Are you looking for a professional monitor for photography, graphic design, animation, CAD/CAM and similar purposes?
In this buying guide, you’ll find the best and most cost-efficient monitors for all of the professions mentioned above.
We’ve included only the best models with different resolutions, screen sizes and color gamuts, so you can effortlessly choose the perfect monitor for photo editing and video editing according to your needs.
Type | Monitor | Size | Resolution | Color Gamut | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Entry-Level Monitors For Photo Editing | 24” | 1920x1200 | 100% sRGB | ||
27” | 2560x1440 | 100% sRGB | |||
27” | 3840x2160 | 100% sRGB | |||
Best Mid-Range Monitors For Photo Editing | 24” | 1920x1200 | 99% Adobe RGB | ||
27” | 3840x2160 | 99% Adobe RGB | |||
32” | 3840x2160 | 100% Adobe RGB | |||
Best High-End Monitors For Photo Editing | 27” | 3840x2160 | 99% Adobe RGB | ||
32” | 3840x2160 | 99% Adobe RGB | |||
Best Monitors For Video Editing | 29” | 2560x1080 | 99% sRGB | ||
34” | 3440x1440 | 99% sRGB | |||
34” | 3440x1440 | 98% DCI-P3 | |||
34” | 5120x2160 | 98% DCI-P3 | |||
38” | 3840x1600 | 95% DCI-P3 | |||
40” | 5120x2160 | 98% DCI-P3 | |||
49” | 5120x1440 | 98% DCI-P3 |
All monitors in this list feature IPS panels for the best color accuracy and consistency as well as the widest viewing angles.
Furthermore, all monitors are flicker-free (*except for the ASUS PA278QV) and have an integrated low blue light filter, so you can work for hours without straining your eyes.
You can also view our changelogs for this buying guide at the end of this article.
Best Entry-Level Monitors For Photo Editing
Are you just starting out or just need a monitor with the standard sRGB color gamut? The following monitors will ensure that you get as precise and consistent colors as you can within this price range.
ASUS PA248QV
Best Budget Monitor For Photo Editing
Size: 24”
Resolution: 1920×1200
Color Gamut: 100% sRGB
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2
- Plenty of features
- Fully ergonomic design with rich connectivity options
The Cons:
- Not true 8-bit color depth
About The Monitor
The ASUS PA248QV is the best 24″ IPS monitor for PhotoShop and similar entry-level color-critical tasks.
Image Quality
Unlike most 24″ IPS monitors with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 1920×1080 resolution, the ASUS ProArt PA248QV features a 1920×1200 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio. This provides you with a bit of extra vertical screen space as the screen is taller than a regular 24″ 16:9 monitor, while the pixel density is the same.
If you prefer the standard 16:9 aspect ratio, check out the ASUS PA247CV model instead.
Additionally, the monitor covers the full sRGB color space and thanks to its IPS panel, the colors will remain accurate and consistent regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen.
Want to know the best part? It’s factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2, so it’s ready for work straight out of the box!
Other panel-relation specifications are standard for an IPS panel display at this price range, including a 300-nit peak brightness and a contrast ratio of 1,000:1.
Keep in mind that, like all 1080p IPS displays, the ASUS PA248QV uses dithering (6-bit + 2-bit FRC) to achieve 8-bit color depth for 16.7 million colors.
Features
This monitor is also great if you want to do some gaming on the side.
It supports AMD FreeSync, which allows you to synchronize the monitor’s refresh rate with GPU’s frame rate for tear-free gameplay between 48 and 75FPS. The higher 75Hz refresh rate also provides you with a small but noticeable boost in motion clarity in video games as opposed to the standard 60Hz displays.
Further, it has a fast 5ms GtG pixel response time speed, so there won’t be any prominent trailing visible behind fast-moving objects in games.
Finally, the monitor offers advanced 6-axis color adjustments, as well as five gamma presets ranging from gamma 1.8 to gamma 2.6.
For more information, you can visit our full ASUS PA248QV review.
Design & Connectivity
The design is robust and sleek with thin bezels and versatile ergonomics including up to 130mm height adjustment, +/- 90° swivel, 90° pivot, -5°/35° tilt and 100 x 100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Moving on, connectivity options are rich as well and include HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, VGA, a headphone jack and a quad-USB 3.0 hub.
Alternatives
All in all, you can’t go wrong with the ASUS PA248QV; its color accuracy and premium features are worth much more than the asking price.
The newer model, the ASUS PA248CRV, also has a wider 97% DCI-P3 color gamut, DP output for daisy-chaining and a USB-C port with 96W PD.
