Dell's 32-inch curved 4K S3221QS (catch, right?) is a versatile enough monitor for a variety of use cases, including gaming. However, none of that will overwhelm you. It's a great choice if you want something that provides a solid experience in all situations, but if your goal is high quality, high refresh gaming, it may not be for you.

First off, I was immediately surprised by the weight of the Dell S3221QS. The bulk of the weight is in the stand, which is a great touch. Despite the relatively small footprint, the monitor stands firm, with virtually no wobble when you try to give it a wobble. Movement is a bit limited: you can't rotate it into portrait mode, and while the upward angle is there, the downward tilt is almost non-existent.

Thankfully, this was not a real problem for me, as the viewing angles are really good. Curved monitors sometimes don't feel right unless you find the perfect position, but the S3221QS seems to avoid this and looks clear from most angles.

I also never struggled with reflections thanks to the matte screen, and the thin side bezels are a nice touch. The curves also give it an enveloping, immersive feel, especially on the large 32-inch screen, which is great for movies and atmospheric gaming. It also has fairly rich blacks and moderate contrast, and looks impressively beautiful, especially with 4K content.

When it comes to gaming, the S3221QS is a bit hit or miss. The main reason for this is that the maximum refresh rate is only 60Hz. Obviously, if you choose to purchase a 60Hz monitor, you have already made that decision, which is a worthy goal anyway, outside of today's best graphics cards. But as someone coming from a higher refresh rate, I definitely noticed the drop, and FreeSync's variable refresh rate seemed to help, not least because I didn't notice any real tearing. [But if gaming is your primary use, I would recommend going with a higher refresh rate, even if you lose the 4K resolution.

FPS games, especially if you're used to higher refresh rates, can be a bit jagged on slower panels, making aiming feel dull; even in RPGs, little things like stuttering when moving the camera quickly can be a bit annoying. It lacks smoothness. However, this is not a drawback specific to this monitor, but something to be aware of with 60Hz in general. If you come to expect better, you will notice the low frame rate. Otherwise, if fidelity is important to you, play with it, as the depth and clarity of the image makes up for a lot.

The panel itself is rich and contrasty very well, but sidelit, sometimes noticeably so. At first, I suffered from side flicker while gaming on a dark screen. Disabling HDR in the windows settings improved the situation, and I no longer saw any flickering, at least while playing console games through the monitor. However, I did notice some flickering out of the corner of my eye, although it was quite minimal.

If work is your goal rather than play, the S3221QS will not disappoint; the 32-inch curved screen is quite massive, especially when viewed up close. There is more than enough space for multiple tasks on the go. I'm not used to working on curved screens, so this is a bit odd for me. It feels very close to what is on the edge and gives me a level of concentration that I either love or hate. While working, I literally feel like I am being swallowed by the monitor. It's great for immersion, but can be a little intimidating for things like word documents and tables.

It's one of those things that is perfectly fine once you get used to it. Then, when you go back to your regular monitor, it feels odd. Every aspect that at first feels too close suddenly feels too far away. Things appear flat because they are flat. Neither is inherently better than the other, but the viewing angle of the S3221QS works well from any distance. So as a curved monitor for work, it's a solid choice as long as you only care about the horizontal position.

There is much to like about the S3221QS. Its solid build and versatility make it the perfect monitor to do just about anything, and the S3221QS can be used well from work to play, and video content looks especially good. However, if your primary purpose is gaming and you want a high refresh rate, it's not the right choice, but then again, it never is.

Overall, the S3221QS is a solid choice for a curved screen all-rounder. It looks great on a rich 4K display, and you don't have to pay a fortune for a high refresh rate monitor.