With a slew of connection choices, the $359.99 Dell 24 USB-C Hub Monitor (P2425E) has all the ports you might expect to find in a desktop display and a standalone docking station. It can connect to your computer via a single USB-C cable, and even power or charge a laptop. Its 24-inch screen is bright, with better contrast than a typical IPS panel, and it covers the full sRGB color space. You can find similar monitors with higher resolutions, larger screens, and extras like Thunderbolt ports, hi-res webcams, and built-in speakers. Chief among them is the Editors’ Choice-winning Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE). But the P2425E is less expensive than the U2723QE, and if you don’t need the additional features, there’s no reason to pay for them.
Design: An Ergonomic Display With Ports Aplenty
Measuring 14.2 by 20.3 by 7.8 inches (HWD), the P2425E weighs 7.8 pounds. Its 24-inch in-plane switching (IPS) screen—surrounded by thin bezels on all sides—has a WUXGA (1,920-by-1,200-pixel) native resolution at a 16:10 aspect ratio. That gives you a little more vertical screen space than you would get from a 24-inch FHD 1080p (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) display such as the Dell P2425HE, which is essentially the same monitor except for resolution and aspect ratio. The P2425E’s pixel density is 94 pixels per inch (ppi), which is fine for routine photo or video editing but well short of what you’d get on a monitor geared to creative pros.
The P2425E supports vertical and horizontal viewing angles of up to 178 degrees, meaning that you can look at the screen at an extreme side angle or from above without notable degradation in color quality or brightness.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The monitor’s all-black chassis attaches to a slender silver-colored shaft, which has a hole near the bottom through which you can snake cables. The shaft is anchored by a base with a fairly small footprint, though it felt sturdy enough. The P2425E boasts strong ergonomics. In addition to having an array of holes in back spaced 100mm apart to fit a VESA bracket (not included) for arm or wall mounting, this monitor supports height, tilt, pivot, and swivel adjustment, with an unusually generous 5.9 inches of height-movement range.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
As you’d guess from the product name, connectivity is a strong point with the P2425E. In addition to an upstream USB-C port that supports DisplayPort over USB Alternate Mode and up to 90 watts of power delivery, you’ll find a downstream data-only USB-C port supplying up to 15W and three USB-A downstream ports. The monitor also has one HDMI 1.4 port and two DisplayPort 1.4 connectors, one in and one out; the latter supports daisy-chaining an additional monitor to the setup. An RJ-45 Ethernet jack lets you stay connected in situations where Wi-Fi is spotty or nonexistent, assuming you’ve got a wired network connection nearby.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
About the only notable port that the P2425E lacks is Thunderbolt. The company makes up for its absence in the Dell UltraSharp 27 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2724DE), which has a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Dell warranties the P2425E for three years, a typical span for a workaday business monitor.
Testing the Dell P2425E: Bright, Colorful, and Good Contrast
I tested the P2425E’s brightness, contrast ratio, and color-gamut coverage using our standard test gear: a Klein K-10A colorimeter, a Murideo Six-G signal generator, and Portrait Displays’ Calman for Business calibration software.
Dell rates the P2425E’s luminance at 300 nits (candelas per square meter), and it slightly exceeded that, tallying 319 nits in my testing. That’s more than bright enough for any business use, including photo and video editing, as well as gaming. The monitor does not support HDR. I measured its contrast ratio at 1,399:1, a bit short of its rated 1,500:1 contrast ratio but still much higher than a standard IPS panel. (See how we test monitors.)
According to Dell, the P2425E covers 99% of the sRGB color space. In my tests using the default standard mode, it outdid that with 122.3% coverage by area. (See the chart below.) Dell does not rate its coverage of DCI-P3, a color space geared to digital video, or Adobe RGB, primarily used in preparing photos and illustrations for print; it covered 88.1% and 81% of those spaces, respectively.
(Credit: Portrait Displays)
In the subjective, ad-hoc portion of our testing, we view a select group of photos and video clips. Photos showed rich colors and solid detail in both light and dark areas. The P2425E also did well with videos, showing good contrast and realistic-looking colors.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Verdict: A Well-Connected Workaday Monitor
As a productivity monitor, the Dell P2425E has much going for it. However, its relatively small screen size and modest resolution peg it for general business use rather than serious photo and video editing. It is priced accordingly; for a bit more money, you can get even better image quality and some additional features if you need them.
The Editors’ Choice-winning U2723QE has a larger screen with 4K resolution, higher pixel density, and better brightness and contrast. The Dell UltraSharp 27 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2724DE) provides a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, and has a higher QHD (1440p) resolution. Should you want a display that offers a better teleconferencing hardware experience than your laptop can provide, check out the Editors’ Choice-winning HP E27m G4 QHD USB-C Conferencing Monitor, which comes decked out with a 5-megapixel webcam, dual 5-watt speakers, and echo-canceling microphones.
All three of these models cost considerably more than the P2425E, which packs in a profusion of ports and strong ergonomics, and provides image quality that is easily suitable for typical business needs. Consider it if desk space is narrow but your connection needs are wide.
Dell 24 USB-C Hub Monitor (P2425E)
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The Bottom Line
With an abundance of ports, a full range of ergonomic features, and image quality that’s easily good enough for general business use, the Dell P2425E is an appealing productivity monitor.
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About Tony Hoffman
Senior Analyst, Hardware