Alternatively, you might be interested in the ViewSonic VP2468, which has more connectivity options (mini-DisplayPort and DisplayPort-Out) and supports 14-bit 3D LUT, but it’s a bit more expensive.
ASUS PA278QV
Best Budget 1440p Monitor For Photo Editing
Size: 27”
Resolution: 2560×1440
Color Gamut: 100% sRGB
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2
- Fully ergonomic design with rich connectivity options
- Decent pixel density
The Cons:
- Uses PWM to regulate brightness, but at a high 1000Hz+ frequency
About The Monitor
In case you want 1440p instead of 1080p, the ASUS PA278QV is the first monitor you should consider.
Image Quality
The ASUS PA278QV is basically the 27″ 1440p version of the PA248QV mentioned above. You get a bigger screen and a higher resolution, as well as a higher pixel-per-inch ratio.
So, besides having more screen real estate, you’ll also get better detail clarity. Furthermore, the PA278QV supports 8-bit color depth natively, without the use of dithering.
Other panel-related specifications are similar and include a 350-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 100% sRGB/Rec.709 color gamut and Delta E < 2 factory calibration.
Features
The monitor supports AMD FreeSync up to 75Hz (48-75Hz VRR range) in case you want to enjoy some tear-free gameplay when not working.
You also get access to advanced image adjustment tools (gamma and 6-axis).
Note that the monitor uses PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) to regulate brightness, but at a very high 1000Hz+ frequency, which shouldn’t bother those sensitive to flickering.
Visit our ASUS PA278QV review for more information.
Design & Connectivity
The ASUS PA278QV has a fully ergonomic design with up to 150mm height adjustment, 90° pivot, +/- 95° swivel, -5°/35° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount pattern.
Connectivity includes HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, mini-DisplayPort 1.2, Dual-Link DVI-D, a quad-USB 3.0 hub, a headphone jack and two 2W built-in speakers.
Alternatives
The ASUS PA278QV is the most cost-efficient 1440p monitor for color-critical work. If you’re worried about the PWM flicker, check out the ViewSonic VP2768 PRO and the BenQ PD2700Q.
ViewSonic VP2768a-4K
Budget 4K Monitor For Photo Editing
Size: 27”
Resolution: 3840×2160
Color Gamut: 100% sRGB
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2
- 14-bit 3D LUT, hardware calibration
- Fully ergonomic design with rich connectivity options, including USB-C 90W PD and RJ45
- High pixel density
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
Looking for the best 4K monitor for photo editing? The ViewSonic VP2768a-4K is the most affordable yet and one of the most popular and reliable 4K monitors for color-critical work.
Image Quality
The good news? The ViewSonic VP2768a-4K monitor covers 100% of the sRGB color space and it’s factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2, ensuring accurate colors out of the box. Other panel-related specs include a 350-nit peak brightness, a 1,300:1 static contrast ratio and dithered 10-bit color depth.
As if that’s not enough, the 4K UHD resolution provides an incredibly rich pixel density on 27″ sized screens meaning that you will have to scale the image for optimal use.
Note that some applications don’t scale well, leaving you with too tiny or too big user interface, so make sure to double-check how your editing software handles scaling.
Luckily, most applications scale perfectly fine nowadays, so there’s nothing to worry about unless you’re using legacy software.
Features
Best of all, even though it’s one of the most affordable professional 4K monitors, the VP2768a supports 14-bit 3D LUT hardware calibration — unlike the competing models.
It also has a Screen Uniformity feature that improves brightness and color uniformity, though at a cost of contrast ratio.
You’ll also find advanced image adjustment tools in the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu of the monitor, along with various color space modes, such as sRGB, EBU, SMPTE-C, Rec.709 and DICOM-SIM.
Design & Connectivity
The design of the ViewSonic VP2768a-4K boasts a sturdy build, an adjustable stand and ultra-thin bezels on all four sides of the display!
You can elevate the screen by up to 130mm, pivot by +/- 90°, swivel by +/- 60 °, tilt by -5°/21° and VESA mount it (100x100mm).
Connectivity includes two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, USB-C with DP 1.2 Alt Mode and 90W PD, two downstream USB 3.0 ports, RJ45 and a headphone jack.
Alternatives
Even if you don’t need USB-C, the VP2768a-4K is the most cost-effective 4K monitor with professional-grade factory calibration.
In case you want a 32″ 4K photo editing monitor, we recommend the BenQ PD3200U as the ‘budget’ option, though it doesn’t have 3D LUT or hardware calibration. If you need those features, get the VP3268a-4K, which is the 32″ version of the VP2768a.
