Photo editing is a work of precision. For that, you need such a display that helps you accomplish your work with accuracy. That is the reason why we have come up with the list of 4 best monitors for photo editing under $200 budget. Surprisingly, you can get a pretty good deal within this price point. So, let us begin.
The Prime deciding factor when thinking of buying monitors for photo editing is to look for its color accuracy. This is because you want your picture to be displayed more real and accurate and you also want your image to be uniform across all devices. Other key aspects are good color details and contrast. This helps in distinguishing color and shades more effectively and easily. Also, Brightness constancy is another important factor. It helps in perceiving an object (shades and color) as the same under different brightness levels.
Another important factor to consider is the monitor’s color coverage – the ability of the screen to display a range of colors. Our recommendation is 100% sRGB for photo editing. Lastly, resolution and screen size. Higher-resolution tends to show more details in the picture and hence improves the accuracy of editing. A big screen makes editing more immersive and fun. Let us learn more about best monitors for photo editing.
List of 4 best monitors for photo editing under $200:
1. ASUS PA248QV ProArt : Best of Best
Specifications:
Screen Size: 24.1 inches | Resolution : 1920 x 1200 | Panel Type : IPS | Color Coverage: 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709 | Display Colors: 16.7 M |Max Brightness : 300 cd/m2 | Native Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 | Color Accuracy : △E < 2
Image Quality:
Asus PA248QV offers excellent color consistency and professional-level color accuracy out of the box. All because of the IPS panel and its △E < 2. This value △E < 2 is less than most other monitors (less the number better it is) which means the monitor is able to display almost true color as it is expected to.
The monitor has a rather peculiar resolution of 1920 x 1200 and so the aspect ratio 16:10. This adds up to around 11% extra vertical screen space which might be utilized efficiently if you are working on Adobe Photoshop or MS Paint. The 24.1 inches, sufficiently large screen with 1920 x 1200 resolution offers a pixel density close to 94 pixels per inch which are pretty standard. You can expect good details in pictures and text.
Moreover, Asus PA248QV supports 100% sRGB color coverage. This means it can show more variety of colors than other standard displays. It can produce a staggering 16.7 million colors, all because of its 1000:1 contrast ratio and 8-bit color depth. However, there is no support for HDR or wide color gamut. I think it is okay considering the price point. Also, the IPS panel has really wide viewing angles of 178°(H)/178°(V) meaning looking monitor from different directions will not result in loss of color consistency and precision.
Additional things to note about the panel are its 300 cd/m2 brightness. It is not extraordinarily bright but other than working under direct sunlight it should work fine. If you happen to use the monitor in dark rooms, then you will not be disappointed either. It has exceptional gray uniformity and decent black uniformity.
Performance:
Asus PA248QV can deliver above-par performance from what is expected from this professional monitor. It has a 75 Hz panel, low input lag (~ 9 ms), and even relatively low pixel response time (~ 5 ms) which makes it a well-deserving monitor for casual gaming. By the way, if you are looking for perfect gaming monitors under your budget, then click here.
Furthermore, it also supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) within 48 to 75 Hz range with AMD and NVIDIA cards. If you have an AMD card, you can take advantage of it on both Display Port and HDMI. It is limited to Display Port only if you have NVIDIA Card. This technology is very useful because it helps remove screen tearing and/or screen stuttering by dynamically matching the refresh rate of the screen with the fps of the game played.
Design and Ports:
Right from the first glance, the monitor looks super modern, somewhat minimalistic, and surely gives the vibe of a professional monitor. The monitor has very thin bezels all around the monitor, thinner than most others in its class. The bottom of the monitor has a ruler marked in centimeters if you may use it.
The monitor’s body is made of high-quality plastic painted in black with the ASUS logo on the backside of the monitor. The monitor stand looks super elegant in gray color. The stand has all possible movements with -5° to +35° Tilt, +90° to -90° swivel, +90°~-90° pivot and, 0~130 mm height adjustments. It also has a VESA mount 100 x 100 mm.
