With a built-in Web camera, the Dell 27 Video Conferencing Monitor seems like the perfect work-from-home accessory. Add in the convenient USB-C connectivity, which can charge your laptop at the same time, and it would appear that Dell has a winner.

However, my opinion of this 27-inch monitor (also known as the C2722DE) has dipped slightly after testing it for a couple of weeks. Yes, this Microsoft Teams certified monitor — thanks to its 5MP infrared pop-up camera — captures sharper videos than the typical laptop. It can also verify your identity and log you in via Windows Hello facial recognition. Impressive, too, is the noise-canceling microphone, which drastically reduces background noise. You can also hide the Dell camera away (no accidental video streaming) by pressing down on it.

But there are some caveats. Firstly, Windows 10 will default to using the notebook's Web camera over the Dell camera. Hence, you have to manually disable the laptop camera in Device Manager, an extra step that may stump less tech-savvy users. In addition, the Microsoft Teams certification simply means that the monitor has a LED indicator for Teams notifications, as well as a button to take or reject video calls (for Teams and Skype for Business). Handy but not that essential. On the other hand, I was pleased that connecting the monitor to my laptop requires only a single USB-C cable. The fact that the monitor can charge my notebook through this same cable is a nice bonus.

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Judged as a monitor, the Dell lives up to the high standards expected of the manufacturer's premium models. Its 27-inch matte screen looks crisp and high-resolution. Colours are vibrant and viewing angles are wide. I also like the tilt, swivel, height adjustment and pivot capabilities offered. And while I would prefer a brighter display, the screen brightness (up to 350 nits) is adequate for a business monitor. Connectivity is also excellent, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and even an Ethernet port. The OSD (onscreen display) is easy to navigate with the tiny joystick at the back of the monitor. The Dell Display Manager application, which lets you arrange your app windows (and restores them later) is worth a download.

At around S$900, the Dell 27 Video Conferencing Monitor is more expensive than a similar premium display like the Dell UltraSharp 27 Monitor: U2719D (S$729). But the utility and excellence of its Web camera and the clutter-free possibilities of its USB-C connection are worth considering. Buy this monitor from Dell or Lazada.

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Note: Review unit provided by Dell.