Photo editing is an art that requires a precise set of skills which include accurate color reproduction. Editing photos would require a cutting-edge monitor, and regular ordinary monitors won’t cut it. That is why you should buy the most advanced monitors for this task.
Product | Features |
 | BenQ PD2700U Designing 4K Monitor
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 | BenQ SW270C 27 Inch QHD PhotoVue 1440P Photo Editing IPS Monitor
|
 | SAMSUNG CF396 Curved 23.5” Computer Monitor
|
 | Z-Edge U28I4K Gaming 28-inch Monitor
|
 | Philips 276E8VJSB 4K UHD 27" IPS Monitor
|
Photo editing and video editing are complicated tasks that require a precise eye to match the color levels accurately. Imagine editing a photo on an ordinary monitor which doesn’t have a standard color code and sending the output to your client. The image they will be seeing on their monitor will be completely different from the one you have sent. This type of error occurs because of using regular monitors for professional purposes.
A photo or video editor should use a monitor that follows the industry’s color standard. This will ensure the quality of the output. Moreover, there won’t be any difference in the color levels of the images. But finding the right monitor for this skillful task can prove to be a tedious process. To make it easy, we have listed the best monitor for photo editing in this article. You can find a list of top-performing digital monitors from which you can choose the right one. Also, make sure to read our buying guide thoroughly before making any decision. Our buying guide will help you find the right monitor for your requirements.
Best Monitor For Photo Editing – Buying Guide
Factors to consider while buying the best monitor for photo editing
Panel Technology: There are three major types of panel technologies in computer monitors. The three major types of panel technology are IPS, TN, and VA. It is better to buy a monitor with IPS panel technology because it is better than TN and VA panel technology. IPS panel technology offers the same color reproduction and color depth regardless of the angle of perception. It also offers better color accuracy than other panel technologies. However, there is one drawback of monitors with IPS panel technology which is that they tend to be brighter when viewed in dark rooms. This might cause headaches for some people. Overall, IPS technology is the preferable one.
Color Gamut: Basically, the color gamut is the range of colors that the computer monitor produces. There are two types of gamut monitors, namely, standard gamut monitors and wide gamut monitors. A wide-gamut monitor will be able to display colors more accurately than a standard gamut monitor. However, if you are buying a monitor for other purposes that don’t include photo editing or color correction, you do need to worry about this one. If you are a photo editor, a wide-gamut monitor will prove to be useful as it can display colors more accurately. A wide gamut monitor might be more expensive than a standard gamut monitor.
Resolution: The resolution of the monitor plays a significant and more visible role than any other feature of the market. Resolution is the number of pixels available in a given space. Mostly, it will be calculated by the number of pixels present in an inch or centimeter. Pixels are tiny dots (squares, to be more precise) that form the image we perceive in the display. If you are buying the monitor for the photo editing process, always go above the SD or HD resolution monitors. It would be much better to go for expensive monitors with a 2k or 4k display. The more the resolution, the better it is. However, if the image you are editing is of low resolution, the monitor won’t do any good or harm to the image.
Other few features should be considered before buying a monitor for photo editing. We will now proceed to the reviews section, where you can find the best monitors for photo editing.
Best Monitor For Photo Editing Reviews
Description
- Brand: BenQ
- Connectivity: Mini-DisplayPort, DisplayPort, HDMI, USB 3.0
- Resolution: 4k
- Display Type: LCD
Performance:
BenQ PD2700U is a 27-inch ultra HD monitor that has been designed to meet the specific requirements for animation, photo editing, and video editing tasks. You can edit photos and view them in 4K resolution, which will make it much easier to view the details. Also, it follows industry-standard color codes, so you don’t want to worry about adjusting the colors, contrast, and brightness to adapt to other monitors. This makes this the best monitor for picture editing.
Comparison:
The monitor has many advanced features that are included to protect the user’s eyes from harmful lights. The monitor uses LCD technology which can cause eye irritation when used for a long period. But BenQ PD2700U has a layer of coating that reduces the amount of blue light emitted from the monitor. This will keep your eye from getting irritated even if you use it for a long time. Also, it is flicker-free ensuring zero latency while you are editing or animating.
Usage:
This is the best monitor for photo editing and video editing because of its superior features. But apart from photo and video editing, you can use it for modeling, animating, rigging, lighting, rendering, etc. It can also be used to create complex visual effects shots. You can see the accurate reproduction of the colors while editing using this monitor. Another amazing feature of this monitor is the DualView option. It will let you work on two monitors simultaneously. This will allow you to edit on an ordinary monitor and view the final output on the BenQ monitor. This will cut the expenses in half and increase productivity significantly.
Pros
- Dual-view compatible
- 4K resolution
- Factory calibrated color
- Several eye protection
Cons
- Color differs from screen to screen
What’s New?
