When choosing a monitor for photo editing, the most important quality you would be looking at is how accurate is the monitor in terms of color and presenting details of the photo. This is because you don’t want to mess up the image thinking that there is a problem in the image when there is actually some kind of fault or miscalibration in your monitor. Another important deciding factor has to be screen resolution, color coverage, contrast ratio, black uniformity, brightness consistency – throughout the screen, and screen panel type (IPS, VA or TN). Based on these aspects, we have picked the best monitors for photo editing you can get right now.
If you want to learn more on important things to consider when buying a photo editing monitor visit our detailed post here.
List of best monitors for photo editing:
The list has a variety of options to choose from. Like hands down best monitors without any compromise, best budget monitors, the best value, ultrawide alternatives, and lastly for the people who want a good monitor for photo editing along with capabilities of casual gaming.
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ASUS ProArt Display PA27UCX-K – Best photo editing monitor
Specifications:
Screen Size: 27 inches | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel Type: IPS | Color Coverage: 99.5% Adobe RGB, 97% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB | Brightness: 1000 nits| Color Accuracy: ΔE < 1 | Response time: 4 ms | HDR: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision | Display Colors: 1.07 billion color (10 bit) | Ergonomics: Tilt: -5° to 23°, Height Adjustment Range: 0 ~ 120 mm, Swivel: +/-60°, Pivot: +/-90° , VESA: 100 x 100mm| Ports: 1 x Display Port 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB – C, 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack
Image Quality:
The ASUS ProArt Display PA27UCX-K should be the number one choice for people who deal with color-critical work. To start with, it has 576 local dimming zones which you don’t find in most other monitors in the competition. This dimming numerous zone makes this panel feel closer to a true OLED panel by increasing the contrast. Moreover, the color coverage is as expected with this high-end photo editing monitor. It has 97% DCI-P3, 99.5% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB, and 100% Rec.709 which covers the most important spaces needed for the job. Color accuracy is also excellent with △E < 1. An important thing to note is that it comes with a color calibrator to further help users re-calibrate and fine-tune the display as needed. Lastly, if you work in a well-lit room you are fine because it has a 1000 cd/m² peak brightness.
Performance:
It has a response time of 4 ms GtG and refreshes at 60 Hz, pretty standard. Moreover, it has Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture viewing modes which can assist users with multitasking. To sum up, the monitor has nothing outstanding in terms of performance and that’s fine given that it is a monitor designed for color-accurate work like photo editing and not gaming.
Design and Ports:
The monitor looks pretty simple yet elegant. Thanks to its slim profile and golden accents. It has an ergonomically designed stand that offers tilt (+23° ~ -5°), swivel (+60° ~ -60°), pivot (+90° ~ -90°), and height adjustments (0~120mm). Also, it has a VESA 100 x 100mm wall mount support. It also has an ambient light sensor which is cool.
Talking about the ports on ASUS ProArt Display PA27UCX-K, it has 1 x USB-C, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0, and 1 x earphone jack. It also packs 2 speakers of 2W each.
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ViewSonic VP2785-4K – Best photo editing monitor under $1000
Specifications:
Screen Size: 27 inches | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel Type: IPS | Color Coverage: 99% Adobe RGB | Brightness: 350 nits| Color Accuracy: ΔE < 2 | Response time: 14 ms (gtg) | HDR: HDR10 | Display Colors: 1.07 billion color | Color Depth: 10 bit (8bit + A-FRC) | Ergonomics: Tilt: -5° to 21°, Height Adjustment Range: 0 ~ 130 mm, Swivel: +/-60°, Pivot: +/-90° , VESA: 100 x 100mm| Ports: 1 x USB – C, 1 x USB -B, 3 x USB -A, 1 x Display Port, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack, 1 x Mini Display Port
Image Quality:
ViewSonic VP2785-4K is indeed the best photo editing monitor one can get below $1000. Mainly because of its display quality. Although it is an IPS panel, there is almost no backlight bleeding when looking head-on even in dark images. The colors looked on point right out of the box. Also, the color accuracy is as it is claimed to be, if not better. Not only that, it even proved to be accurate in the AdobeRGB test with 99% coverage. Moreover, it has a 10-bit depth, which is very excellent to work with monochrome images.
Performance:
The monitor has a response time of 14 ms GtG and a refresh rate of 60 Hz which is the standard you get these days in any monitor. It has no serious performance highlights and that is perfectly fine in my opinion as it is a photographers’ and editors’ monitor and not particularly for gamers.
