Are you looking for the best monitor for photo editing? Maybe you are and don’t even realize it. If you are tired of your photos looking different from you imagined after editing on your screen, it’s time to invest in a better option. Below we’ll show you what to how to find the best monitor for photo editing and reveal our top picks.
Best Monitor for Photo Editing FAQ
If you aren’t sure why you’d need the best monitor for photo editing, our frequently asked questions section is a great place to start. The best monitor for photo editing can make all the difference in the time and energy you invest in perfecting your pics. For workflow, they do not create all monitors equal, and this is especially true when editing photos. See below why investing in a high-quality photo monitor is crucial.
1. What Is a Monitor for Photo Editing?
A monitor for photo editing has the most accurate and true-to-life display properties that reveal the quality of an image most concisely.
2. Why Do I Need a Photo Editing Monitor?
When working on photos, the goal is to improve the pictures in a visually appealing way. For this purpose, using just any screen won’t do. Using a subpar screen can drastically alter colors, image quality, lighting, resolution, and scaling. The bottom line is that if you skimp on a monitor when editing photos, your end product could turn out completely different from you’d imagined.
After editing web photos, you’ve likely experienced a change in photo quality depending on the screen you’re viewing the image on. Web photos are especially prone to this because we can’t choose the monitor a viewer uses.
As creators, we always want images to reveal our intentions. When editing photos for print, much more personal responsibility falls on the photographer’s shoulders, and that’s where the best monitor for photo editing helps most.
3. How Do I Find the Best Monitor for Photo Editing?
Finding the best monitor for photo editing is easy once you know what to look for; you’ll find the answer in the monitor’s technical specifications. Below is our quick guide to finding the best monitor for photo editing.
Technology Type
All monitors you’ll see in today’s marketplace have LCD technology, but there is another letter code to look for when finding a photo editing monitor. You’ll see monitor types categorized as IPS, OLED, TN, and VA. The best photo editing monitor has IPS technology.
IPS (in-plane switching) monitors are the top choice for ongoing color precision, a wide color gamut range, and wide viewing angles. Not only do these monitors offer outstanding color performance through professional color space technologies, but they also show exceptional response times and horizontal and vertical 178-degree viewing angles.
Size
If you are working on a mobile device screen, you are missing out on your photo’s potential. Even if you have the eyes of a pilot, small screens aren’t up to snuff for photo editing. That said, just because a monitor is large doesn’t mean it will provide the best image quality. Always check pixel density to ensure the screen will display most accurately. We find editing on screens 20-inches or more with exceptional pixel density the most rewarding.
Pixel Density
The denser the pixels are on a screen, the more attractive a photo looks, so to bring out your shot’s inner beauty, always look for a monitor with the maximum pixel density you can afford. Lackluster pixel densities, which also happen to be standard in most displays, fall into the 90-100 PPI range for pixel density. The more, the better with PPI, shoot for 180 or more. A PPI of 300 will deliver the best results.
Resolution
The deal resolution specs for photo editing are UHD (ultra high definition) or 4K. Resolution specs to look for are 3840 by 2160 or 4096 by 2160. You could get by using a screen with a resolution of 1920 by 1200 is necessary, but as with all things photo editing, the bigger, the better.
Other Considerations
The specs above aren’t all-inclusive for buying the best monitor for photo editing, but it’s a start. Always look for features that apply to your photo editing needs first. We’d recommend not letting the product descriptions sway you into buying a monitor but look for specs that work for you.
How We Reviewed
This review results from hours of cord shifting and heavy lifting; we tried each of the following monitors out to see how they fared for photo editing. We looked at each monitor’s features compared to our quick guide above, how well they performed, pros and cons, and pricing and warranty terms. We know that the best monitor for photo editing is imperative for photo reproduction, so we’ve reviewed our top picks below.
