Best Monitors for Graphic Designers – As you can see, there’s a good graphic design monitor for every professional.
While choosing the best one for you, make sure to think about the projects that you’re working on and match them to the features.
Note these monitors can be used to attach to your laptop or as a second screen on a desktop. For our top picks see our article on the best computers for graphic design.
ROUND UP
1.Asus ProArt PA32UC
Pros & Cons
- 32-Inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution display with Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort 1.2 and 4 x HDMI 2.0B inputs
- Hdr-10 with integrated 384 local dimming zones supports up to 1000nits brightness for rich and detailed contrasts; Viewing Angle (CR≧10) : 178°(H)/178°(V)
- 99.5% Adobe RGB true Color reproduction, factory pre-calibrated for outstanding color accuracy (Delta). supports dic-p3 and Rec. 2020 color standards
- ASUS ProArt calibration technology with 14-bit look-up table (LUT) and uniformity Compensation capability
- Ergonomic tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustment stand with ASUS Eye Care flicker-free and low Blue light technologies
It should be mentioned that Asus let me borrow this monitor for several weeks, so this review is the culmination of my thoughts from using it and integrating it into our creative workflow for quite some time now.
Asus has packed in almost every feature you could think of in the ProArt PA32UC. It’s a 32-inch 3840 x 2160 IPS panel at 60 Hz with Adaptive Sync, it sports 100% sRGB color space coverage, 99.5% Adobe RGB and 95% DCI-P3, hitting all those wide gamuts. It’s fully HDR compatible with a 384-zone FALD backlight, it has Thunderbolt 3, and crucially, it comes with a hardware calibration tool in the box which makes getting accurate results a breeze for all buyers, not just those that already have calibration tools on hand.
2.ASUS TUF VG289Q
Pros & Cons
- 28-inch 4K (3840x2160) IPS DCI-P3 grade gaming monitor for stunning crisp and detailed visuals
- Compatible with industry-standard HDR10 high dynamic range for color and brightness levels that exceed the capabilities of ordinary monitors
- AMD FreeSync technology to eliminate screen tearing and choppy frame rates (supports both Adaptive-sync with AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards)
- Shadow Boost technology enhances image details in dark areas brightening scenes without over-exposing bright areas
- Flexible connectivity with DisplayPort 1 2 and HDMI (v2 0) x2 and features an ergonomically designed stand with swivel tilt pivot and height adjustments
The ASUS VG289Q is one of the first 4K IPS monitors to be available as a 28″ variant, with most alternatives with similar specifications being 27″.
In short, it offers an excellent picture quality, smooth performance, and plenty of useful features for a very appealing price as far as 4K IPS displays go.
The ASUS TUF-series monitor is based on a 28″ AAS (IPS) panel by Innolux with 178° wide viewing angles, a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio, a 350-nit peak brightness, and wide 90% DCI-P3 color gamut with dithered 10-bit depth support.
3.BenQ
Pros & Cons
- Exclusive AQCOLOR technology covers a wide variety of color spaces such as Adobe RGB, sRGB, Rec. 709, ensuring the colors on your screen are the brightest, boldest and most accurate
- Brightness (typ.) is 250nits; Aspect Ratio is 16:9
- View files side-by-side with DualView. Easily compare photos and videos in specialized CAD/CAM, darkroom or animation Display modes next to each other on one screen
- Ergonomic features allows you to customize your viewing experience with a tilt, twist or turn. Adjust the screen height or rotate to portrait mode for added comfort and workflow efficiency
- Keyboard video mouse (KVM) switch allows users to Display files, photos or videos from two different computers on a single screen. Easily work on multiple projects at once without worrying about transferring files computer to computer
- Eye care technology prevents eye strain, fatigue and irritation with Low Blue Light technology, Brightness Intelligence and ZeroFlicker filters out harmful blue light, automatically adjust screen brightness based on your surroundings and eliminates annoying flickering. Brightness: 250 cd/㎡
- All units purchased from comes with new firmware update, fixing previous flickering issues
You might accept a lesser high dynamic range (HDR) rating for a higher refresh rate, a larger screen size for a weightier product, or anything else in between. On rare occasions, ultrawide displays appear that make almost no compromises except for high price, such as the Acer Predator X35.
