Top 8 Best Monitor For Photo Editing In 2023 Review

So, you’ve been searching for a new monitor for a little while?

But not just any monitor, the best monitor for photo editing…

You need a monitor that can handle the heat, and produce fantastic results when it comes to photo editing! A screen that will give you an accurate representation of what will eventually be delivered once the image has been printed. But you just can’t pin down the exact model to suit your needs?

Well, look no further!

We have taken it upon ourselves to scour the net to find the best monitors for photo editing, and video editing for that matter, available today. We have selected a wide collection of offerings ranging in price, size, and quality.

So, what should you look for when considering the best monitor for photo editing? There are a couple of questions you should ask yourself before you decide on which monitor will work best for your situation.

Colorspace and contrast; are the colorspace and contrast able to reproduce the actual image accurately?

A good photo editing monitor should cover at least 90% of sRGB and 80% of the AdobeRGB spectrum.

Size and aspect; will a standard 16:9 set-up work for you, or are you in need of a larger screen?

We think the larger, the better, never smaller than 23 inches for photo editing work.

Resolution; Can you settle for 1920×1080 full HD screen, or is an ultra-HD resolution monitor more in line with your needs?

Again, like size, more is best.

Panel technology and black levels; Will you choose to use IPS tech be, or will OLED be required?

Black levels will always be superior in OLED panels, but IPS is still great tech.

With these considerations fresh in your mind, join us as we take an in-depth look at all the better options available to you today.

Top 8 Best Monitor For Photo Editing To Buy In 2023 Review

1 ASUS ProArt PA329Q

ASUS’ flagship-monitor comes with a 32-inch screen, a 3840 x 2160 4K resolution, IPS panel technology, and all the inputs you could ever need. The ASUS ProArt PA329Q is a monitor that really packs a punch without even being close to the most expensive on our list.

With full support for Rec.709, sRGB, and AdobeRGB (99.5%) color spaces or models, this panel delivers a rich and accurate image.

But wait, what is a color space?

Well, according to Wiki, “A color space is a specific organization of colors. When combined with physical device profiling, it allows for reproducible representations of color, in both digital and analog representations.”

Having support for multiple color models, therefore, ensures the versatility of a panel…

Also featured is full 10-bit color depth, with a 14-bit color look-up table. Cheaper monitors often opt for an 8-bit depth and then simulate 10-bit with a trick called frame referencing. The higher the color depth, the more accurate the color results.

Great adjustability…

The monitor itself is able to twist 90 degrees to enter portrait mode, tilt -5 to +20 degrees, and move 60mm to 200mm in height. It has a total of four HDMI inputs, two DisplayPort inputs, and three USB inputs. A small joystick has been added to help navigate the monitor menu, which is super handy for flicking through the display presets.

Our rating: (3.9 / 5)

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2 Eizo ColorEdge CG319X – Best Premium Monitor for Photo Editing

Top-end, luxury items. They are something we have all dreamed of owning at some point in our life. For cars, there is Ferrari or Bentley. For pianos, there is Steinway & Sons.

And for monitors?

Well, for photo editing monitors, there is Eizo. In particular, the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X. This beautifully designed, high spec piece of technology truly is the creme-de-la-creme of computer monitors. But keep in mind, high-end tech does not come cheap, with this offering being more expensive than some second-hand cars!

Still, its a premium option for professionals…

Here we have a truly professional level screen with a size of 31.3 inches, a 4096 x 2160 resolution, which is more than 4x that of Full HD 1920 x 1080, displayed through an IPS panel. It features 99% of the Adobe RGB spectrum, 98% DCI-P3, and full sRGB coverage. It also supports 10-bit color with a 16-bit look-up table.

In terms of inputs, Eizo has included one DisplayPort, one mini-DisplayPort, one VGA port, two HDMI ports, and four USB 3.0 ports, meaning all bases are fully covered here. The improved gamma curves help images to appear more true to how our eyes observe the real world compared to SDR, or Standard Dynamic Range.

This is genuinely the best monitor for photo editing if cost is no issue…

When combined, all of these factors produce outstanding image quality, making this our number one pick if you have an unlimited budget. ColorEdge monitors are all covered by a standard manufacturer’s 5-year warranty. This covers all components, including the LCD panel.

