4K Monitor — the Acer 24-inch, or the Dell 27-inch?

Member 0230 on 02/12/2021 - 18:08
Last edited 08/12/2021 - 00:24 by 1 other user

UPDATE 1

As per my most recent comment a few min ago (late Tue 7 Dec), options for 24-inch 4K screens are practically non-existent not just in AU but probably everywhere else, so I've narrowed my options to just two screens now:

1. 24-inch Acer EK241QK ($319 at Centrecom)
2. 27-inch Dell S2721QS ($374 on 25% off sale at Dell)

The 24 will obviously have the higher pixel density, but its biggest con is… I can't find any authoritative reviews anywhere.

This is making me lean towards the Dell.

If anyone has any experience with either of these, or any other thoughts why I should go one or the other I'd be happy to hear them.

Cheers!

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UPDATE 2

And of course, minutes after writing the above I discovered the 27-inch Dell S2722QC ($454.30 on 25% off sale at Dell until Thu 9 Dec) which everyone here already knew about but me. I think I'll just get this one which seems to be a crowd fave.

Cheers!

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ORIGINAL POST

A loud POP. The screen went dark, then the faint smell of roasted circuits in the morning (you know what I mean).

Today my trusty Dell 4K - to which I expressed my undying love for just a couple days ago - died with a literal bang after serving us well for (found the receipt) 6+ years.

Dell thinks it's the power supply and recommended trying an electronics repair shop. Just for fun, I rang one and the exact reply was "Nope, easier to replace the whole unit." — pretty much what I expected 😞

A search shows lots of 27-and 32-inch options, but surprisingly few 24s in AU. (Def none below $600+?) I found these and couldn't find stock in AU:

1. LG 24UD58-B
2. Dell P2415Q
3. Viewsonic VX2475Smhl-4K
4. Asus MG24UQ

So, as per title: Can anybody please recommend a 24-inch 4K monitor?

I prefer the 24s because of their (1) much higher DPI vs 27s and (2) smaller desk footprint.

I suspect I'll have to accept a 27-inch screen, but happy to be proven wrong.

Thanks in advance!

• 

  psyren89 on 02/12/2021 - 18:14

  +3

  If it's the desk footprint you're worried about, you could always use a monitor arm.
  In any case, here are your options.

  • 

    Member 0230 on 02/12/2021 - 18:27

    Wow that was quick, thanks. However, I've already looked hard at the first 4 options (will update my OP) — none are readily available (or available at all) in AU. I looked at the next 3 and… maybe it's just the market segment is too small / unprofitable?

    1. LG 24UD58-B
    2. Dell P2415Q
    3. Viewsonic VX2475Smhl-4K
    4. Asus MG24UQ
    5. Dell UP2414Q
    6. Acer K242HQKbmjdp
    7. Samsung U24E590D
    • 

      psyren89 on 02/12/2021 - 18:51

      Correct, there isn't much of a market for such tiny 4K screens. Out of interest, what kind of scaling were you running on your 24"?

      • 

        Member 0230 on 02/12/2021 - 19:33

        I run it in the native / default scaling that macOS drives it, which I find perfectly legible / usable for my uses.

  • 

    Member 0230 on 02/12/2021 - 19:45

    Oh I forgot to mention: I do use dual monitor arms, with my laptop on one and the external monitor on the other.

    Yeah, “footprint” isn’t the most correct term… maybe “space it occupies in my workspace and the need to work a little further back” is better 😄

    Thanks for the suggestion though, great minds and all that.

• 

  Hybroid on 02/12/2021 - 18:41

  Not surprising, the value proposition of 4K res on a tiny 24" monitor isn't great. Seriously consider an upgrade solution.

  • 

    Member 0230 on 02/12/2021 - 19:44

    Thanks Hybroid. Thing is, I don’t consider moving from 24 to 27 an upgrade for my needs unless I was watching video.

    A lot of what I do revolves around web design, code, photo editing, and lots of reviewing/editing docs in almost-full-size side-by-side. A 27 would mean I need to push the screen further away from me OR I move further from the screen, whereas the 24 hits the sweet spot. (First World Probs, I know.)

    I wonder if because of the higher DPI, the panels for the 24s could be more expensive to produce than the 27s?

    • 

      TheBird on 02/12/2021 - 21:57

      It'll be that it's little demand for them anymore.

      • 

        Member 0230 on 02/12/2021 - 22:59

        I reckon you're right.

• 

  O O on 02/12/2021 - 19:28

  LG 24MD4KL

  • 

    Member 0230 on 02/12/2021 - 19:47

    Wow. Yeah, I think I’ll go the $400 27-inch over this 😄

    • 

      O O on 02/12/2021 - 20:27

      How about

      LG 24UD58 $446.22

      or

      Acer EK241QK $319

      • 

        Member 0230 on 02/12/2021 - 21:24

        O O you're awesome — thanks for all the suggestions.

        I did see the LG, but do you know how warranty works in AU if it's sold by Amazon UK?

        Acer is on my shortlist, but I just want to know how it manages to achieve 4K @ 60Hz when it only has HDMI1.4 (which maxes at 4K @ 30Hz).

        The 2nd hand ASUS MG24UQ has def been on the radar from an earlier search today, and more likely to hit 60Hz with its DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0. Pity it's pick up only in QLD!

• 

  Member 0230 on 07/12/2021 - 23:23

  +1

  Thanks psyren89, Hybroid and O O for all of your feedback and recommendations.

  FWIW, a bit more digging confirms that 24-inch 4K screens have simply almost disappeared completely, probably for the reason TheBird mentioned — the market ain't there.

  I found a fairly decent list here, with Samsung making half the panels and LG the other.

  On a happier note, Acer technical support confirmed to me in an email that their EK241QK ($319 at Centrecom) does in fact have HDMI 2.0 to support the higher frame rate of 4k at 60Hz.

  Having said that, I'm seriously considering the 27-inch Dell S2721QS ($374 on 25% off sale at Dell) which has a favourable review from RTINGS.com of 8.1 Mixed Use | 8.4 Office | 8.4 Media Creation.

  Decisions, decisions.