Best Photo Editing Monitors (Tested & Reviewed in 2023)

Whether you are a designing pro and enjoy being creative with pictures and videos, you need a dedicated display to perform your editing activities. Also, not a regular display like your phone and Tabs, you must need a monitor with excellent built-in features that help you grow your hobby and make your work stand out.

So, here we are with the best monitor for photo editing. Whether you edit images professionally or just add a crisp for your Instagram blog, these monitors help you enhance the content to get more likes and views. These monitors will keep you active throughout the editing session with eye care technology and from rich color production to high pixel density for sharpness.

So, let’s hop into it and discover the best monitor for photo editing available in these competitive times.

Our Top Picks for the Best Monitor for Photo Editing

Even though all the monitors mentioned are worth a try, we still have these two best-pick monitors that perform remarkably for all your photo editing needs.

Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q 27-inch Monitor

With 4k resolution, working on the 27-inch monitor with excellent built-in features will be a heaven for content creators. Fortunately, the monitor is compatible with Windows and iOS devices. The HDR compatibility brings rich colors on display with stunning accuracy.

2020 Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display

A little expensive, but iMac with a 5K display is perfect for all your multimedia needs. Excellent and rich color production with incredible detailing and sharpness would take your editing experience to the skies. Moreover, the build quality and panel technology make it a worthy choice to purchase in modern times.

1. Philips 246E9QDSB Monitor

Philips 246E9QDSB 24 inch Frameless Monitor,

Philips 246E9QDSB 24-inch is a decent frameless monitor for personal, business, and gaming reasons. It has an attractive design with a standard screen size that would look ideal on an office table. We expect basic comfort on long gaming or streaming sessions thanks to the ergonomics stand that allows tilt adjustment.

Furthermore, the Philips monitor delivers Ultra-wide color technology with 129% sRGB and 108% NTSC color gamut. It means a rich color palette to add the crispiness of different hues with excellent consistency and realism.

Besides, 1080p resolution on the IPS panel assures wide viewing angles and high color accuracy for color-intensive tasks like photo editing or graphic designing.

The built-in color technology brings vivid colors and professional applications to make things easier for you. The smart contrast ratio of 20,000,000:1 brings excellent sharpness to help you pay attention to details and leave no room for error.

Moreover, the 5ms response time and 75Hz refresh rate make the monitor super responsive with less ghosting and tearing. Yes, AMD-Free Sync is a gaming feature perfect for eliminating screen tearing and stuttering while playing games. Still, it can also work great when editing videos.

The best monitor for photo editing comes with HDMI, DVI-D, VGA, HDMI audio in/out ports for connectivity. However, there is no port available for USB.

PROS
  • Fast response time
  • Flicker-free technology
  • Smart contrast ratio
  • Wide viewing angles
  • Basic gaming features
  • Built-in color technology with extensive color coverage
CONS
  • Limited ergonomics
  • Lack of USB
  • No built-in speakers

2. ASUS VP28UQG 28 Inch 4k UHD

ASUS VP28UQG 28 inch monitor for photo editing

The big screen means a lot more room to perform multiple tasks with minor disturbance. Yes, this good-looking 28-inch monitor with 2160p resolution is terrific for bringing the hidden creative artist in you.

ASUS VP28UQG is a 4K/UHD monitor with a 1ms response time, having around 1073.7 million colors on display to transform your streaming and working experience.

It assures crisp and detailed visuals with stunning clarity and sharpness. The different color shades with vivid responses make everything look more realistic and lifelike, allowing you to practice professional photo editing.

In addition, the contrast ratio is relatively basic with 1000:1. Still, it will satisfy your needs of detailing and balancing colors properly.

The best thing about ASUS monitors is their built-in eye care technology. It offers a Flicker-free monitor with less glare and a kind filter for blue lights that are actually detrimental to our eyes.

The reason for integrating such technology while keeping the display performance intact is to boost your productivity and ensure the best final output you could get.

Moreover, the monitor also works best for gaming. With fast response time, 60 Hz refresh rate, and AMD Free Sync support, you can enjoy a power-efficient, low latency gaming experience with automatically adjusting frame rates.

You can pair gaming consoles with the monitor using dual HDMI and DisplayPort, making the monitor flexible for multiple purposes.

PROS
  • HDCP support
  • No motion blur with 1ms response time
  • Adaptive Sync/Free Sync compatibility
  • An attractive and massive display
  • Highly detailed visuals
CONS
  • Limited ergonomics
  • No USB ports

3. Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q

Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q 27-Inch 4K IPS Monitor for photo editing

Getting the best monitor for photo editing in a trustworthy brand becomes super easy with the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q 27-inch monitor.