Other times, we get monitors like the BenQ Mobiuz EX3415R , which sacrifices a higher HDR rating or more vibrant color in pursuit of record-setting input-latency results. Unfortunately, those records are matched by alternatives like the MSI Optix MPG341CQR, which manages to go toe-to-toe with the Mobiuz on specs and performance numbers while looking better and costing a lot less. If you’re a BenQ loyalist, the EX3415R is the best gaming ultrawide display the company offers. Otherwise, MSI has already got you covered for way fewer bucks.
4.AOC CU34G2X
Pros & Cons
- 34" Class (34" Viewable) AOC Gaming G2 Series monitor with 3440x1440 Ultra wide Quad HD (2K+) resolution VA panel. Pixel Pitch: 0.23175
- Rapid 1ms response (MPRT) and 144Hz refresh rate with Adaptive-Sync for ultra-smooth competitive game play Curve radius: 1500mm
- 3-Sided frameless design with 1500R curvature for immersive gaming and entertainment
- VA panel for wide viewing angles and brilliant colors displaying over 115% sRGB and 98% Adobe RGB color gamut area coverage
- AOC Re-Spawned 3-year zero-bright-dot 3-year advance replacement 1-year (one-time) accidental damage
The AOC CU34G2X is a great ultrawide gaming monitor. It has a 144Hz panel with Adaptive Sync support, so even though it’s not officially certified by AMD nor NVIDIA for variable refresh rate (VRR) support, FreeSync and G-SYNC still both work on it.
It has low input lag, and although it has a quick overall response time, there’s visible black smearing, which is typical of VA panels. Speaking of which, it has a high native contrast ratio, but that means it has narrow viewing angles, so it’s not ideal for co-op gaming. The 34 inch screen and 3440×1440 resolution help deliver an immersive gaming experience, and it has a fairly aggressive 1500R curve to bring the edges of the screen within your field of vision.
5.Alienware AW3420DW
Pros & Cons
- Experience breathtaking views with a combination of immersive features
- Aspect Ratio is 21:9; Viewing Angle is 178º (H) / 178º (V); Brightness is 350 cd/m²(typical)
- A 1900R curved, wide 21: 9 display maximizes the field of view and provides an even, consistent viewing experience
- With a WQHD (3440x1440) resolution, the image is sharp and detailed delivering an immersive experience
- A 120Hz refresh rate with NVIDIA G-SYNC provides buttery smooth gameplay and realism
- G-sync technology synchronizes the GPU and monitor, displaying full frames only when the monitor is capable of displaying them; This minimizes graphic distortions such as tearing and artifacts from forming on screen
- The 120Hz refresh rate is important to gamers, allowing them to-see faster, and react to quick events sooner. Screen Coating Antiglare with 3H hardness
- Adopting IPS Nano color technology, the Alienware 34 curved gaming monitor exceeds the sRGB color spectrum and is now described by DCI-P3, a cinematic, professional standard
- Offering 98% DCI-P3 (134.5Percentage sRGB) color coverage, this gaming monitor provides incredible accuracy and color depth so that the game’s colors are experienced as it was designed to be seen
- Alienfx customizable lighting allows gamers to set the mood with the Alienware head logo, the continuous light strip on the stand, the Downlight and the power button as 4 customizable zones with full RGB value.Display technology: LED
The back side of the cabinet is almost completely white, except for black highlights in the recessed area in the center where the monitor joins the stand, and near the bottom of the screen where the ports can be found. The left side of the back of the screen is home to, arranged in a column, a four-way joystick and four additional buttons for navigating the monitor’s menus. The power button sits on the bottom of the screen, near that corner.
There’s nothing subtle about the Alienware 34, viewed from the front or the back. The body is white with black inserts, evoking the design of Alienware’s recent Aurora desktop PCs and the Sony PlayStation 5. (Alienware dubs this its “Lunar Light” color scheme.) The curved 34-inch screen features only a thin black band running around its perimeter, and hardly any bezel save for a narrow strip on the bottom edge holding the Alienware logo.
WRAP UP
Best Monitors for Graphic Designers – As a designer, the most important things to look for in a monitor are size, resolution, and color accuracy. Now that it is 2021 there is no reason you should buy a 1080p resolution. Ideally, get a 4k monitor or at least a 1440p screen.
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