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

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3 BenQ SW271 27 inch 4K Monitor – Best Value Monitor for Photo Editing

Monitors marketed purely for photo and video editing, have historically been pricey. More pricey than most hobbyists could afford.

Hang on though, check this out…

Take a quick look at the BenQ SW271 27 inch 4K Monitor. Although still on the expensive side when compared to everyday use monitors, BenQ has managed to fit a heap of professional-level features into a 27-inch, 3840 x 2160 4K res IPS display, and to keep the price down.

What is this magical IPS we keep hearing about?

It stands for ‘In-Plane Switch’, which describes a monitor that has greater viewing angles (178 degrees to be exact) than standard displays. When viewing a standard display, the contrast and saturation of your image can change depending on the angle you are viewing from.

IPS combats this by increasing the display angle greatly…

The screen has a great amount of movement available, with a -5 to +20 degree tilt, a 45 degree left and right swivel, and a full 90 degrees of pivot. There is a very effective anti-glare coating on the screen too.

A total of 13 color modes are supported, making the versatility of this screen superior. There are 3 USB 3.0 ports, a single USB-C, plus two HDMI ports, and an SD-card reader.

Great value for sure…

The accuracy of the color and contrast will give even the most professional quality monitors a run for their money, and if we are totally honest, we would be surprised if any difference could be discerned at all.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

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4 Dell Ultrasharp 27” Screen LED-Lit Monitor Black (UP2718Q)

With the Dell Ultrasharp 27”, you’re looking at a high-end screen at a relatively affordable price. With its zone dimming display, we think it may be the first monitor that is not necessarily aimed at just professionals that can do HDR content justice.

The Ultrasharp 27” has 100% color mode support for both sRGB and Adobe RGB, the two most commonly used color modes. There is a wide range of other color modes additionally supported too.

Great connectivity options…

Also offered is a more than decent range of connectivity options with one DisplayPort 1.4, one mini-DisplayPort 1.4, four USB 3.0 ports offering fast charging capabilities, and two HDMI ports. There is no option for daisy-chaining multiple displays on this model, as there is on some other Dell UltraSharp screens, but this was of little importance to us when editing photos.

The screen itself can have its height adjusted, and can tilt, swivel, and rotate, giving the user a wide range of ergonomic positions to view from.

And what a view it is…

The color and contrast here really are second to none at this price! We were absolutely blown away with how accurately this screen was able to reproduce whatever image we threw at it, and how well this translated once we had printed the image.

Our rating: (3.9 / 5)

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5 ViewSonic VP2785-4K 27” 4K Monitor – Best Mid Range Monitor for Photo Editing

We are the first to admit that the USA based company ViewSonic was not the first brand to jump into our subconscious when we think of the best photo editing monitors. But, the name came up time and time again during our research for this article, so we decided to get our hands on the ViewSonic VP2785-4K 27” 4K Monitor and see what all the fuss is about.

And you know what?

We get why the VP2785-4K has quickly become a top contender for graphics professionals, with its exceptional color authenticity and factory calibration for a wide range of color spaces. All the major color modes are covered, including sRGB, AdobeRGB, and DCI-P3. There is 99% coverage of AdobeRGB.

Also included is iPhone color profile emulation, which may make some professionals shake their heads, but we found it really useful! The contrast ratio sits at 1000:1, and the brightness is measured at 350 cd/m².

These specs put it up there with some of the real heavy hitters in the field…

The ViewSonic VP2785-4K comes with a heap of inputs. First up, there is a USB-C port, which can be handily used to charge devices, one DisplayPort, two HDMI 2.0, and one mini DisplayPort. Included in the box are a DisplayPort cable, a USB-C cable, and a USB 3.1 cable. We think this is super generous, as most manufacturers prefer not to include any extras. Also on display are three USB 3.1 ports, which you can use to plug and charge any of your devices.

One of the added extras that we loved was the presence sensor…

This ingenious addition means the monitor knows when you walk away from it, and will automatically go into sleep mode. It will also auto wake up when you sit down again. The addition of a hood in the package would have been good to see, but unfortunately, it’s an accessory you’ll have to buy separately.

