Why You Can Trust CNET Dell UltraSharp 49 is a big monitor matched by a big price
Too bad, because it could be really convenient for a lot of us.
Two UltraSharp 49 monitors stacked vertically, because more is better.
There's a reason Dell is specifically targeting the finance industry with its new UltraSharp 49 curved monitor: it's a hard sell at $1,700 (roughly £1,290 or AU$2,400).
Unlike Samsung 's slightly less expensive (and lower resolution) C49HG90, the 49-inch U4919DW doesn't have the specs a gamer would -- or should -- pay the asking price for. While it offers a relatively high resolution at 5,120x1,440 pixels and Dell claims it's factory-calibrated with a 100 percent sRGB color gamut, its refresh rate maxes out at 60Hz with a pixel response time of 5ms in Fast mode.
Shop for Dell UltraSharp 49 (U4919DW)
See all pricesEven if you do have a graphics setup that can push that many pixels with any consistency (it falls a bit short of 4K), not a lot of games will scale properly to a 32:9 aspect ratio. Your pennies are probably better spent on a more gaming-optimized 34-inch display or with support for G-Sync HDR or FreeSync 2. That should still leave you plenty of leftover space to monitor your chat while streaming and money in your wallet to spend on other games and gear.
Two Dell UltraSharp 49 displays flanked by lesser models. Do not try this on your flimsy Ikea open-plan office desk.
While designers, video editors and photographers may salivate over the size as well, the color gamut isn't appropriate for color-critical work, and as long as you're making that sacrifice you can save money and still go big at 38 inches with something like the LG 38UC99-W.
And despite its spacious, productivity-enhancing size, there aren't many managers who'll OK this $1,700 behemoth when it's cheaper and easier to get two 27-inch models that have likely already been preapproved by IT -- unless your job contributes directly and substantially to the bottom line and you've got the power to push it through. Or if you don't answer to a corporate accountant and you're feeling flush. Which leaves Dell hawking it to Wall Street.
Connecions include two HDMI, one mini DisplayPort and a USB-C gen 2.
There are plenty of uses for a monitor this size, though, especially with its a built-in KVM switch to jump between two separate connected systems. Hopefully the price will be drop to a more practical level by this time next year.
It's scheduled to ship in the US by the end of October, with UK and Australian details yet to be announced.
Specifications
| Dell UltraSharp 49 (U4919DW) | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $1,700 |
| Panel type | IPS |
| Backlight type | LED |
| Size (diagonal) | 49 |
| Curve radius | 3800R |
| Resolution | 5,120x1,440 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 32:9 |
| Pixel pitch (mm) | 0.23 |
| Maximum gamut | 99 percent sRGB |
| Rotates vertically | No |
| Bit depth | 8 |
| Typical brightness (nits) | 350 |
| Claimed delta e tolerance | ≤ 2 |
| HDR | No |
| Game sync standard | None |
| Maximum vertical refresh rate (at HD or higher resolution) | 60Hz |
| Gray/gray response time (milliseconds) | 8 (5 in Fast Mode) |
| HDMI | 2x 2.0 (HDCP 2.2) |
| USB-C (out) | Yes |
| USB-C (in) | No |
| USB Type-A (out) | 5x USB 3.0 |
| USB 3.0 (in) | 2x USB 3.0 |
| Thunderbolt | No |
| DisplayPort | 1x 1.4, 1x USB-C Alternate Mode |
| Release date | October 2018 |