Now:
While there are wider color gamut displays around this price range, if your work mainly involves using the sRGB color space, it’s best to just get an sRGB display and avoid dealing with calibrations, ICC profiles, sRGB color space emulation and general color management in Windows.
If you’re using MacOS, color management is not an issue, allowing you to get wider gamut displays without worrying about over-saturation, in which case we recommend the LG 27UQ850 or the LG 32UQ850 – both with IPS Black panels and 98% DCI-P3 gamut coverage.
In case you’re using Windows, have or plan to get a dedicated colorimeter and don’t mind dealing with calibration and color management, we also recommend the above-mentioned LG models as they offer excellent value for money and support hardware calibration.
Best Mid-Range Monitors For Photo Editing
In this category, you will find the best monitors with the Adobe RGB color gamut.
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E ≤ 2
- Wide Adobe RGB color gamut
- 14-bit 3D LUT, hardware calibration
- Fully ergonomic stand with rich connectivity options
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
In case your work requires a wide color coverage of the Adobe RGB color space, the BenQ SW240 is the best budget monitor for photo editing you can possibly obtain.
Image Quality
The BenQ SW240 features a 1920×1200 screen resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio which will, as opposed to the standard 1080p displays, provide you with extra vertical screen space.
And the good news? It’s factory-calibrated at Delta E ≤ 2 and covers 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB and 95% DCI-P3 color spaces. Other panel-related specs include a 250-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio and 10-bit color depth via dithering as well as 14-bit 3D LUT.
You can also read our full review of the BenQ SW240.
Features
In addition to advanced picture and color settings, the monitor offers its exclusive Palette Master Element software for calibration.
Here’s the deal: you can save custom calibrations or use the pre-calibrated presets for sRGB, Adobe RGB, Rec.709 and DCI-P3 color spaces as well as the Black & White mode. Using the hotkey on the monitor, you can quickly swap between up to three of the selected presets/color modes.
Design & Connectivity
The BenQ SW240 Adobe RGB monitor offers versatile ergonomics including up to 140mm height adjustment, -5°/20° tilt, +/- 45° swivel, 90° pivot and VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity includes DVI, HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort, an SD card reader, a headphone jack and a dual-USB 3.0 hub. You can also purchase a shading hood for this monitor on Amazon.
ASUS PA279CRV
Best Value 27″ Adobe RGB Monitor
Size: 27”
Resolution: 3840×2160
Color Gamut: 99% Adobe RGB
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2
- Wide Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamut
- Full ergonomic support with rich connectivity options including USB-C with 96W PD
- High pixel density
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
The ASUS PA279CRV offers incredible value for the price! In fact, it’s even cheaper than many 1440p Adobe RGB displays, allowing you to enjoy the perks of both 4K resolution and a wide color gamut at a reasonable price.
Image Quality
Simply put, the combination of the wide 99% Adobe RGB color gamut (100% sRGB, 99% DCI-P3) and 4K UHD resolution makes the PA279CRV the dream monitor of many designers and colorists due to the stunning detail clarity, as well as color vibrancy and accuracy.
It even supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), but with the entry-level DisplayHDR 400 certification, so you shouldn’t expect a ‘true’ HDR viewing experience.
Regardless, the peak brightness is excellent at 450-nits, which along with the monitor’s gorgeous colors can make the HDR picture a bit better than SDR, depending on the content/scene.
Features
In the OSD menu, you can effortlessly swap between different color spaces, including sRGB, Rec.709, DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB with customizable settings such as RGB gain, allowing for color temperature fine-tuning.
Naturally, you’ll find plenty of image adjustment tools there as well, including gamma, sharpness and 6-axis hue/saturation. It also supports PiP/PbP and variable refresh rate with a 48-60Hz range.
Check out our detailed ASUS PA279CRV review for more information.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 130mm height adjustment, -5°/23° tilt, +/- 30° swivel, +/- 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, DisplayPort 1.4 output for daisy-chaining, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 96W PD, three USB-A ports, USB-C with 15W PD, a headphone jack and dual 2W built-in speakers.
Alternatives
- ASUS PA329CRV – 32″ version of the monitor, though it doesn’t have as wide color gamut (98% DCI-P3, Adobe RGB not specified)
- BenQ SW272Q – 27″ 1440p IPS monitor with 99% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3 color gamut, Uniformity Technology, hardware calibration and 16-bit 3D LUT. There’s also the 4K version, the SW272U though it’s a lot more expensive, in which case we recommend our premium pick – the Eizo CS2740 instead.
