The catch
Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
If your desktop already has enough ports, you are paying extra for the hub.
Side by side
Dell U2725QE vs S2725QC: UltraSharp drives a fuller desk hub, with 4K at 120Hz already on both
Quick verdict
If you want Thunderbolt 4, 140-watt charging and a deep office hub, go with the U2725QE. The S2725QC still gives you sharp 120Hz and speakers on a simpler USB-C desk.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The catch
Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
A power-hungry mobile workstation may want more than the 65-watt USB-C output delivers.
Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
- Why pick it
- Thunderbolt 4 is needed
- 140-watt charging helps your laptop
- The catch
- If your desktop already has enough ports, you are paying extra for the hub.
Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
- Why pick it
- A 65-watt laptop will do
- You would use built-in speakers
- The catch
- A power-hungry mobile workstation may want more than the 65-watt USB-C output delivers.
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What this page compares
Hub depth, panel contrast and charging power set apart these two 27-inch 4K 120Hz monitors.
This one comes down to laptop power and main connection first, then to the limits of your own setup.
Day to day
How each one fits your routine
Even a large power number needs a compatible laptop behind it
Before taking the charger off the desk of a mobile workstation, compare the USB-C charging mode the laptop accepts with what the monitor offers. The 140W figure for U2725QE relies on Extended Power Range. It does not promise that every 100W or 140W laptop will receive that amount. Pick S2725QC for a verified 65W-compatible routine, or pick the UltraSharp once you have confirmed the higher-power negotiation.
Where this comes from
S2725QC supplies up to 65W, and Dell identifies the UltraSharp output as up to 140W EPR. What mode gets negotiated depends on the laptop and cable.
Sharing a desk needs a USB route as well as a picture
Through the UltraSharp’s KVM, a desktop on HDMI and a laptop on Thunderbolt can share its connected keyboard and mouse, as long as the desktop also has a USB upstream connection. The USB devices do not travel over an HDMI picture signal alone. Choose U2725QE for that two-computer routine. With one laptop, the simpler connection on S2725QC can be enough, and you avoid paying for a switching workflow you would not use.
Where this comes from
Besides Thunderbolt upstream, U2725QE lists a KVM and a separate USB-C data upstream port. The two signal routes both have to reach the relevant computer.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A fuller desk connection through Thunderbolt
Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor lists “Thunderbolt 4” for main connection, while Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor lists “USB-C”. This affects what you can connect and how data can move. A higher rating on the label does not guarantee the same real-world result in every setup.
- Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
- Better fit
- Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
- Depends
Creative work with color tuned at the factory
Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor combines documented gamut coverage with either factory calibration or controls aimed at creators.
- Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
- Better fit
- Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
- Depends
A tidier path to a second monitor
A supported display output lets you chain another compatible screen.
- Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
- Better fit
- Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
- Depends
A work laptop gets enough power delivery
Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor lists “Up to 140 watts” for laptop power, while Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor lists “Up to 65 watts”. Extra published output only helps when your room, surface or workload needs the headroom. On its own, it does not prove better results.
- Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
- Similar
- Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
- Similar
Option A
Dell, U2725QE
UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
Laptop charging power is high and the Thunderbolt hub is serious on this 27-inch 4K IPS Black display, which also runs at 120Hz.
- Best for
- Thunderbolt 4 is needed
Facts we checked
- Laptop power: Up to 140 watts
- Main connection: Thunderbolt 4
- Speakers: No integrated pair
- Up to 140W EPR comes from the Thunderbolt upstream.
Option B
Dell, S2725QC
27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
This simpler 27-inch home-office screen from Dell offers 4K resolution, 120Hz refresh, USB-C charging and speakers.
- Best for
- A 65-watt laptop will do
Facts we checked
- Laptop power: Up to 65 watts
- Main connection: USB-C
- Speakers: Two 5-watt speakers
- USB-C power delivery reaches up to 65W.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor | Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop power | Up to 140 watts | Up to 65 watts | Higher published output is useful only if your room, surface or workload calls for the extra headroom. It does not, by itself, prove better results. |
| Main connection | Thunderbolt 4 | USB-C | It bears on what you can connect and how data can move. A higher rating printed on the label is no guarantee of the same real-world result in every setup. |
| Speakers | No integrated pair | Two 5-watt speakers | It determines whether the built-in sound is sufficient or you will still need an external audio setup. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
- Text on a 27-inch 4K desktop usually only gets comfortable once you turn on operating-system scaling.
With Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
- You get fewer ports than a full Thunderbolt dock would give you.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the computer monitors we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor |
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| Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor
Thunderbolt 4 is needed
See price & reviews on AmazonDell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor
A 65-watt laptop will do
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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