Dell UltraSharp U4323QE review | TechRadar

Dell UltraSharp U4323QE: Two-minute review

A few years ago, I was a big fan of Dell’s minimalist design. It fitted the aesthetic and vibe of that time, when function didn’t necessarily take precedence over form, but the form didn’t distract from function. The thing about minimalism, though, is that it can get boring and dry after a few years. Sadly, it doesn’t look like Dell has got the memo that literally the rest of the world has moved on from it.

One look at the Dell UltraSharp U4323QE, and I was disappointed to see the same silver chassis and almost-brutalist look I’ve seen on many of the brand’s monitors. I understand this is a productivity monitor, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun at work and look good doing it, does it? At least it’s silver, not black, but that seems to make things worse.

To be fair, this 4K IPS display does what it’s designed for. For productivity, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many alternatives that offer the same functionality and features. But what about the rest of your display needs? Is this the best monitor to buy if your viewing needs extend beyond work? These are fair questions to ask, considering you’re expected to drop $824.99 / £1,014 / AU$1,450.90 for a single display, and many of the best 4K monitors on the shelves have become more accessible in price.

More on that later; let’s focus on its contentious design. The Dell UltraSharp U4323QE really isn’t a bad-looking display. It has clean lines and curves, and small black bezels that practically look invisible during use, partly due to the panel’s 350-nit brightness. Yet the minimalist look it’s sporting feels outdated, or if not outdated, just very basic.

There are several other points for improvement here: the base is massive and takes up desk space (although it can moonlight as a surface for things like a control puck, a notepad, and your phone), the cable management solution is a literal hole on the stand, and it’s very heavy (40.9 lbs to be exact), meaning things like setup and reorganizing your desk can be tricky, especially if you’re a tiny human like me.