Lenovo P32u-10
Best 4K Adobe RGB Photo Editing Monitor
Size: 32”
Resolution: 3840×2160
Color Gamut: 100% Adobe RGB
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2
- Wide Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamut
- Full ergonomic support with rich connectivity options including Thunderbolt 3 and KVM
- High pixel density
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
The Lenovo P32u-10 is the best 32″ 4K Adobe RGB monitor for photo editing for under $1,000 in case you want a larger display.
Image Quality
The P32u-10 boasts a wide 99.5% Adobe RGB and 98.2 DCI-P3 color gamut coverage with Delta E < 2 factory calibration and a decent 300-nit peak brightness.
Since it has a larger screen, you get a bit lower pixel density, but 4K UHD still looks very sharp on 27″ sized screens.
The monitor also supports PiP/PbP and has an integrated KVM switch. Check out our Lenovo P32u-10 review for more details.
Design & Connectivity
The Lenovo P32u-10 boasts extensive connectivity options with two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, Thunderbolt 3 input (DP 1.2 Alt Mode and 45W PD), Thunderbolt 3 output for daisy-chaining, three downstream USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack and KVM functionality.
It has a versatile stand with up to 110mm height adjustment, +/- 90° pivot, +/- 45° swivel, -5°/22° tilt and VESA mount compatibility.
Best High-End Monitors For Photo Editing
Here, you’ll find the absolute best monitors for photo and video editing.
Eizo CS2740
Best Adobe RGB Professional Monitor
Size: 27”
Resolution: 3840×2160
Color Gamut: 99% Adobe RGB
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated
- 16-bit 3D LUT, hardware calibration
- Wide Adobe RGB color gamut
- Full ergonomic support, durable design and rich connectivity options, including USB-C with 60W PD
- Exceptional image uniformity
- 5-year warranty, superior quality control
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
Eizo monitors are well-known among high-end professionals and for a good reason!
Image Quality
Eizo’s ColorEdge CS series provides you with superior quality control that’s worth the extra price. So, unlike it’s the case with other manufacturers we’ve mentioned so far, you can expect excellent panel performance when it comes to backlight bleeding, IPS glow, dead or stuck pixels and image uniformity. You also get a 5-year warranty.
The Eizo CS2740 is a 26.9″ 4K IPS monitor with 164 PPI, a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1, a 350-nit peak brightness, 99% Adobe RGB color gamut coverage (90% DCI-P3), 10-bit color depth with 16-bit LUT and hardware calibration support.
You can get it with a colorimeter and take advantage of the included Color Navigator 7 software. The monitor also boasts DUE (Digital Uniformity Equalizer) technology for exceptional brightness and color uniformity, as well as Quick Color Match for easy color matching between the monitor, software and printers.
Other features include dedicated color modes (User, sRGB, Adobe RGB and Calibration for storing hardware calibrations), Gamut Clipping, advanced adjustment tools, such as gamma (from 1.6 to 2.7), hue/saturation, brightness level depicted in nits, etc.
Design & Connectivity
The design features thick bezels and an overall robust design, which helps minimize backlight bleeding, improve cooling and increase durability. The stand offers height adjustment up to 155mm, -5°/35° tilt, 344° swivel, 90° clockwise pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Further, the screen has a very light matte anti-glare coating that’s easy on the eyes and prevents reflections without adding much graininess to the image. It also has a carrying handle and a shading hood can be purchased separately.
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 60W PD, two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an upstream USB-B port,
Alternatives
- Eizo CS2731 – a bit cheaper model with 1440p resolution
The CG series features built-in calibration, an included shading hood and a wider 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage (in addition to 99% Adobe RGB), but they’re more expensive
- Eizo CG2730 – 27″ 1440p
- Eizo CG2420 – 24.1″ 1920×1200
Innocn 32Q1U
Best OLED Professional HDR Monitor
Size: 32”
Resolution: 3840×2160
Color Gamut: 99% Adobe RGB, 99% DCI-P3
The Pros:
- Exceptional HDR image quality thanks to the infinite contrast ratio
- Factory-calibrated, wide Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamut
- Ergonomic design and extensive connectivity options including USB-C with 90W PD
The Cons:
- Risk of image burn-in
About The Monitor
The Innocn 32Q1U is the first OLED monitor available for professional use!
Image Quality
Thanks to its OLED panel, each pixel is self-emissive, meaning that you get true blacks and an infinite contrast ratio for breath-taking image quality. Moreover, there’s no IPS/VA glow, backlight bleeding, haloing/blooming, or any other visual artifacts that could take away from the viewing experience.
Color gamut and accuracy are also impressive with 99% coverage of both DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color spaces with an available sRGB emulation mode. Viewing angles are also flawless as the image remains perfect regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen.