You can find ports on the back, towards the left side. Input ports include 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x Display Port 1.2 and, 1 x VGA (DA -15). It also includes a 3.5 mm PC Audio Input and Earphone jack. Lastly, it has 4 x USB 3.0 ports. There are 2W x 2 Stereo RMS built-in speakers.
To sum up, Asus PA248QV ProArt Monitor is the best monitor for photo editing from the list. The major reason is its excellent color accuracy, color coverage, and the ability to display true colors. It is also fit for casual gaming if you wish to.
2. Philips 276E9QDSB: Another Best Option
Screen Size: 27 inches | Resolution : 1920 x 1200 | Panel Type : IPS | Color Coverage: 124% sRGB & 93% NTSC | Display Colors: 16.7 M | Max Brightness : 250 cd/m2 | Native Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Image Quality:
One of the major advantages of this monitor is its IPS display which is color accurate and rich. It is capable of displaying a wide color range with sRGB 124% and NTSC 93% which is very surprising and rare in this segment of monitors. Thumbs up to Philips for that. The monitor’s huge 27 inches screen makes the working experience more appealing and enticing.
Philips 276E9QDSB’s 27-inch Full-HD screen resolution translates to ~ 82 Pixels per inch which is about 8 to 10 PPI short than the norm. It might be a little off if you are reading text on this monitor otherwise it won’t be bothersome. The native contrast ratio is 1000:1. It is on par with other best monitors in this segment. Moreover, it is capable of displaying 16.7 M wide range of colors which is indispensable when looking for the best photo editing monitors.
Performance:
Not only it provides adequate performance for photo editing, but also it is also capable of casual gaming. The 75 Hz refresh rate is slightly above normal and might give a minor edge in gaming. The input lag is also usual nothing worth noting. However, the pixel response time (GtG) is 4ms which is worth noting. It translated to faster transitions and less visible image artifacts.
Another cool feature is AMD FreeSync support means the Frames per second are in sync with the refresh rate of the screen. Although it works only for a very small range of frequency, it helps reduce screen tearing and stuttering marginally. Including Nvidia G-Sync support would make this monitor more demanding for gaming, but never mind.
Design and Ports:
The monitor stands on a rather uniquely designed rectangular base, providing solid support to the monitor. The silver color of the stand goes very well in combination with the glossy black of the monitor’s body. However, the stand only offers -5° to 20° tilt. The Monitor’s lack of swivel, pivot, and height adjustment movements might be a dealbreaker for a few people. Thankfully, you can mount it on VESA 100 x 100 mm compatible wall mounts.
This solid plastic body looks minimalistic and elegant overall. The bezels are very thin giving uninterrupted viewing experience. The screen has Anti-Glare 3H coating with 25% Haze which can provide up to the mark glare handling.
The monitor has VGA (Analog ), DVI-D (digital, HDCP), HDMI (digital, HDCP), and HDMI audio out ports.
Overall, the Philips 276E9QDSB is a second-best choice for best monitors for photo editing list. On top of that, it is also well capable of casual gaming.
3. Asus VA24EHE: Cheap Alternative
Screen Size: 23.8 inches | Resolution : 1920 x 1200 | Panel Type : IPS | Display Colors: 16.7 M | Max Brightness : 250 cd/m2 | Native Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Image Quality:
Asus VA24EHE has standard configurations which you would expect at this price point. It has a 1920 x 1080 display resolution with typical 16:9 aspect ratio and sufficiently large ~24 inch display. The pixel density is 92 PPI which makes text more easily readable and image sharper.
Moreover, the monitor packs an IPS display perfect for photo editing or media. As you would expect, the IPS panel manages to offer on par color accuracy and consistency. The 1000:1 contrast ratio with true 8-bit color depth can produce 16.7 million vivid colors.
Performance:
The monitor has more than enough performance necessary for photo editing. In addition, it is also capable of light gaming. The 75 Hz refresh rate and low input lag (~10 ms) create a finer gaming experience overall. But, remember, it won’t be perfect for competitive or shooter games especially if you have higher configuration GPUs that can deliver fps above 75 Hz.
Furthermore, the low pixel response time of 5ms (Gray-to-Gray) makes it better. It eradicates trailing or ghosting when objects are moving at a fast pace.