- HP 23.8-inch FHD IPS Monitor With Tilt/Height Adjustment
- Eizo ColorEdge CG319X Hardware Calibration LCD Monitor
- ASUS PA329Q 32-Inch 4K/UHD IPS HDMI Eye Care ProArt Monitor
- Acer ProDesigner PE320QK 31.5-Inch IPS Ultra HD HDR Xpert Delta E
- Dell P Series 24-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor
- BenQ SW240 PhotoVue 24 inch Color Accuracy IPS Monitor
- EIZO ColorEdge 24.1-Inch Hardware Calibration IPS LCD Monitor
- EIZO ColorEdge Professional Color Graphics Monitor
- LG 31.5-Inch LED LCD Monitor
- BenQ SW271 PhotoVue 27 inch 4K HDR Photography IPS Monitor
HP VH240a 23.8-Inch Full HD 1080p IPS LED Monitor with Built-In…
- RESOLUTION & PANEL — 23.8-inch Full HD monitor (1920 x 1080p at 60 Hz) with 16:9 aspect ratio and an anti-glare matte IPS LED-backlit panel (2 million pixels, 16.7 million colors)
- RESPONSE TIME — 5ms with overdrive for a smooth picture that looks crisp and fluid without motion blur
- BUILT-IN SPEAKERS — Integrated audio speakers provide great sound for your content (2 watts per channel)
Features
The HP 23.9-inch diagonal monitor has Full HD 1920 by 1080 resolution with micro-edge IPS for an extra wide-screen viewing experience in a compact frame. Colors come to life with the two million pixel color gamut for crisp and dynamic imagery. This HP screen has a 72% sRGB coverage and a 250cd/m2 brightness that supports 100-millimeter standard VESA pattern mount. Enjoy response times as low as five milliseconds, HDMI port, and a -5 to +30 tilting screen.
Warranty
HP gives a limited three-year warranty against craftsmanship defects for the HP 23.8-inch FHD IPS monitor
- Affordably priced
- Built-in tilt feature
- Good resolution
- Smaller screen
- Average color range
Features
The professional Eizo ColorEdge CG319X is a photo editing boss featuring a large 31.1-inch wide-gamut IPS screen with 4K 4096 by 2160 native resolution. For making the most of video creations, this monitor has HLG and PQ gamma curve for HDR video editing. ColorEdge comes with a built-in calibration sensor to guarantee colors are most true to form every time. Two display ports and an HDMI port round out the body for this down-to-business photo editing screen.
Warranty
The ColorEdge professional photo editing monitor has a limited five-year manufacturer’s warranty to cover defects in construction or design.
- Incredible resolution
- Colors are accurate
- Calibration sensor
- Long warranty
ASUS PA329Q 32″ 4K/UHD 3840×2160 IPS HDMI Eye Care ProArt Monitor
- 32-Inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution display with DisplayPort 1. 2, Mini-DisplayPort 1. 2 and 4x HDMI 2. 0 inputs; Color Temperature Selection : 4 Modes
- 100% rec. 709 & 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. Digital signal Frequency: 30 to 135khz(h)/ 24 to 76hz(v)
Features
The extra-large 32-inch ASUS PA329Q ProArt Monitor is made with photo editing in mind. With ultra high definition 4K 3840 by 2160 resolution, faithful color reproduction, and factory calibration, this monitor offers a fantastic range of features for photo editors. ProARt offers ‘picture in picture’ and ‘picture by picture’ functions to view multiple photos in different areas of the screen at once. The 3M Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF) allows for a broad range of color and supports 100% sRGB, 99.5% Adobe RGB, and 90% DCI-P3.
Warranty
The ProArt PA329Q monitor by ASUS has a limited one-year warranty to cover hardware defects.
- Factory calibration and compatibility with external calibration sources
- Excellent true color representation
- Accurate contrasting
- Fast response times
- Lower pixel density (138)
- Back facing buttons
- Questionable durability
Features
ProDesigner by Acer is a photo editing monitor and anti-glare hood combo for photo transformations. The large 31.5-inch 4K 3840 by 2160 IPS screen produces dazzling colors in the frameless confines of the screen. Supporting 130% of sRGB and 95% of DCO-P3 color spaces, this monitor is a champion for color-specific editing needs. A tilt and swivel frame allows for easy change during long hours of photo editing and graphic design.