Further, OLEDs also have instantaneous pixel response time speed for a blur-free fast-paced gaming experience, but the Innocn 32Q1U is sadly limited to 60Hz with no VRR support.
Unlike LG’s W-OLED and Samsung’s QD-OLED panels, the Innocn 32Q1U monitor is based on a JOLED panel, which uses a regular RGB subpixel layout, so text is crisp and sharp without any fringing artifacts.
The main downside is the lower peak brightness in comparison to displays with LED or mini LED backlighting. For SDR, it goes up to 250-nits whereas for HDR, it can reach up to 540-nits. This allows you to dabble in HDR grading a bit as well albeit not professionally due to the limited brightness.
In truth, for proper HDR grading, you’d need a ~$30,000 dual-layer LCD and if you’re a professional of that caliber, you don’t need this buyer’s guide.
There are professional mini LED displays that can easily achieve over 1,000-nits of brightness, such as the ASUS PA32UCG and the Dell UP3221Q, but they use aggressive local dimming algorithms to minimize blooming artifacts, leading to inaccurate HDR image.
They’re still good for SDR work and HDR content consumption, but in this case, you’ll be better off with something like the Innocn 32M2V and a dedicated colorimeter.
Another issue is the risk of permanent image burn-in and temporary image retention. However, the Innocn 32Q1U has many built-in features to prevent this and if you use the screen appropriately (avoid leaving images with static elements on the screen for too long), it shouldn’t be a problem.
Design & Connectivity
The monitor’s stand offers height adjustment up to 120mm, +/- 30° swivel, -5°/15° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include two USB-C ports (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 90W PD) and an additional USB-C port for audio.
Alternatives
- ASUS PA32DC – ASUS’ model with built-in calibrator
- LG 27EQ850 – 27″ model with hardware calibration
- Philips 27E1N8900 – similar to the 27EQ850, but without hardware calibration
Best UltraWide Monitors For Video Editing
While all monitors in this buyer’s guide would work just fine for video editing, the following ultrawide displays offer extra horizontal screen space, which is perfect for video and audio editing.
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated
- Affordable
The Cons:
- Not true 8-bit color depth
- Tilt-only design
- No USB ports
About The Monitor
If you are looking for the cheapest ultrawide monitor that’s actually good for video editing, the LG 29WQ600 won’t disappoint you.
Image Quality
Due to its affordable price, the LG 29WQ600 is not just great for video editing, it’s also great for everyday multimedia use, including gaming.
Now, the monitor does not have as accurate and rich colors as the previously mentioned monitors, but for the price, the colors are more than fine.
In fact, the LG 29WQ600 is factory-calibrated and covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut though it supports 8-bit depth via dithering. Moreover, it supports HDR, but with a peak luminance of 300-nits, a contrast ratio of 1,000:1 and only the standard sRGB color gamut, HDR is just software-emulated.
Keep in mind that a 29″ 21:9 ultrawide monitor is as tall as a regular 23″ 16:9 monitor, just wider — which may take some time to get used to.
Additionally, the 2560×1080 resolution on a 29″ screen provides a pixel density of 95 PPI which is similar to 1080p on a 24″ screen (91 PPI).
Features
Moving on, the LG 29WQ600 offers numerous useful features including On-Screen Control which allows you to adjust the OSD (On-Screen Display) settings in a desktop application.
Next, Screen Split allows you to split the screen in different layouts for easier multitasking.
There are also plenty of gaming features available including Crosshair, FreeSync (40-75Hz range), Dynamic Action Sync and Black Stabilizer.
Design & Connectivity
The LG 29WQ600 computer monitor for video editing has a tilt-only design, but you can VESA mount it using the 100x100mm pattern.
Connectivity options include HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, USB-C (DP 1.2 Alt Mode), a headphone jack and dual 7W built-in speakers.
Alternatives
- LG 29WQ500 – same model but without USB-C and built-in speakers
- LG 29WP60G, LG 29WN600 – older models with 75Hz
If you are looking for an affordable ultrawide monitor for video editing, watching movies and gaming, the LG 29WQ600 is definitely for you, but gamers should also consider the MSI MAG301RF model with 200Hz.
On Amazon, you will also be able to find the 34″ version of this monitor, but we don’t recommend it since it also features a 2560×1080 resolution which on its 34″ screen results in a low pixel density.
LG 34WN750
Best Mid-Range Video Editing Monitor
Size: 34”
Resolution: 3440×1440
Color Gamut: 99% sRGB
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated
- Decent pixel density
- Height-adjustable stand
The Cons:
- Design lacks swivel option
About The Monitor
In case you want a 34″ ultrawide monitor, we highly recommend the LG 34WN750.