It comes with a standard 27-inch screen size, which is premium to set in an office or home table for regular use. Besides, the slim bezels in black look attractive and ensure less distraction while working.

The monitor features an IPS display, complimenting the brightness level for more accuracy and efficiency. Besides, excellent viewing angles with no image quality ruining can be expected on this panel, so it is a win-win situation that promises supremacy during and post-editing experience.

Moreover, dell HDR blends color depths with stunning clarity and uniformity to create realistic images. It can be an attractive feature for editors, graphic designers, and digital streaming lovers.

Besides, the 3840 x 2160p resolution means many pixels on a screen, willing to produce a captivating image for a premium viewing experience. The factory-calibrated 99.9% sRGB color gamut coverage is also a relief to all graphic designers because it guarantees color correctness and true intensity, which is a need for photo editing.

Unlike other monitors we have discussed yet, the dell ultrasharp contains USB 3.0 ports along with a DisplayPort cable to pair with other devices. The monitor also features dell universal pairing that has Bluetooth 4.0 support for various devices’ connectivity.

PROS
  • Compatible with Windows and Mac devices
  • 4K resolution
  • USB 3.0 Upstream
  • Dell Universal pairing with Bluetooth 4.0
  • Dell HDR support
CONS
  • A little expensive

4. Philips Computer Monitors 276E8VJSB

Philips 276E8VJSB monitor for photo editing

Philips 276E8VJSB has many of the features you want in the best monitor for photo editing. It functions pretty well as both the personal and business monitor, giving enough reasons to perceive it as your go-to device.

With its 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160), you will enjoy working with stunning picture quality across its 27-inch simple yet highly functional screen.

The Philips 276E8VJSB’s IPS panel allows for 178-degree viewing angles, keeping the color quality accurate throughout. It supports the 10-bit color depth with the 1.074 billion color production for smooth color gradations and rich sharpness.

The sRGB color gamut coverage ensures vibrant colors with crisp hues, making the detailing more dazzling and worth noticing.

Moreover, the gamers will enjoy transforming the display from photo editing to gaming with a 5ms response time and 60Hz refresh rate. The stats may not excite you for now.

Still, it can get better with Free-Sync support that eliminates screen tearing while minimizing the ghosting. By the rear panel, you can see the monitor housing DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0, and HDMI audio out to connect external speakers.

However, the monitor stand offers limited ergonomic options, limited to -5/20 tilt adjustment. But it offers Flicker-free technology that eliminates glare on the screen, making the view comfortable for long sessions. Well, if the quick review is not enough for you to make a decision.

PROS
  • HDMI ready
  • Excellent color accuracy
  • Slim and elegant design
  • Sturdy build quality
  • 2160p for precision
CONS
  • Lack of any alternatives to USB

5. 2020 Apple iMac

Apple 2020 iMac with Retina 5K Display for photo editing

When you can’t decide among top monitors for photo editing, get iMac. It may be a little expensive, but it can satisfy all your graphic designing, photo, and video editing needs in a blink.

With 8GB RAM and around 512GB SSD Storage, this 27-inch iMac monitor with a 5K display will be a significant turning point to your photo editing experience.

With the dazzling image quality and widescreen, working on the iMac will give you luxurious vibes. A faster CPU makes the monitor more responsive, and the webcam at the front makes it always ready for business meetings, socializing, and much more.

The screen is also bright and delivers stunning image clarity with a native resolution of 5120 by 2880. With the support of 1 billion colors and 500 nits of brightness, you will appreciate the vibrant display performance with rich sharpness and balanced contrast.

The monitor screen may look big in appearance, but it doesn’t seem like it while sitting on a table. It measures around 20.3 x 25.6 x 8 inches (HWD) and weighs around 19.7 pounds, and these stats includes a stand.

The stand gives a significant depth look to the monitor while allowing the iMac to tilt forward and back. Unfortunately, the stand does not offer height adjustment, which slightly restricts the flexible manner, making it uncomfortable for long screen hours.

Also, by the rear panel, all the connectivity ports are available. It contains four USB Type-A 3.0, two USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 3 support, an Ethernet jack for direct internet connection, and a headphone jack apart from the power adapter.

Another noticeable upgrade of the iMac is its wireless peripherals, including keyboard and mouse. The mouse can perform as a better alternative where the keyboard is a little uncomfortable and requires time to get used to it.

PROS
  • Thunderbolt 3 support
  • 5K display with billion colors and excellent precision
  • 1080p supportive webcam
  • Minimal design with stylish look
CONS
  • Expensive
  • Limited ergonomic options

6. BenQ SW271C Monitor

BenQ SW271C 27 Inch 4K monitor for photo editing

BenQ SW271C 27-inch is a winning combination of an IPS display with massive screen size to professionally cater to all the editing needs. It is specifically designed for photographers, video editors, graphic designers, and all those creative artists willing to spend time editing or creating new content every day.