Our rating: (4 / 5)

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6 NEC EA275UHD 27-inch UHD Monitor

Following up from last year’s 32” NEC 4k Monitor, which is aimed at the top end professionals, and is nothing short of amazing, NEC has released the awesome EA275UHD 27-inch UHD Monitor. This slimmed-down model is more than capable of handling 99% of jobs, with the color, contrast, and overall quality putting making us wonder something.

Just how do they fit so much in and still keep the price down?

To be honest, we cannot answer that directly, but we do know that this screen is a fantastic deal!

In terms of specs, here we have:

So, this is obviously a screen that is packed to the brim with features and ports, and with a 3-year standard manufacturer warranty, we reckon it’s a pretty hard package to beat.

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

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7 ViewSonic VP2468 Professional 24 inch 1080p Monitor

We are nearing the end of the list now, so we thought we would throw in two super low budget offerings to round things out. First up, we are back to ViewSonic, with the 24” VP2468. This is an IPS panel, with very accurate colors and good grayscale performance without drawing a lot of power.

Yes, the resolution does top out at 1,920 x 1,080p, making this the lowest resolution panel reviewed so far.

This will be a drawback for some users…

But, depending on your needs, it might be more than enough. The ViewSonic VP2468 is factory calibrated to achieve 99% sRGB color coverage and Delta E. There is a range of color spaces that you can choose from, including sRGB, EBU, or DICOM SIM. It has a 1,000:1 native contrast ratio, a 5-millisecond (gray-to-gray) pixel response, a viewing angle of 178 degrees, and a gorgeous a frameless design.

Frameless is great, but how about ports?

In terms of ports, we see two DisplayPort inputs, one full size, one mini, a full-size DisplayPort output for daisy-chaining multiple monitors, two HDMI inputs, a headphone jack, one upstream USB 3.0 port, and four downstream USB 3.0 ports.

Honestly, all bases covered here…

For the price, there are, of course, some drawbacks. But overall, this is an excellent screen at an even better price.

Our rating: (4.2 / 5)

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8 HP – Pavilion 32” LED QHD (Quad High Definition) Monitor – Best Budget Monitor for Photo Editing

Last on the list, but by no means our last pick, is the fantastic HP – Pavilion 32” LED QHD (Quad High Definition) Monitor.

When we hear the name HP, especially with pavilion attached to it, we know that we are about to review a quality product. And this model was no exception to the rule.

This is our top pick for super budget screens for photo editing, and it is easy to see why…

The generously sized screen has a pixel density of 92 PPI, which, while being lower than most of the others on this list, is still good enough for the job at hand. The port selection is also a bit smaller with a single HDMI 1.4, one DisplayPort 1.2, a USB-C input, and two USB 3.0 ports. No daisy chain action available here either, but you are still able to connect and charge your USB powered devices.

So what does it do well?

Everything else! A large selection of color settings and modes are available, and the contrast ratio is 3000:1, 100% coverage of sRGB and 99% of AdobeRGB, 2560p x 1440p resolution, 300 cd/m² of brightness, plus the ability to twist and swivel in any direction you please.

Our rating: (3.8 / 5)

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Before We Choose A Winner

If you enjoyed this review, we suggest you check out our reviews for the Best Printers for Art Prints, the Best Ergonomic Computer Desks, and the Best Standing Desks Reviews.

If you’re looking for some items to improve the quality of your photos, you may also be interested in the Best Tripods Reviews, the Best Mirrorless Cameras Reviews, and the Best Memory Card for Camera Reviews.

Shooting/editing on the go? See our Best Waterproof Camera Reviews, the Best GoPro Camera Reviews, the Best Compact Cameras Reviews, the Best Camera Backpack Reviews, the Best Portable Photo Printers Reviews, and the Best Portable Scanners Reviews.

Ok, back to photo editing monitors…

Wrapping Up Our Best Monitor For Photo Editing Review

With all the options available today for photo editing monitors, it was hard for us to whittle it down to just these contenders. But really, we think these guys are the ones you should be looking at.

If money is no issue, then it is impossible to go past the…

This truly is the best monitor on the market right now.

Our mid-range pick goes to the…

This monitor really surprised us with its versatility.

And the…

… is our go-to for a great budget option.

Hopefully, this has helped clear up your options, and made your choice a little easier!

Enjoy your photo editing!