Image Quality
Thanks to the UWQHD resolution of 3440×1440 pixels, the LG 34WN750 hits the pixel density sweet spot of 110 pixels per inch. This means that you get plenty of screen real estate with vivid details without any scaling necessary.
But it gets better: the monitor is factory-calibrated, covers ~99% of the sRGB color space and supports 10-bit color depth via dithering.
Features
The LG 34WN750 also features advanced color and picture adjustment tools, including 6-axis hue/saturation, four gamma presets and manual color temperature fine-tuning.
Additionally, the monitor supports AMD FreeSync over DisplayPort and HDMI with a 48-75Hz dynamic refresh rate range.
Design & Connectivity
Besides tilting the screen by -5°/20°, you can elevate it up to 120mm and VESA mount it using the 100x100mm pattern.
Connectivity includes two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 input, a headphone jack, a dual-USB 3.0 hub and two 7W built-in speakers. The monitor also supports KVM via LG’s Dual Controller software.
Alternatives
- LG 34WQ73A – similar model with a subtle 3800R screen curvature, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 90W PD
- LG 34WQ75C – same as the 34WQ73A but with two additional USB ports and built-in speakers
BenQ PD3420Q
Best Mid-Range DCI-P3 Video Editing Monitor
Size: 34”
Resolution: 3440×1440
Color Gamut: 98% DCI-P3
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated
- 98% DCI-P3 color gamut
- Decent pixel density
- Ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options, including USB-C with 65W PD and KVM
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
Want a 34″ 3440×1440 IPS ultrawide monitor but with a DCI-P3 color gamut? BenQ has you covered with their PD3420Q model.
Image Quality
The BenQ PD3420Q covers 98% DCI-P3 color gamut and offers optimized color modes for sRGB and Rec.709 color spaces, making it ideal for video editors and designers who need an accurate representation of all color gamuts involved.
It has a strong 350-nit peak brightness (400-nits for HDR), a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 10-bit color depth support via dithering and 178° wide viewing angles.
Sadly, it’s limited to 60Hz and doesn’t support a variable refresh rate, so it’s not particularly great for gaming. However, thanks to its high resolution, ultrawide format, wide color gamut and fast response time, games will still look great.
Other useful features include dedicated picture presets for CAD/CAM, Animation and Darkroom, as well as PiP/PbP support, DualView (allows you to view two different color spaces side by side) and Uniformity Technology (improves screen uniformity at a cost of contrast ratio).
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is sturdy and you can adjust its height by up to 150mm, tilt it by -5°/20°, swivel by +/- 30° or VESA mount the screen via the 100x100mm pattern.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 65W PD), a USB 3.0 hub (three downstream + one upstream), a headphone jack and dual 2.5W integrated speakers. There’s also an integrated KVM switch.
It also comes with the ‘hotkey puck’ device which you can use to remotely access the OSD settings and swap between different presets.
LG 34WK95U
5K2K UltraWide Video Editing Monitor
Size: 34”
Resolution: 5120×2160
Color Gamut: 98% DCI-P3
The Pros:
- 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage
- Hardware calibration
- High pixel density
- Height-adjustable stand and rich connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 3
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
If you want to combine high resolution with the ultrawide format, the LG 34WK95U is for you!
Image Quality
With its 5120×2160 (often referred to as 5K2K or 2160p ultrawide) resolution, the 34″ LG 34WK95U provides you with a high pixel density of 163 PPI, which is equivalent to that of a 27″ 4K monitor!
So, you will have to use some scaling in order to make small text readable, but as a result, you’ll get even sharper text and higher detail clarity.
The monitor has a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and features an sRGB emulation mode. Further, it has a high 450-nit peak brightness for SDR content, and 600-nits for HDR.
There are 12 dimming zones, so you get a noticeable boost in HDR image quality in comparison to the HDR-400 monitors, but due to the low 1,200:1 native contrast ratio, only some HDR scenes will get a meaningful improvement.
Gamers will be disappointed that there’s no variable refresh rate support and that the maximum refresh rate is 60Hz, but considering how demanding the resolution is, most users won’t be using the LG 34WK95U for gaming anyway.
Design & Connectivity
The stand offers height adjustment up to 110m, tilt by -5°/20° and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, Thunderbolt 3 (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 75W PD), two HDMI 2.0 ports (limited to 4K UHD), a dual-USB 3.0 hub, two 5W built-in speakers and a headphone jack.
