my Blackmagic DeckLink 4K Extreme for watching full-screen video when working in Resolve or Avid Media Composer.

Up first is the monster Dell 49-inch U4919DW curved monitor, which currently retails for $1,439.99. It really is a monster; it is so wide. Full disclosure: I have always been a fan of Dell monitors. They always look sleek, have a clean image and last a long time.

The U4919DW not only looks good but hosts lots of inputs and even a very handy picture-by-picture (PBP) feature. It is made with an LED backlit LCD monitor that has in-plane switching (IPS) — a.k.a., a wide viewing angle. It also offers native resolution of 5120×1440 at 60Hz, brightness of 350cd/m2, 8ms response time for normal mode, 5ms response time for fast mode, matte/anti-glare coating, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 99% sRGB coverage and a security slot, and it weighs about 58 pounds.

This monitor also comes with a three-year Advanced Exchange Service and Premium Panel Guarantee, which is amazing. The Premium Panel Exchange will replace the panel free with even just one dead pixel, and the Advanced Exchange Service will send a replacement out the next business day if it needs to be replaced. And while I can’t imagine using two of these, there is even a mounting pole available to stack them horizontally. And for those wondering, the stand that comes with this monitor doesn’t go vertical.

Real-World Testing
I’ve been working on this curved monitor for the last few months, and I love it. If I have one critique, it might be that it’s too big for me. I like to keep my monitors within 2 to 3 feet, and sometimes I find myself panning my head just to see everything. To solve this, the U4919DW can be set up as essentially two separate 27-inch monitors on the one 49-inch monitor.

When working in Blackmagic Resolve, Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere, this is how I like to work, and I did it by using the picture-by-picture option. PBP allows you to use two separate inputs/outputs for this to work. However, when the kids play Roblox and Fortnite, they like the full 49-inch-wide viewing angle. Dang kids are spoiled with some of the gear I get to test — When I hear, “Dad, this monitor is too small,” I have to give the “back in my day” speech. But I digress.

The Dell 49-inch U4919DW is 99% sRGB-accurate, which is nice for the interface, but it can’t be relied on as “color-accurate” like an external monitor connected via a connection like the Blackmagic DeckLink can. There are a lot of inputs on this beast: two HDMI 2.0 (HDCP 2.2) (10-bit color at 60Hz), one DP 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (10-bit color at 60Hz), five USB 3.0 downstream ports, two USB 3.0 upstream ports, and one USB Type-C with alternate mode with DP 1.4, power delivery and USB 2.0 (8-bit color at 60Hz).

This is a phenomenal monitor when working in multiple apps or on multiple computers. Sometimes I have two computers hooked up so I can watch a progress bar or render on one while I work on the other via the PBP feature. Its built-in KVM feature was something I didn’t think I would care about, but now I use it all the time. At just under $1,400, the Dell U4919DW is not cheap, but it is feature-packed and gigantic. I would love it if the monitor had a higher-than-60Hz refresh rate, but it is still a great multimedia monitor.

Dell UltraSharp 27-Inch
If you are looking for a smaller monitor but also need an HDR output, DCI-P3 color coverage and an overall higher-quality monitor, then the Dell UltraSharp 27-inch 4K USB-C is a great option. The Dell U2720Q is currently priced at $579.99. There is also a 43-inch version, which retails currently for $839.99.

Technically, the U2720Q has similar specs to the U4919DW: 27-inch IPS LED backlit display, 3840x 2160 (UHD) resolution, 350 cd/m2 brightness, 1300:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response time in normal mode and 5ms in fast mode, 1.07 billion color display and anti-glare matte coating. It can be rotated vertically, and it weighs 21.16 pounds.

For us multimedia folks, the color accuracy is also a great feature. It covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut, 99% Rec. 709 color gamut and 95% DCI-P3 wide color gamut. The U4919DW has a ton of inputs as well: security lock slot, HDMI, full-size DisplayPort, USB-C/DisplayPort, audio line out and two USB downstream ports. On the side there is an additional USB 3.0 port and a USB-C port. This monitor has the same three-year warranty as the curved monitor, with the Premium Panel Exchange and the Advanced Exchange Service.

Summing Up
In the end, the Dell UltraSharp monitors are phenomenal monitors. Dell monitors always look sleek with a very minimal bezel. From the curved ultra-wide 49-inch U4919DW to the 27-inch U2720Q, Dell continues to put out quality products. These monitors are a solid choice for anyone looking for an upgrade to their current monitor.

There may be monitors with higher refresh rates, but they will either cost more or will give up perks, like the 95% DCI-P3 gamut coverage.

Brady Betzel is an Emmy-nominated online editor at Margarita Mix in Hollywood, working on shows like Life Below Zero and The Shop. He is also a member of the Producers Guild of America. You can email Brady at bradybetzel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @allbetzroff.