The BenQ 4K monitor provides a 4K UHD display with stunning color accuracy, native 2160p resolution, and HDR10 support for tremendous display performance.

The Best monitor for photo editing does not only satisfy you with its attractive functionality, but the overall appearance seems elegant with a borderless frame and matte finishing in black.

The built-in of the BenQ dedicated monitor covers 99% Adobe RGB coverage, making sure the vibrant colors with lifelike vibes throws on the screen.

Factory calibration with Delta E<2 further auto-tunes the color, brightness, and contrast ratios to experience the optimal image quality. Enjoy the greater realism with HDR10 and HLG format support, bringing supreme harmony in creating and editing next-level content.

The monitor is flexible enough to pair with other devices to fulfill gaming, streaming, and schooling requirements.

The rear panel contains HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.1 downstream, USB Type-B upstream, and USB Type-C ports. The professionals can also connect SDI to HDMI devices to enjoy uncompressed signal transmission and clear video images.

PROS
  • Quick access to built-in features with Hotkey Puck G2
  • Review photos in the advanced Black and White mode
  • Compare images for professional editing in GamutDuo
  • 4K ultra UHD resolution
  • Hub of connectivity ports
CONS
  • No built-in speakers

7. LG 27GL850-B 27 Inch Monitor

LG UltraGear QHD 27-Inch monitor for photo editing

The massive 27-inch Ultra gear monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate and fast response time is a premium choice for editing, streaming, and gaming. LG 27GL850-B is a 27-inch monitor with slim bezels around to highlight its attractive look.

The screen is also wide enough to perform multiple tasks simultaneously while enhancing the productivity level.

The display is also pretty functional and responsive. A Nano IPS display ensures vivid image production to add realism to the content. In addition, the 1400p resolution on the IPS display is like a cherry on top because it makes the image clear, consistent, and bright enough to perceive with peace.

Since accuracy is the center of editing images, you can depend on the monitor for its Crosshair feature. It gives enhanced vision with premium-level precision for professional photo and video editing.

It also helps in gaming, catching the enemies without any mistakes. HDR 10 support delivers an immersion visual experience with bright colors and necessary contrast. All the dramatic colors on display help you add the crispiness of different hues to make the image more attractive.

The monitor is also a perfect choice for gaming. Thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate, there will be no ghosting on-screen and minimum motion blur while editing videos.

Fast response time makes the monitor more responsive and active to work on different software. Besides, AMD Free-Sync ensures fluid movement on display for seamless gaming.

PROS
  • HDR 10 support
  • 1ms response time
  • 144hz refresh rate eliminates ghosting
  • AMD Free-sync
  • 2K resolution
  • Dazzling color production
CONS
  • No built-in speakers
  • No USB

8. ViewSonic 15.6 Inch 1080p Portable Monitor

ViewSonic 15.6 Inch 1080p Portable Monitor for photo editing

If you are always on the go, it can not restrict your creativity and make you struggle to get your work done on time. Check out this portable monitor with IPS touchscreen from ViewSonic, and always play with your pictures and videos irrespective of the place you are at.

It is easy to carry and super smart to use. The IPS touchscreen with glossy texture design gives a luxury vibe while using the monitor.

In addition, the monitor delivers a breathtaking viewing experience with Full HD resolution, which is two times more pixel presence than the standard HD. Therefore, the image quality will be splendid with accurate colors and terrific sharpness.

The monitor is also designed to extend your screen. With the USB Type-C connectivity, it can become an external monitor for your Windows, Mac, and Android devices.

Also, a USB-C cable allows data transfer and can be used for audio, video, and charging purposes. So, it makes portable devices more flexible for different uses.

PROS
  • Portable monitor
  • USB Type-C
  • Built-in stand for convenient
  • Portrait mode
  • Dual built-in speakers
CONS
  • Lack of Webcam

Best Monitor for Photo Editing – Detailed Buying Guide

Are you about to shop for the best monitor for photo editing and have no idea where to start from?

No worries! We got your back and reviewed some of the best monitors that come factory-calibrated, ideal for performing all the color-critical functions with less error possibility. Yes, whether you are a naïve or a professional editor in town, these monitors will satisfy your hobby requirements while staying within your budget.

Still, when we see a lot of products under one roof, it leaves us with much confusion. All the products almost look similar, and the built-in features fluctuate with numbers. And, with zero or no native information, we can end with the wrong product that does not match our expertise. So, here are some must-have features that you should never avoid while getting the best monitor for photo editing.