The monitor follows a factory-calibrated color scale, producing output that matches all the monitors. It has diverse connectivity options, including HDMI, VGA, USB 3.0, Mini-Display Port, etc. Also, the monitor has a refresh rate of 60hz. Due to the high refresh rate, it will be the better option for animators and high-frequency traders.
Why Should You Buy It?
If you are looking for the best monitor for photo editing for under $500 with industry-standard performance, BenQ PD2700U Designing 4K Monitor is the right fit for you. It has superior features that not only produce brilliant outputs but also offer protection to human eyes.
Description
- Brand: BenQ
- Connectivity: USB, USB Type C, HDMI, Thunderbolt
- Resolution: 2560×1440
- Display Type: USB
Performance:
If you are looking for the best computer monitor for photo editing, regardless of the price, BenQ SW270C 27 Inch QHD PhotoVue 1440P Photo Editing IPS Monitor might be the right option for you. It is a top-tier grade computer monitor that has been designed specifically for photo editing, video editing, and animation purposes. It has 27 inches wide screen with QHD picture resolution making it a deadly combination for photo editing purposes.
Comparison:
There are more than ten advanced features that are available exclusively on this monitor. One of those features is the 10-bit color depth which allows you to see more than one billion colors. It also makes you see natural shading and enables a much smoother color grading. Another unique feature of this monitor is its 99% Adobe RBG which lets you capture nature’s beauty with 100% sRGB/Rec. 709, 99% Adobe RGB, and 97% P3 color spaces.
Usage:
The monitor has a unique shading hood which eliminates glare on the screen when you are working in an environment with much ambient light. The shading hood is detachable and can be easily removed if it becomes a disturbance. Due to the wide screen size and QHD resolution, it can be used for all designing, editing, and production purposes. It is an industry-standard monitor which offers many advanced features that even other editing monitors can’t. This makes it the best color monitor for photo editing.
Pros
- QHD resolution
- Shading hood
- 10-bit color depth
- GamutDuo
Cons
- Expensive
What’s New?
As we have discussed earlier, the monitor has many advanced features that can’t even be seen in other editing monitors. It is a top-tier grade professional production-level monitor that has been used in major animation studios. GamutDuo is another new feature available on this monitor that will let you see the same image in two different color gamuts on the same screen side-by-side. This will let the users make a detailed comparison.
Why Should You Buy It?
This is an expensive monitor but is worth more than its cost. It is the best monitor for photo editing. Also, the monitor has been manufactured by one of the leading visual display producers called, BenQ. BenQ is a reliable brand when it comes to monitors and other display products. So, it will be a wise choice to buy this monitor.
Description
- Brand: Samsung
- Resolution: HD
- Connectivity: HDMI
- Display Type: LED
Performance:
SAMSUNG CF396 Curved 23.5” Computer Monitor is the most affordable monitor for photo editing. It is the best monitor for photo editing for under $200. The monitor uses an LED display which generally doesn’t produce any eye irritation or headaches. Also, LED displays are much more precise and crisp compared to LCDs. Due to its curved display, it might be a little difficult to get used to first when editing photos. But later, it can prove to be much more efficient and consumes less time to edit photos.
Comparison:
This is the best computer monitor for photo editing under 200. It might be cheaper but has many advanced features that will assist the user while editing photos and videos. The monitor is considered to be one of the slimmest displays. The monitor’s cross width is astonishingly just 0.5 inches. Additionally, the display is curved to make it much more efficient. To support the display, the monitor has a slim curved stand that keeps the whole product stable.
Usage:
The monitor can be used for any designing purpose, coding, developing day trading, etc. This is the best-curved monitor for photo editing. Though its performance excels in editing photos, it can be used for day trading too. Its wide curved screen lets its users keep at least four charts on the same screen. This will help them to analyze the same stock’s price action in different timeframes or lets them monitor different stocks at the same time.
Pros
- Curved screen
- LED display
- Affordable
- Eye saver mode
Cons
- No speaker or USB connections
What’s New?
The monitor is ultra-lightweight and super thin and also has VESA mountable feature. This makes it mount anywhere in your house or office without trouble. Eco savings plus is another feature that makes it possible to reduce the brightness of the display without compromising the display quality. Also, it has eye saver mode, which reduces eye strain and irritation.
Why Should You Buy It?
The monitor lets you edit photos and videos comfortably without adding additional stress to your eyes. It has VESA mountable option making it easier to transport from one place to another and fix it there. Also, it can be quite useful for photo editors because of its active crystal color technology and 3000:1 contrast ratio.
Description
- Brand: Z-Edge
- Resolution: 4K
- Connectivity: USB, DisplayPort, HDMI
- Display Type: LED
Performance:
This is also another monitor that is affordable but has industry-level performance. Z-Edge U28I4K Gaming 28-inch Monitor is the best monitor for photo editing under $300. The monitor is a 28-inch wide gaming monitor which has been designed mainly for gaming. But it can prove to be the best fit for photo editing because of its accurate color reproduction capability. Since it has been designed for gaming, it has a latency of just 4ms. So, animators can animate complex scenes without worrying about lag.