Design and Ports:
The monitor looks sleek and modern with narrow bezels around and a considerably smaller chin at the bottom for ambient light sensors and buttons to control the monitor. Also, the stand looks appealing to me with a slight curve giving it a rich look. It offers some basic ergonomic features like tilt from -5° to 21°, Height Adjustment Range from 0 ~ 130 mm, Swivel from +60° to -60°, and Pivot from +90° to -90°. One cool thing to note about the ambient light sensor is that it allows the monitor to reach its comfortable brightness level just so it protects your eye.
The monitor has 1 x USB – C, 1 x USB -B, 3 x USB -A, 1 x Display Port, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack, and 1 x Mini Display Port.
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AOC U2790VQ – Best photo editing monitor under $300
Specifications:
Screen Size: 27 inches | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel Type: IPS | Color Coverage: 108% sRGB & 90% NTSC | Brightness: 350 nits|Response time: 5 ms (gtg) | Static Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 | Display Colors: 1.07 billion color | Color Depth: 10 bit (8bit + FRC) | Ergonomics: Tilt: -3.5° to 21.5°, VESA: 100 x 100mm| Ports: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm audio in/out
Image Quality:
You are unlikely to find another product as AOC U2790VQ at this price point offering such features. It offers a gorgeous 4k resolution with an IPS panel known for its color production and accuracy. Color accuracy is excellent after some calibration. The color coverage on this thing is remarkable with 108% sRGB or 91% NTSC. However, it is worth considering that this monitor doesn’t pack HDR or zone dimming capabilities but doesn’t affect the overall quality as such.
Performance:
The AOC U2790VQ has a standard 60 Hz refresh rate. It really does the job of editing or even casual gaming. However, the pixel response stands at 5 ms which results in slight ghosting. But, it’s only noticeable when you move the mouse pointer on top of a black background. Also, it lacks HDR and local dimming which is normally found on higher-end monitors.
Design and ports:
The AOC U2790VQ looks sleek with a sort of frameless design from three sides. This is suitable for a multi-monitor setup. Though it has a small chin at the bottom, overall it looks promising. The entire monitor is made of high-quality plastic. Also, there is space in the stand which helps in cable management and gives it a clean look. Mentioning the stand, it has limited ergonomic capabilities as it is tilt-only. However, it has VESA 100 x 100mm mount.
For connectivity, it has 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, and 3.5mm audio in/out. It would have been complete if AOC included USB ports.
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Acer ConceptD CM3271K – Best value photo editing monitor
Specifications:
Screen Size: 27 inches | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Panel Type: IPS | Color Coverage: 99% Adobe RGB | Brightness: 400 nits|Response time: 5 ms (gtg) | Static Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 | Display Colors: 1.07 billion color | Color Depth: 10 bit | HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400 | Ergonomics: Tilt: -5° to 35°, Height Adjustment Range: 0 ~ 178 mm, Swivel: +/-180°, VESA: 100 x 100mm| Ports: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0 up, 4 x USB 3.0 down, 1 x USB Type – C, 3.5mm audio out
Image Quality:
This monitor from Acer is the most value-packed monitor for photo editing you can get. For this price point, you get a ton of gamut alternatives along with immense color saturation. The Acer ConceptD CM3271K packs an amazing 4k IPS panel producing just a little over a billion colors. As mentioned before it has amazing color gamuts with Adobe RGB at nearly 99% which makes perfect sense for a photo editing monitor. It is decent for well-lit environments as it supports a peak brightness of 400 nits in HDR.
Performance:
This monitor is not meant for competitive gaming and is decent in performance. Though you can do some casual gaming on this monitor. It has a 4 ms pixel response time which is not bad at all for casual gaming. Moreover, it also has a 60 Hz display and supports AMD FreeSync Premium.
Design and Ports:
Overall, the monitor looks pretty solid. Its build quality is good. The base of the stand is wooden finished and gives a unique look to the monitor. Also, the monitor comes with a hood for better managing light reflections on the screen.
The stands has pretty decent ergonomics with Tilt (-5°~35°), Swivel (360°), and Height adjustment (177.80 mm). Port s includes 1 x HDMI 2.0,1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x 3.5mm Headphone, 1 x USB Type-C, 2 x USB 3.0 Upstream, 4 x USB 3.0 Downstream. It also supports VESA 100 x 100 mm mount.