Apart from durability, brand name, guarantee, and the budget factor, many other essential characters make the monitor functional and more responsive to your needs. Though all the monitors discussed above are designed for graphic designers and professional editors while having advanced features, learning about them beforehand is still a better idea.

Without blowing any more time, let’s get into it right now.

Resolution

Resolution means the number of pixels on the screen that creates an image. So, the more resolution your monitor features, the more accurate and better image production will be. Monitors for photo editing must have at least 1080p or 2160p resolution to experience professional editing with more precision and uniformity.

Fortunately, all the monitors mentioned above features 2K and 4K resolution, so you don’t have to worry about it while choosing the best one among them.

Screen Size

It mostly depends on your requirements and wants. Suppose you can accommodate the bigger screen size, and you think your productivity level depends on it. In that case, you should get a 27,28, or even 32-inch monitor.

However, the built-in features, hardware, and response to several functions do not affect the screen size. So, if you are getting a monitor for regular use and have to set it on the office table, you can settle with a 24 or 27-inch screen, which is also a standard size. Also, be careful with the stand and its depth. The giant screens with stands get more prominent and ugly with the existing décor.

Since we are talking about the monitor stand, you should get one with ergonomics to offer superior flexibility and comfort for the long screen hours.

Display technology

When we talk about the monitor’s display technology, an IPS panel pops up in our minds. It is better and catches our attention for so many reasons. One of them is wide viewing angles and excellent image consistency with clarity and required brightness.

The IPS panel might make the monitor expensive a little, but it is worths every bit of it. The color production on the panel, clarity, brightness, resolution, and contrast makes it better than the TN and any other panel available.

Yes, all the monitors above feature an IPS panel for your convenience and good editing, streaming, and gaming experience.

Color Quality

Another critical thing to look at in the best monitor for photo editing is the display’s color production capability and color gamut coverage area. It matters a lot when we are concerned about creating digital content and editing images or videos professionally.

Sometimes the HDR support brings color harmony on display with stunning accuracy and consistency. However, without HDR 10 support, you need to watch out for any built-in color technology. Extensive color pallets with billions of shades are a must-have for all the color-critical work performance. In addition, Adobe RGB coverage and at least 99% sRGB color gamut has now become a need of professional editors as it ensures rich color availability.

Refresh Rate

To experience less ghosting and motion blur, make sure your monitors offer at least a 60Hz to 75Hz refresh rate. Since you are getting a monitor specifically for editing needs, this would be sufficient to perform the routine work.

However, suppose you are getting a monitor for multi-purposes like gaming. In that case, you should update your refresh rate requirements a little more for smooth gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is 1080p good enough for photo editing?

We usually argue that bigger screens are better for photo editing, but its resolution that matters. The more pixels you have on-screen, the more clarity you will experience. So, 1080p resolution is far better for photo editing, and you should not settle for less than that.

Is IPS monitor good for photo editing?

Professionals prefer IPS panels over TN for their excellent color production, clarity, and complementing brightness levels on display. Also, you can expect an appealing image consistency over different angels with an ISP panel.

Is the TN panel bad for editing?

Yes, you can say that. TN panels are worse for photo editing as they don’t offer support to extensive color pallets and the viewing angles are also terrible.

What is TN vs. IPS?

IPS is an abbreviation for In-Plane Switching. Even though IPS panels are expensive, they can enhance the display performance with premium color production and wide viewing angles compared to TN panels. However, TN panels are relatively cheap; you still don’t want to prefer them for professional or streaming purposes.

Do I need HDR for photo editing?

Suppose you are a content creator, and your work revolves around editing high-dynamic photos. In that case, your monitor should be compatible with HDR. It brings comprehensive color coverage with high brightness to further enhance your final results.

Do I need an Adobe RGB monitor?

Professionals need Adobe RGB supportive monitor because the wider gamut means more accurate colors to keep printing consistent.

Which is better, HDR or SDR?

HDR is an updated version of SDR that promises excellent color clarity and eliminates the fake vibes in the images. HDR display is also better for high contrast and shadow content. However, SDR would fail to preserve the clarity and consistency of images, which might ruin the whole vibe.

Does HDR lower FPS?

HDR triggers a 10% bottleneck on Nvidia, and its GTX 1080 graphic card chokes up with HDR content, decreasing it to more than 10% compared to SDR.

Do all 4K monitors have HDR?

Not necessarily. All 4K monitors are not bound to support HDR content. However, both are outstanding features and can be available together in high-end monitors.

How to choose a monitor for photo editing

Many factors are necessary to consider while getting a monitor for photo editing. Some of the prominent ones are:
Resolution
Rich color production
Wide color gamut coverage area
Fast response time
Contrast ratio
Calibration settings
Monitor size
Brightness
Black levels- black stabilizer