Dell G2722HS Review: 27-Inch Full HD Gaming Monitor

The Dell G2722HS answers a question plenty of buyers still ask: what does a dependable entry into PC gaming cost? It is a 27-inch, 1080p IPS monitor from Dell's G Series with a 165-hertz refresh rate, native FreeSync and certified G-SYNC compatibility — and measured results finds it does exactly what a starter gaming monitor must do, while cutting everything a starter gaming monitor can live without.

The test's verdict on the core discipline is clear: the G2722HS is good for gaming. The 165-hertz panel pairs with a quick response time at any refresh rate, so motion stays smooth and ghosting stays out of sight whether a game runs at 60, 120 or the full 165 frames. Input lag measured low, giving that responsive, connected feel competitive play depends on, and the variable-refresh support works on both sides of the fence — native FreeSync for AMD hardware, certified G-SYNC compatibility for Nvidia — keeping screen tearing suppressed either way.

The panel's weakness is equally clearly measured: a low native contrast ratio means blacks look grey in a dark room. This is the classic IPS trade-off — in exchange, viewing angles are wide and the picture holds up in bright rooms, where the test found reflection handling and peak brightness better than Dell's own VA-panel alternative. Play with the lights on and the weakness barely registers; dedicated dark-room gamers should shop elsewhere.

The economies are structural and honest. There is no HDR support, no USB hub, and no built-in speakers; the stand adjusts for height and tilt but neither swivels nor rotates into portrait. Console owners should note the test's compatibility caveat: the monitor does not downscale a 4K signal, which limits its usefulness with a PS5 or Xbox Series X — this is a PC-first display. For a build to drive it, our gaming PC guide covers complete systems, and the desktop processor guide the engines inside them.

Within Dell's G Series, the G2722HS is the 27-inch middle child: the G2422HS offers the same 1080p/165-hertz recipe at 24 inches, while the step-up G3223D moves to 1440p with a fully adjustable stand and USB ports. Against its own sibling, the older Dell S2721HGF, the choice is rooms: the S2721HGF's VA panel wins dark-room contrast, while the G2722HS takes brightness, reflections, motion and viewing angles.

Against the wider budget field, the test is candid. The MSI Optix G273 is a very similar 1080p/165-hertz rival — the Dell counters with better motion handling and the height-adjustable stand, while the MSI is more colour-accurate and brighter. And the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx rates better overall, with superior ergonomics, HDR support and the 4K downscaling that makes it the stronger console pick. The Dell's card is dependability at a low price rather than category leadership.

The G2722HS is a starter monitor in the best sense: the gaming fundamentals — refresh rate, response time, input lag, tear-free variable refresh — are all genuinely well executed, and everything missing is a convenience rather than a necessity. Its ideal owner is a first-time PC gamer in a normally lit room who wants smooth, responsive play without spending monitor money that could have been graphics-card money. Dark-room players and console-first households have better options; everyone else gets exactly what the modest price promises, plus motion handling that embarrasses it.