Picture this: you're a gamer and your primary screen is your 15" laptop screen, with a 21" monitor streaming YouTube next to you. Skibbidi, right? Now, refresh and picture the update: you're a gamer and your primary screen is a 27" Dell HD 144Hz widescreen. Now you have that main character energy!
After making the swap to a screen that is over a foot bigger, a few things were immediately apparent: It's bigger, which makes games easier to play. However, not much else makes the screen stand out. FOV didn't change, color saturation and crispness didn't make an impression, and there wasn't a noticeable improvement in motion. In fact, when spinning left to right, or right to left, the bottom 1/3 of the screen seems to "split" from the top 2/3 and lags behind. The lag isn't enough to get a character in trouble, but it's noticeable in the heat of the game. It's happened in multiple games, too, so it's not the specific software.
Setup was straightforward with a power cable and the HDMI. I would have preferred a D-port connection over HDMI, but if you're hooking it up to older equipment, HDMI works just fine. The physical buttons are conveniently located, and the computer didn't have any issues locating the new monitor.
For the price point, it's a decent monitor, but don't expect too much from it as it's not a 4K UHD Nvidia DLSS-equipped setup that can fully utilize ray-tracing. If you're looking for size, this monitor definitely delivers, especially at this price point.
DakotaDan · 2026-05-16 · via bestbuy
★★★★★What I was looking for
The screen has been working as it should. I use this for online research, shopping and emails so not sure on how it reacts with gaming. For the size and price this screen works great for me.
Tommy · 2026-05-15 · via bestbuy
★★★★★Excellent monitor
This is the third monitor of this type that I purchased from Best buy. And excellent product and I would highly recommend it to everybody
Privacy · 2026-05-15 · via bestbuy
★★★★★Great monitor
Great quality and amazing picture, perfect viewing from any angle
RichardM · 2026-05-15 · via bestbuy
★★★★★A Solid Everyday Monitor With a Few Gotchas
Refresh Rate Reality Check: The 144Hz That… Isn’t
On paper, this 27" Dell monitor promises a 144Hz refresh rate, which sounds great - until you look at the ports. Since it only includes HDMI 1.4, you can’t reliably hit that full 144Hz. Modern DisplayPort handles high refresh rates effortlessly, but HDMI 1.4 tends to tap out closer to 120Hz unless you’re using the newest HDMI 2.2 hardware and cables.
Because Dell skipped DisplayPort entirely on this model, the advertised 144Hz ends up being more of a “nice idea” than something most users will actually experience. If you’re buying this specifically for high-refresh gaming, that’s a meaningful limitation to know upfront.
Resolution & Panel Quality: Great for Work, Not Built for Pros or Competitive Gamers
The SE2726HS runs at 1080p, which is perfectly fine for everyday use - browsing, spreadsheets, schoolwork, general productivity. For that crowd, it looks clean and sharp enough.
But if you’re a competitive gamer chasing every pixel of clarity or a content creator who needs precise detail, 1080p on a 27" screen isn’t going to cut it. You’ll probably want something sharper or more color-accurate.
The IPS panel itself is solid. Colors stay consistent from different angles, which is great for office setups or shared workspaces. It’s not a color-grading monitor and it’s not trying to be - so while it won’t wow professional creatives, it handles day-to-day tasks beautifully.
One nice bonus: AMD FreeSync. It does a great job reducing screen tearing in games that support it, which helps smooth out the overall experience even if the panel isn’t built for high-end gaming.
Final Verdict: Who This Monitor Is Actually For
The Dell SE2726HS is a straightforward, dependable monitor that does exactly what most people need it to do. The picture is clean, the colors are decent, and it’s comfortable to use for long work sessions. For the price, it’s genuinely a strong value - especially for students, professionals, or anyone who just wants a reliable display without spending a fortune.
If you’re expecting OLED-level visuals or a cutting-edge gaming experience, this isn’t the monitor for you. But if you want something practical, affordable, and easy to live with, the SE2726HS fits the bill nicely. It’s not my favorite monitor ever, but it’s definitely not a bad one either. For everyday tasks, it gets the job done without fuss.
