Best Monitors for Photo Editing – In this guide we’ve picked some of the best monitors on the market that prioritize resolution, color accuracy, brightness consistency and contrast to display your photos properly.
We appreciate that not every photographer wants to spend hundreds or thousands on a high-end display, so we’ve split our guide into two parts:
ROUND UP
1.BenQ SW270C PhotoVue
Features
- Aqcolor technology: 99% Adobe RGB Coverage, uniformity technology and hardware calibration support for accurate color performance for photographer
- 27 inch, 16: 9, 2560x1440 resolution: enjoy exceptional clarity of fine details with IPS technology
- Hardware calibration with palette master element software: tune and maintain the color performance of the monitor at its most optimal State
- High dynamic Range (HDR): increase the overall dynamic range between Black and white to make image quality closer to what human eyes see in the natural world
- Usb Type-C: transmit data/video/Audio signal and power delivery with one cable for easy hardware calibration. In addition, USB-C is compatible with Thunderbolt 3
- Connectivity Technology: Hdmi
There’s already been a couple of industry awards for BenQ’s photo monitors, the latest being the PhotoVue SW321C which has recently been judged Best Professional Photo Monitor in the 2020 TIPA World Awards.
BenQ’s newest offering in 27-inch photo monitors is the SW270C which is essentially a 2K QHD version of the 4K BenQ SW271. The higher resolution displays may have glamour status right now, but the reality for many photographers is that 2K is more than sufficient for many image editing requirements.
It may sound contradictory, but in terms of evaluating fine detailing in an image, less resolution can actually be more revealing than more, especially at the smaller monitor sizes which result in very high pixels-per-inch (ppi) counts. QHD is a good compromise. That said, video is a different story, but the SW270C is first and foremost designed for photographers.
2.LG 27UN850-W
Features
- 27” UltraFine UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS Display
- VESA DisplayHDR 400
- USB-C with 60W Power Delivery
- SRGB 99% Color Gamut
- 3-Side Virtually Borderless Display with Height / Pivot / Tilt Adjustable Stand
Gaming with all features intact. That’s the LG 27UN850-W gaming monitor’s core proposition. It’s a 27-inch 4K monitor that not only offers HDR400 support, but also precise image quality thanks to its 4K native resolution and IPS panel. It also offers sleek styling and a feature set finely tuned for gaming and productivity.
Highlights here include USB-C connectivity complete with 60W device charging and 3-side virtually borderless display styling with heigh, swivel, pivot and tilt ergonomic adjustments.
As mentioned, the 27UN850-W is HDR certified, but unlike its other sibling the LG 27UK850-W that support HDR10, this panel rocks VESA DisplayHDR 400 and 99% sRGB color gamut coverage. For your gaming sessions, the Ultrafine UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution is a win, making it a promising display from a productivity perspectiv
3.AOC U2790VQ
Features
- AOC 27” 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 UHD LED monitor
- Ips panel with wide Viewing angles and produces over 1 billion colors for rich details
- 3-Sided frameless design, ideal for seamless setup. Brightness (typical) - 350 cd/m²
- 5ms response time for fast Responses
- Accurate colors with over 99% sRGB & 90% NTSC color gamut coverage
- DisplayPort 1. 2, HDMI 2. 0, HDMI 1. 4 Connectivity (HDMI, & DisplayPort cables included)
- 20, 000, 000: 1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio for more details
- AOC low Blue mode protects your eyes from harmful Blue light spectrum
- Wall mountable with quick-remove stand (VESA compatible)
The AOC U2790VQ is a sleek 4K monitor whose aggressive pricing undercuts other 4K monitors without sacrificing style or looks. It lacks HDR and USB-C, but there’s no shortage of detail and color accuracy.
This is an above-average IPS monitor crested for office productivity and as such, it offers accurate colors with over 100% sRGB, reasonable connectivity, and crucially, native 4K resolution. It boasts a 3840 by 2160 pixels resolution, making it a great panel for work or the home-office, now that most of us are working from home.
It’s also worth noting that this monitor sports a good design and a sturdy built is priority here, and all in all, the pricing is quite low. Let’s find out how it stacks against the competition in this AOC U2790VQ review.
4.ASUS PA278QV 27”
Features
- 27-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS monitor with frameless design
- International color standard 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 wide color gamut
- Calman Verified with factory calibration for excellent Delta E less than 2 color accuracy
- ASUS-exclusive ProArt Preset and ProArt Palette provide numerous adjustable color parameters
- Extensive connectivity for maximum flexibility, including Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort, HDMI, dual-link DVI-D, audio in and earphone jack, plus four USB 3.0 ports
- Ergonomic stand with tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustments for a comfortable viewing experience, plus VESA wall-mountable
The ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV is a very good budget-friendly monitor that’s intended for creative professionals. Its superb ergonomics, high peak brightness, and wide viewing angles make it a good fit for nearly any type of workspace. It comes with good color accuracy out-of-the-box and it has an excellent SDR color gamut; however, it can’t display a wide color gamut and doesn’t support HDR.
It has impressive gaming performance despite its professional-looking design, as it has a fast response time, Adaptive Sync support, and a 75Hz refresh rate that makes fast motion look just a bit more fluid. Unfortunately, it has a low contrast ratio and mediocre black uniformity, which is expected of most IPS panels. On the bright side, it provides a generous number of USB ports and even has a pair of built-in speakers.
5.Dell UltraSharp U2720Q
Features
- Create an efficient workspace with the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q 27 inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) LED Backlit LCD IPS USB-C Monitor (7GZ651)
- Sleek design - 27 inch diagonal 4K UHD IPS screen with vibrant 3840 x 2160 resolution and thin profile that supports virtually seamless multi-display setups
- Exceptional visuals - see consistent, vibrant colors across a wide viewing angle enabled by In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology
- Experience simple, convenient connectivity - work with your most frequently-used devices with DisplayPort, HDMI, USB ports, and Audio Line out
- Display Features: Tilt, Swivel, Pivot, Vesa Mount Compatible, Anti-glare, USB Hub, LED Backlights, In Plane Switching, Security Lock Slot, Energy Star Certified, 99% sRGB color gamut
The Dell UltraSharp U2720Q is a good 4k monitor that comes with HDR support and wide connectivity options. Like its predecessor, the Dell U2718Q, it features an IPS panel with good viewing angles, allowing you to easily share your work with colleagues.
Images and text look sharp due to its high resolution, and its 27 inch screen provides plenty of space for multitasking. If you want to do some gaming on the side, it has a good response time and low input lag, however, there’s no VRR support of any kind. On the bright side, its ergonomics are excellent and its USB-C input supports DisplayPort Alt Mode.
Best Pc Monitors for Photo Editing
WRAP UP
Best Monitors for Photo Editing – Choosing the best monitors for photo editing is important. It’s not just about your own viewing comfort and satisfaction. It’s essential that you get a proper rendition of the detail, color and contrast in your photos. When you’re editing image, you only have what you see on the screen to go by – and if your monitor isn’t up to the job, you can easily end up correcting the monitor’s faults when your photos are perfectly fine.