I've said it before, and I will say it again: there is a reason Dell is the gold standard when it comes to the best business monitors. Dell has been at the top of the business monitor game for years and continues producing phenomenal monitors for reliability and usability.
Over the last several years, it's no secret that many industries have moved to having virtual meetings throughout their work week. These increases in virtual meetings can be felt by those working in an office, especially those working remotely. If you've been to a few virtual meetings, you have probably experienced those who do not have a webcam, those who have a poor webcam, and those who have an excellent webcam.
In our experience, the best business webcams, especially when paired with quality audio, help set your best foot forward in presentation, much like if you are dressed well and present yourself well in an in-person meeting. It's not everything, but having a quality way to present yourself is essential when your primary or perhaps only interaction with people is through a virtual meeting.
Dell saw this value and paired it with their skill in creating professional displays for businesses to develop their line of Video Conferencing Monitors. This line-up comes in six sizes: 14-inch, 22-inch, 24-inch, 27-inch, 32-inch, and 34-inch. These sizes offer high-resolution, highly functional monitors with great built-in webcams, speakers, microphones, an onboard dock for your laptop, and Dell's classic adjustable monitor stand.
Dell P3424WEB: Unboxing and First Impressions
As expected, the P3424WEB monitor came well packaged, just like all the Dell monitors I have tested over the years. I can always trust that any packages from the company will arrive securely and safely. All the cables, a stand, and the base were in the box. I set it up quickly and had it running in no time.
This monitor is a standard 34-inch ultrawide monitor with a soundbar, mic, and camera factory-mounted to the top of the monitor. While that may not be surprising, how clean and seamless Dell has made this combination look astonishing. The soundbar spans the entire top of the monitor, though it does not have to, especially for the 34-inch model. Dell has made this look intentional and uniform across their vast monitor sizes. The camera has a physical shutter that I can open and close with a simple twist of a ring, and I can even angle the camera down a bit to get the perfect angle.
Thanks to the built-in USB-C hub, I could quickly and easily plug in my M2 MacBook Pro and get to work without even needing to plug in another dock or adapter, making it one of the best monitors for MacBook Pro in this regard. In fact, thanks to the actual speakers built in, I can use these speakers to play background music, listen in on meetings, and so on without having to deal with terrible standard monitor speakers or only my laptop speakers. Granted, the built-in speakers are nothing incredible, but they are better than standard monitor speakers,
Dell P3424WEB: Design and Build Quality
As I mentioned earlier, the overall design of document number one can be described as a 34-inch Ultrawide monitor from Dell with a soundbar and camera placed on top. Although it's done well, that is what it is. It took me a moment to get used to the design once I turned everything on and connected it to what I humbly suggest is one of the best MacBook Pro laptops. That's because the large bezel on the top looked strange. However, I quickly got used to it.
Screen Size: 34-inches
Resolution: WQHD 3440 x 1440 at 60 Hz
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Aspect Ratio: 21:09
Pixel Response: 5ms
Contrast Ratio: 1,000:1
Viewing Angle: 178/178
Ports: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 3x USB-A, 1x USB-B (upstream), 1x RJ45, 1x USB-C with PD, 1x USB-C, 1x 3.5mm, IEC Power Connector
The build quality is as high as expected; the stand works well but is still reasonably dull and works consistently. The camera is good enough for even those crucial virtual meetings, and it has built-in AI features that can track your movements to keep you center-frame. Through the free DDPM (Dell Display Peripheral Manager) app, I have complete control of the camera, the monitor, and even the built-in KVM settings. The mic is also clear enough for virtual meetings, and I can pick up my voice well while sitting back in my chair and talking usually. I do not need to raise my voice or speak a sure way to be heard clearly. Lastly, the speakers sound better than dedicated music speakers, Apple Homepods, or a legitimate soundbar.
Dell P3424WEB: In use
In daily use, the monitor excels at productivity tasks and video conferencing. The ultrawide screen allows me to have multiple windows up and spread out or have a smaller number of windows all opened up super large. This helps me multitask efficiently, as I only sometimes have to rely on switching from window to window.
The high-quality camera and audio features greatly enhance video conferencing, making remote communication more effective and engaging. Yes, all the best business laptops have a decent webcam, but if you're using a business PC, don't have a decent webcam, or want to elevate your virtual meetings, this camera will do the trick and enhance those virtual meetings.
Dell P3424WEB: Final verdict
Dell's P3424WEB Curved Video Conferencing Monitor is an excellent upgrade for anyone with many virtual meetings and needs a lot of screen real estate - it's easily one of the best curved monitors for professional use. The 34-inch ultrawide is a personal favorite of mine for my desks, where I get much work done all at once.
There is so much room to spread tasks in Windows, chat threads, and apps. On top of the monitor's abilities (see what I did there), the virtual meeting capabilities of this monitor allow it to do so much more than just a standard display. Instead of adding a camera or missing out on a quality virtual meeting experience, you can have significant, clear, and crisp video and audio on your next virtual meeting.
For those prioritizing virtual communication and productivity simultaneously, this monitor should absolutely be considered in your research and would be a worthwhile investment.
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