ViewSonic VP3881a
Best Value High-End Video Editing Monitor
Size: 38”
Resolution: 3840×1600
Color Gamut: 95% DCI-P3
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2
- 14-bit 3D LUT, hardware calibration
- Adjustable design with rich connectivity options, including KVM, RJ45, USB-C with 90W PD
- Decent pixel density
- 95% DCI-P3 color gamut
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
Want the best 38″ ultrawide monitor for video editing? Look no further than the ViewSonic VP3881a.
Image Quality
The ViewSonic VP3881a is the best 38″ ultrawide monitor for editing; there are other 38″ models by LG and Acer, but ViewSonic’s is the best when it comes to value/price.
First of all, the monitor is factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2 and covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color space with dedicated sRGB and Rec. 709 presets.
Moreover, it has 14-bit 3D LUT and supports hardware calibration,
But to top it all off, the gigantic 38″ screen features a resolution of 3840×1600 pixels, which will provide you with the perfect pixel density of 110 PPI. So, you get plenty of workspace for editing as well as sharp and clear details.
Features
Moving on, the ViewSonic VP3881a ultrawide monitor supports HDR as well, but due to the 300-nit peak brightness and a contrast ratio of 1,000:1, the HDR content won’t look much better.
Further, the monitor is equipped with plenty of useful features, including advanced 6-axis color adjustments, the PiP and PbP modes, Dual Color, gamma presets and many more. There are also several color space presets available such as sRGB, EBU, SMPTE-C, Rec.709, DICOM-SIM, three calibration profiles and a custom mode.
Moreover, the ViewMode feature provides you with optimized and customizable profiles for Designer (CAD/CAM, Animation, Video Edit) and Photographer (Photo, Landscape, Portrait, Monochrome) profiles.
Design & Connectivity
The ViewSonic VP3881a boasts rich connectivity options with DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 sockets, a USB-C port (which can be used for KVM, DP Alt Mode, and 90W PD), two downstream and one upstream USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack and two 5W built-in speakers.
You can also elevate the screen up to 130mm, swivel it to the left and right by -/+ 60°, tilt it by -1°/21° or VESA mount it via the 100 x 100mm pattern. The screen has a 2300R curvature which perfectly suits the large 38″ screen.
Alternatives
- Dell UltraSharp U3824DW – 38″ 3840×1600 60Hz model with an IPS Black panel and 98% DCI-P3 color gamut, but no hardware calibration
Dell U4021QW
Best High-End Video Editing Monitor
Size: 40”
Resolution: 5120×2160
Color Gamut: 98% DCI-P3
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2
- Adjustable design with extensive connectivity options
- High pixel density
- 98% DCI-P3 color gamut
The Cons:
- Expensive
About The Monitor
If you want an even larger ultrawide monitor, the Dell U4021QW is the best you can find in the 21:9 form factor.
Image Quality
Just like the LG 34WK95U, the Dell U4021QW has a 5120×2160 screen resolution, but since it has a larger screen, you get a bit lower pixel density of 140 PPI. It’s basically identical to a 32″ 4K monitor that’s ~33% wider.
It has a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, an sRGB emulation mode is available and you get excellent Delta E < 2 factory calibration.
Other panel-related specifications include a 300-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 178° wide viewing angles and 10-bit color depth support.
Design & Connectivity
The screen has a subtle 2500R curvature and it’s VESA mount compatible via the 100x100mm pattern, while the stand offers height adjustment up to 120mm, +/- 35° swivel and -5°/20° tilt.
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports (limited to 30Hz at 5120×2160 or 60Hz at 4K UHD), a quad-USB 3.0 hub, two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 3 and 90W PD), a headphone jack, an Ethernet port and a built-in KVM switch.
Alternatives
LG, Lenovo and HP offer their models based on the same panel with a bit different features and connectivity options. So, you can pick the one based on your personal preference and availability/pricing. Check out our LG 40WP95C review for more information.