Warranty
Acer provides a limited three-year warranty for the ProDesigner PE320QK; this warranty applies to manufacturer’s defects only.
- Cost-effective
- Comes with anti-glare hood
- Wide color space coverage
- Not compatible with Apple computers
- Colors appear dim at times
Dell P2419H 24 Inch LED-Backlit, Anti-Glare, 3H Hard Coating IPS…
- More room to work: Free up valuable desk space with a thin monitor profile and a small monitor base; Contrast ratio: 1000:1
- Consistent and rich colors: A wide viewing angle enabled by in-plane switching technology lets you see vibrant colors—no matter where you sit
- Expand your efficiency: The three-sided ultrathin bezel design lets you enjoy an uninterrupted view of your content across multiple monitors
Features
Dell’s IPS P Series 24-inch 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution monitor with has a 1000:1 contrast ratio for maximizing the depth of photographs. When viewed from within the wide-angled frame with a thin bezel, the saturated colors stay true no matter how you shift in your seat. For long hours at the screen, Dell’s TUV certified monitor is flicker free and easier on the eyes. This monitor also has dual HDMI ports and USB upstream and downstream ports.
Warranty
Dell warrants the P Series 24-inch monitor with a limited three-year warranty.
- Good picture quality
- Slim frame bezels
- Reduced blue light emissions
- Two HDMI ports
- Inexpensive
- Colors aren’t always true to life
- Minimal resolution
BenQ SW240 PhotoVue 24 inch Color Accuracy IPS Monitor for Photography
- HASSLE-FREE/AFFORDABLE: For easy, accurate out-of-the-box setup without the additional cost of calibration plus easily tune and maintain the color performance of the monitor at its most optimal state with hardware calibration with Palette Master Element software
- 24. 1 Inch 1920×1200 Resolution
- 99% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB. 95% DCI-P3 Color coverage with 10-bit IPS panel with 14-bit 3D LUT – ideal for amateur and professional photographers
Features
The BenQ SW240 PhotoVue is a get down to business IPS monitor with speedy setup times and pre-optimized hardware calibration. The 24.1-inch 16:10 ratio screen shows 1920 by 1200 resolution and 95% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB, and 100% sRGB for all the over picture coverage that counts. Marketed for both amateur and professional photographers, this monitor allows users to set up color mode hot keys to switch quickly from preset colors with the click of a button.
Warranty
BenQ gives a limited three-year warranty for the SW240 PhotoVue to cover any defects of design.
- Hardware calibration
- Hotkey color modes
- Mid-range pricing
- Fast set-up
- Exceptional color quality
- Smaller than average screen
- Glare hood not included
Features
EIZO’s 24.1-inch ColorEdge IPS monitor has a native resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels with an aspect ratio of 16:10. This petite powerhouse is a professional-grade monitor capable of reproducing pure color while streamlining workflow. Color matching is a dream with the ColorEdge technology that reproduces 99% Adobe RGB color and maximum screen uniformity. Wide 178-degree angles allow multiple people to view the screen with the same accuracy.
Warranty
A limited five-year warranty backs EIZO’s ColorEdge monitor.
- Affordable entry-level professional monitor
- Accessible USB ports
- Uniform viewing
- Precision calibration
- On the small side
- Bezels are wider than average
EIZO CG247X-BK ColorEdge Professional Color Graphics Monitor 24.1″…
- Wide-Gamut LED IPS display with built in color calibration sensor for professional photography, design, print and post production.
- 24.1″, 1920×1200 (16:10), 400 cd/m2 Brightness, 1500:1 Contrast Ratio, 99% Adobe RGB Coverage, 10 ms Response Time, DVI-D, DisplayPort, HDMI
- Five-year warranty and built to last and remain color accurate.