Comparison:
The monitor supports a USB C-type port which can transfer a huge amount of data seamlessly. Usually, it is hard to find a 4K resolution monitor at this cost. But Z-Edge is offering an ultra HD (4K) monitor for less than $300. The refresh rate of the monitor is 60hz, and the display has IPS panel technology which is known for producing much more in-depth colors.
Usage:
Z-Edge U28I4K Gaming 28-inch Monitor can be used for photo editing, video editing, gaming, animation, lighting, rendering, etc. It lasts much longer than other monitors and has exceptional picture quality. It has a 4ms response time which makes it fast. Also, it is VESA mountable, so you can place it anywhere in your office or home and start working instantly.
Pros
- 4K resolution
- 178°panoramic viewing angel
- Advanced IPS panel
- Elegant design
Cons
- Poor stand
What’s New?
The monitor has a 178o panoramic viewing angle making it the best monitor for photo editing. It has an anti-blue light coating which reduces the display of blue light that can cause strain to our eyes. But it doesn’t compromise the quality of the displayed picture at any cost. You can view in-depth images with crisp and precise colors making it easier to manipulate photos and color-grade video footage.
Why Should You Buy It?
This is one of the top-grade monitors for photo editing and other design purposes. It is also much cheaper than other monitors with the same features. The 4K resolution will let the users view the colors, contrast, and brightness levels of the images accurately. It will be much useful when for people who work in the color grading and lighting field.
Description
- Brand: Philips
- Resolution: 4K
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0 x 2 Separate Sync, Sync on Green Audio out
- Display Type: LED
Performance:
Philips 276E8VJSB 4K UHD 27″ IPS Monitor is the best monitor for photo editing. The monitor has IPS panel technology, so users can visualize many in-depth colors. One of the best features of this monitor is that the monitor can display more than 1 billion colors flawlessly. The human eye won’t be able to differentiate between that diverse range of colors. But combined with that wide range of colors with ultra HD (4K) image resolution, it is undoubtedly the best-performing monitor.
Comparison:
The appearance of the monitor is a pure delight for our eyes. The monitor has been designed elegantly and has a curved stand to enhance its beauty. Not only does it perform better than other monitors, but it also acts as a decorative item in your workspace too. The monitor features 10-bit depth color reproduction, which reproduces life-like colors. This means there won’t be any difference between seeing something with your eyes and seeing the same thing on this monitor.
Usage:
The monitor is a top-tier high, performing monitor which has a reputation for producing brilliant colors. Professionals from many fields, including designing, photo editing, color grading, video editing, animation, and rendering, use this monitor. You can use this monitor for a long time, and it won’t affect your eye because of the multiple protection layers employed. The IPS panel technology in this monitor makes the viewing angle 178o. Also, the images are much more crisp and precise compared to monitors that use TN and VA panel technology.
Pros
- Ultra HD resolution
- Elegant design
- One billion+ color
- Accurate color reproduction
Cons
- None
What’s New?
Usually, electronic products don’t have a warranty, and it is much rarer to see a display product with a warranty. But Philips 276E8VJSB 4K UHD 27″ IPS Monitor comes with a four-year replacement warranty. This will let you replace the monitor for any defect within the first four years of purchase.
Why Should You Buy It?
This monitor is used and recommended by professionals in multiple creative and production fields. It performs much better and more efficiently than any other monitor in this price range. Also, you can replace your monitor if there is any defect in the monitor. If you are looking for a cheap monitor with exceptional performance, Philips 276E8VJSB 4K UHD 27″ IPS Monitor is the right fit for you.
FAQs
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What type of monitor is the best for editing photos?
Multiple things should be taken into consideration for choosing the best monitor for photo editing. One of the most important things is the monitor’s resolution. It is better to go with a monitor with 4K resolution or at least higher than SD resolution quality. It will help you see the image with many details. Apart from the resolution, monitors, panel technology, aspect ratio, screen size, and other things play a crucial role.
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Is a 4K resolution monitor necessary for photo editing?
A monitor with 4K resolution is not a necessity, but it will help to make precise corrections and manipulation of the images. With a 4K monitor, you can view the image’s details easily. But one should make sure that their graphics card supports the 4K resolution. Or else, your ultra HD monitor would be of no use.
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Which is better, HDR or 4K monitors?
HDR monitors are known for their ability to deliver high-contrast images along with a wide color scale. At the same time, 4K monitors are popular for delivering much sharp, crisp, and precise pixel output. Both monitors are popular and produce brilliant color outputs.
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What should I consider if I want a monitor with good color accuracy?
If you want a monitor that can accurately reproduce the colors, you should check the monitor’s panel technology. IPS panel technology tends to provide a much more accurate reproduction of colors compared to TN and VA panel technology monitors.