LG 40WP95C | Lenovo P40W-20 | Dell U4021QW | HP Z40C | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Refresh Rate | 72Hz | 75Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz |
FreeSync | Yes (48-72Hz) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Thunderbolt 4 | 1x Input 96W PD 1x Output (daisy-chain) | 1x Input 96W PD 1x Output (daisy-chain) | N/A | N/A |
Thunderbolt 3 | N/A | N/A | 1x Input 90W PD | 2x Input up to 100W (165W PD total max) |
Display Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 2x HDMI 2.0 | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 1x HDMI 2.0 | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 2x HDMI 2.0 | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 1x HDMI 2.0 |
USB Ports | 2x USB-A | 4x USB-A 1x USB-B 1x USB-C (27W PD) | 4x USB-A 1x USB-B 1x USB-C (15W PD) | 4x USB-A |
Other | 1x Headphone Jack 2x 10W Speakers | 1x Headphone Jack 1x RJ45 | 1x Headphone Jack 1x RJ45 2x 9W Speakers | 1x RJ45 2x 5W Speakers 1x Built-in Webcam |
KVM | LG Dual Controller | KVM Switch, Lenovo eKVM7 | KVM Switch | HP Device Bridge |
Price | LG 40WP95C | Lenovo P40W-20 | Dell U4021QW | HP Z40C |
The Pros:
- Factory-calibrated at Delta E < 2
- Adjustable design with rich connectivity options
- Decent pixel density
- 98% DCI-P3 color gamut
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
With the 32:9 ‘super’ ultra-wide aspect ratio, you get an even wider preview of your timelines and more screen space for productivity work.
Image Quality
The Dell U4924DW sports a 49″ screen with a 5120×1440 screen resolution.
Think about it: that’s equivalent to two 27″ 1440p monitors put side by side, but without the bezels in-between!
Moreover, you get accurate and consistent colors covering 98% of the DCI-P3 color space with Delta E < 2 factory calibration. Other specifications include a 350-nit peak brightness, a 2,000:1 static contrast ratio thanks to its IPS Black panel, 5ms response time, 178° viewing angles and 10-bit color depth support.
Features
Noteworthy features include Picture by Picture support, advanced picture adjustment tools and Uniformity Compensation, which can improve uniformity at the cost of image brightness and contrast.
Unfortunately, there’s no AMD FreeSync support, and the monitor is limited to 60Hz.
Design & Connectivity
The Dell UltraSharp U4924DW boasts premium build quality and decent ergonomics with up to 120mm height adjustment, -5°/21° tilt, +/- 170° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options are abundant and include two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C port (with DP 1.4 Alt Mode and 90W PD), a USB-C upstream port, two USB-C downstream ports, five USB-A downstream ports, a headphone jack, RJ45 and dual 9W built-in speakers. There’s also a built-in KVM switch.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for something similar but cheaper, check out the older Dell U4919DW model with the basic sRGB color gamut and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio.
Conclusion
Have you picked the best monitor for photo editing and video editing for your work? If not, leave us a comment and we’ll be glad to help.
Overall, if you are just starting out with editing, the ASUS PA248QV and the PA278QV models will provide you with everything you need at an affordable price.
Then, according to your budget and needs, you can get either a higher resolution or a wider color gamut display — or both, in which case we recommend the Lenovo P32u-10 or the Eizo CS2740 if you want premium quality.
Finally, for video editing, an ultrawide display is a life-saver, so pick one according to your budget.
Updates +
- November 7, 2023:
– Replaced the LG 32EP950 with the Innocn 32Q1U. - August 3, 2023:
– Replaced the Lenovo P27u-20 with the ASUS PA279CRV. - May 23, 2023:
– Replaced the Acer CM3271K with the Lenovo P27u-20, the Dell U4919DW with the U4924DW, the LG 34WL750 with 34WN750, the LG 29WP60G with 29WQ600 and the MSI PS341WU with the LG 34WK95U.
– Added the Eizo CS2740.
– Removed the Dell UP3221Q and the ASUS PA32UCG. - November 22, 2022:
– Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available. - May 8, 2022:
– Replaced the ASUS PA329C with the Lenovo P32u-10. - February 22, 2022:
– Replaced the ViewSonic VP3881 with VP3881a and the VP2768-4K with VP2768a-4K. - December 9, 2021:
– Added review summaries for the monitors that were missing them. - November 24, 2021:
– Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available. - August 5, 2021:
– Replaced the LG 34UM88C (no longer available) with the LG 34WL750.
– Added the ASUS PA32UCG, the BenQ PD3420Q, and the Dell U4021WQ to the table. Dedicated review sections will be added soon. - May 5, 2021:
– Made the guide easier to read for new visitors. - February 26, 2021:
– Replaced the BenQ PD2700Q with the ASUS PA278QV.
– Replaced the Dell U2718Q with the ViewSonic VP2768-4K PRO.
– Added the Acer CM3271K.
– Removed the BenQ PD3200U, the BenQ SW2700PT, and the BenQ SW271.
– Replaced the ASUS PA329Q with the ASUS PA329C.
– Replaced the ASUS PA32UC with the Dell UP3221Q.
– Added the BenQ PD3420Q as a wide gamut alternative to the LG 34UM88C.
– Added the Dell U4021QW as a wide gamut alternative to the ViewSonic VP3881.