Features
The wide-gamut EIZO CG247X-BK ColorEdge Professional Color Graphics Monitor could be the best monitor for photo editing for professional use. The 24.1-inch IPS display has an automatic color calibration sensor to reproduce the lifelike colors all the time. A resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels on a 24.1-inch screen delivers a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, 99% Adobe RGB coverage, 3D LUT, and genuine black color support.
Warranty
A five-year warranty covers the CG247X monitor against any flaws or defects in craftsmanship.
- Exceptional color quality
- True black display
- Built-in calibration sensor
- Comes with glare hood
Features
The 31.5-inch 4K UHD LG IPS Monitor celebrates a display quality of 3840 by 2160 and over 99% sRGB color gamut for an extraordinary picture and color quality. Colors remain accurate on this screen no matter from which angle we view them. This Energy Star certified monitor is easy to set up and easier on the wallet by using 25% less energy than the average screen. LG simplifies the photo editing process by offering a split-screen for side-by-side comparisons while working.
Warranty
LG gives the 31.5-inch LED LCD Monitor a limited one-year warranty for parts and labor, which is much shorter than most manufacturer’s warranties.
- Sharp resolution for high-quality images
- Thin 1.3mm bezel
- Easy setup
- Energy Star Certified
- Not suitable for Macs
- Fewer editing features than average
- Short warranty
BenQ SW271 27 Inch 4K HDR Professional IPS Monitor |10-Bit with 14-Bit…
- 27 INCH 4K UHD RESOLUTION: Exceptional clarity of fine details
- HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR): for sharpened brightness and incredible details.Dimensions (HxWxD mm) (w/o Base) (with shading hood) 14.65X24.64×9.37 inches Dimensions (HxWxD mm) (w/o Base) 14.52×24.16X2.46 inches
- AQCOLOR TECHNOLOGY: 99% Adobe RGB coverage, hardware calibration support for accurate colors for photography. Card Reader Support Format: SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC
Features
The 27-inch BenQ SW271 PhotoVue monitor with glare hood is a professional photo editing options with impressive specs. The UHD 4K (3840 by 2160 pixels) screen measures 27-inches to blow pictures up without blowing them out. The monitor has advanced features like black and white mode, GamutDuo viewing, and Hotkey Puck for quick color mode switching. High dynamic range (HDR) creates realistic color and contrast on the screen. AQCOLOR Technology allows for 99% RGB coverage and seamless hardware calibration. Set up is easy using a single USB-C cord for installation.
Warranty
The standard BenQ warranty of three-years applies to their 27-inch PhotoVue monitor.
- Spot-on color reproduction
- One-click sRGB to Adobe RGB switching
- Excellent mid-range pricing
- Professional grade quality
- Non-standard HDMI port
- Limited customer support
When out to buy the best monitor for photo editing, there are many technical aspects to consider. The very best options are usually the most expensive options, which won’t suit everyone’s budget. By looking for photo editing monitors with the specifications detailed in our review above, you can find a quality monitor in your price range. Below we’ve isolated our top picks for the best monitor for photo editing according to price range.
Best Monitor for Photo Editing
The Eizo ColorEdge CG319X is our favorite monitor for photo editing because it offers the most accuracy in photo reproduction. The color gamut and consistently cohesive quality of the screen’s imagery are unparalleled.
Best Mid Range Monitor for Photo Editing
When you want a high-quality photo editing monitor but don’t want to spend a small fortune, the BenQ SW271 PhotoVue monitor is the way to go. This monitor has an incredible range and robust features to help you transform your stills and videos into art worthy of a gallery.
Best Budget Monitor for Photo Editing
If you are starting out or if photo editing is a casual hobby, the Acer ProDesigner is a fantastic place to start. The monitor offers a sharp color range and the right amount of features to satisfy basic photo editing needs.