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Philips 292E2E – Best affordable ultrawide photo editing monitor
Specifications:
Screen Size: 29 inches| Screen Ratio: 21:9 | | Resolution: 2560 x 1080 | Panel Type: IPS | Color Coverage: 126% sRGB, 110% NTSC | Brightness: 300 nits|Response time: 1 ms (MPRT) | Static Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 | Display Colors: 16.7 million color | Ergonomics: Tilt: -5° to 35°, Height Adjustment Range: 0 ~ 178 mm, Swivel: +/-180°, VESA: 100 x 100mm| Ports: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0 up, 4 x USB 3.0 down, 1 x USB Type – C, 3.5mm audio out
Image Quality:
The Philips 292E2E UltraWide monitor offers broad panoramic visuals. The 21:9 UltraWide screen improves the multitasking experience and makes just doing anything with the screen much more immersive. Moreover, photo-editing is better with the IPS panel this monitor uses. It gives better color reproduction and color fidelity than other panels out on the market.
Performance:
Although Philips 292E2E is not meant to be for gaming, it can still deliver some features which allow users to do casual gaming on it. The monitor’s ultra-fast 1ms response coupled with AMD FreeSync technology and faster 75Hz refresh rate provides smooth, seamless performance in general and especially in gaming.
Design and Ports:
The monitor has a rectangular boxy design going on. The panel housing plus the stand all are rectangles. It looks pretty okay. It has thin bezels around the screen and a slight chin. The stand is ergonomic. It offers a Tilt of -5° to 35°, a Height Adjustment Range from 0 to 178 mm, Swivel from +180° to -180°, and also support for VESA 100 x 100mm mount.
Talking about the ports, it has 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0 up, 4 x USB 3.0 down, 1 x USB Type – C, and 3.5mm audio-out ports. In my opinion, it has a decent amount of port options and numbers.
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GIGABYTE M32Q – Best photo editing and gaming monitor
Specifications:
Screen Size: 32 inches | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Refresh Rate: 165 Hz | Panel Type: IPS | Color Coverage: 94% DCI-P3, 120% sRGB | Brightness: 350 nits|Response time: 0.8 ms (MPRT)/ 1 ms (GtG) | Static Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 | Color Depth: 8 bit | HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400 | Ergonomics: Tilt: -5° to 20°, Height Adjustment Range: 0 ~ 130 mm, Swivel: +/-30°VESA: 100 x 100mm| Ports: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB Type – C
Image Quality:
The Gigabyte M32Q is an IPS panel monitor the perfect choice for editing work as well as gaming. It is one of the few monitors that do this both. It produces consistent and vibrant, thanks to its IPS panel. This panel covers a respectable 94% of the DCI-P3 and 120% sRGB. The HDR peak brightness of the panel hits nearly 400 nits and a contrast ratio of 1000:1.
Can’t expect much from baseline VESA DisplayHDR400. Although you can expect almost zero color shift, better response time than VA or TN, and wider viewing angles. One thing you might want to remember is that as it is an IPS panel, you may notice some IPS glow, and slight backlight bleeding especially in dark scenes.
Performance:
The Gigabyte M32Q packs a lot of juice as it is also a gaming monitor. Let’s start with one of the most important features a gaming monitor has to have. A low pixel response time. Pixel response time on this thing is just sublime with just shy of 1 ms it feels super smooth. You will have hardly any blurring or ghosting going on if not at all providing some really great competitive advantage. Four overdrives modes offered by this monitor are: Balanced, Speed, Picture Quality, and Smart OD. Depending upon the refresh rate and VRR it tries to minimize ghosting by delivering just the right pixel response time.
Furthermore, the Gigabyte M32Q monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium. It works in refresh rates ranging from 48 to 170Hz (on Overclocking) to help minimize tearing during gameplay. If you have an NVIDIA graphics card then still you can make use of the VRR facility over DisplayPort on GeForce graphics cards GTX 10’s or later.
Design and Ports:
The monitor has a sort of gaming vibe. The border is thin with a bit of chin. The stands look cool and sturdy though. It offers a tilt of -5° to 20°, a Height Adjustment Range from 0 to 130 mm, and Swivel from -30° to +30° but no pivot option. It also offers 100 x 100mm VESA mount compatibility also if you are into it.
Connectivity options consists of 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports, 3 x USB 3.0 hub, and 1 x USB-C port.
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I really hope this post helps you in deciding the best monitors for photo editing for you from a variety of options offered.
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