Besides, Asus VA24EHE also supports AMD FreeSync technology. It provides a variable refresh rate to match the fps of the monitor in the range of 48 to 75 Hz. This eliminates screen stuttering and tearing and makes the overall gaming or in fact anything better. However, you will need the supporting AMD card for FreeSync to work.
Design and Ports:
The monitor stands firmly on a rectangular stand in black to exactly match the color of the entire monitor. The stand has only -5° to 23° tilt movement support. Sadly no Swivel, pivot, and height adjustment available. But, you can mount the monitor on VESA 100 x 100 mm mount if you wish to do so.
The bezels around are super-thin provides a modern look and also make it more likely for a multi-monitor setup. Also, it has a non-glare coating on the screen for reduced glare which works well. If securing the monitor from theft is your concern than the good news is that it has a Kensington lock support.
The ports on this monitor include HDMI 1.4, DVI-D, and VGA ports but lack USB-A and 3.5 mm audio ports.
In conclusion, Asus VA24EHE is color accurate and very affordable 24 inch IPS modern-looking monitor for photo editing. It is also a good option for casual gaming because of its 75Hz refresh rate display, VRR, and low response times.
4. BenQ EW2780: HDR alternative
Screen Size: 27 inches | Resolution : 1920 x 1200 | Panel Type : IPS | Color Coverage: 72% NTSC | Max Brightness : 250 cd/m2 | Native Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 | HDR: HDR10
Image Quality:
The monitor is 27 inches diagonally which is bigger than most only 24 inch options in this segment. It has a standard 1920 x 1080 resolution with PPI of 82 which is relatively less than other smaller monitors with same resolution. BenQ EW2780’s IPS panel can produce peak brightness of 250 nits which quite a norm for IPS panels. It works fine unless you are under direct sunlight.
Speaking of the IPS panel, it has a native contrast ratio of 1000:1 which can produce 16.7 million vivid colors. I must say, the colors are really accurate and true to life.
The color coverage of this monitor is 72% NTSC which can produce enough variety of colors required for photo editing, or even gaming. The outstanding feature which sets this monitor apart is HDR10 support. Surprisingly, HDR10 works well than expected making the overall viewing experience truly immersive.
Performance:
The performance on this monitor is quite standard and sufficient for photo editing. It is even fit for casual gaming. All because of its 75 Hz refresh rate and Variable refresh rate support. It supports AMD FreeSync in 48 to 75 Hz range which improves the gaming experience by matching fps with refresh rate and as a result, there is no screen stuttering. Unfortunately, there is no G-Sync support as there is no Display Port on the monitor.
Moreover, the monitor has low input lag and low pixel response time of 5ms. This helps eliminate ghosting or trailing mostly while playing fast motion games.
Design and Ports:
BenQ EW2780 stands on a rectangular base of the stand. It feels solid and sturdy and provides good support to the monitor. However, the flexibility of the monitor is limited as it only supports Tilt. If that is bothersome to you, you can mount the monitor on VESA 100 x 100 mm mount.
Overall, the monitor looks super modern with minimal bezels, perfect for a multi-monitor setup. The chin is quite evident at the bottom but it is not infuriating at all.
You can find the ports at the back of the monitor on the lower side. It includes 3 x HDMI 2.0 port with auto-switching based on the input, and a 3,5 mm audio jack. Unfortunately, there are no Display Port and VGA (D-Sub) ports whatsoever.
Overall, BenQ EW2780 is the best HDR supported monitor in this price range you can ask for which makes it perfect for photo editing and even for HDR gaming.
Finally
We hope you choose your best monitors for photo editing under $200 from this post. If you think this post is helpful, we would be very grateful if you can share it by email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest to your friends, or family. You can find all the sharing buttons below the post. Thanks a lot for reading. Much appreciated.
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The guide is useful and will surely help me to make my purchase decision. I appreciate your effort for compiling the best list and sharing.
Regards,
Thanks a lot Shilp. I am very glad to hear that. It motivates us to come with even more helpful and cool post for our readers like you.