5 Best Monitors For Photo Editing 2024
Discover the 5 best monitors for photo editing in 2024! In this guide, we’ll explore top-rated displays designed to meet the demanding requirements of photographers and graphic designers. From precise colour accuracy to crisp resolutions, these monitors are equipped with advanced features to elevate your editing workflow and bring your creative vision to life with clarity and precision.
Key features to look out for when buying a monitor for photo editing.
- Colour Accuracy: Look for monitors with high colour accuracy and wide colour gamut coverage, such as those with IPS or OLED panels.
- 10-bit colour: Opt for a monitor that can produce billions of colours (10-bit) rather than millions of colours (8-bit)
- Resolution: Higher resolutions like 4K provide more detail and clarity, which can be beneficial for photo editing.
- Panel Type: IPS panels and OLEDs offer excellent colour accuracy and viewing angles, while TN panels are generally faster but have poorer colour reproduction.
- Brightness and Contrast: Opt for monitors with high brightness levels and contrast ratios to ensure accurate representation of images.
Best Monitors For Photo Editing At A Glance
BEST OVERALL
ASUS
Review Score: 4.8/5
Price (When Reviewed): £2299
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Pannel Type: IPS (Mini-LED)
Screen Size: 32 Inches
Supported Colour Gamut: Wide Colour (DCI-P3 99%)
Bit Depth: 10-bit
Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (138 Pixels Per Inch)
Peak Brightness: 1200 Nits
Refresh Rate: 60hz
Response Time: 5ms
PROS:
Exceptional Colour Accuracy: The ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCX-PK covers 99.5% of the Adobe RGB, 100% of the sRGB, and Rec. 709 colour gamuts, ensuring precise colour reproduction for accurate photo editing.
High Resolution: With its 4K resolution and 32-inch screen size, the monitor offers crisp and detailed visuals, allowing photo editors to see every detail of their images.
HDR Support: HDR support enhances contrast and brightness, providing a more dynamic and lifelike viewing experience when editing HDR content.
Wide Viewing Angles: The monitor features wide viewing angles, ensuring consistent colours and image quality even when viewed from different angles.
Reliable Brand: ASUS is known for its quality and reliability, providing peace of mind to users.
Compatability: Works and connects with both macs and PCs.
CONS:
Price: The ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCX-PK is expensive compared to other monitors in its category, making it less accessible to budget-conscious users. But you get what you pay for.
Complex Calibration: While the monitor offers extensive calibration options, some users may find it challenging to calibrate accurately for their specific needs, requiring additional time and expertise.
Limited Connectivity: The monitor may have limited connectivity options, which could be a drawback for users who require multiple input/output options for connecting various devices.
Uniformity Issues: Some users have reported slight issues with uniformity across the screen, with slight variations in brightness or colour tint in certain areas.
BEST FOR MAC USERS
APPLE
Review Score: 4.7 /5
Price (When Reviewed): £1499
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Pannel Type: IPS
Screen Size: 27 Inches
Supported Colour Gamut: Wide Colour (DCI-P3)
Bit Depth: 10-bit
Resolution: 5120 x 2880 (218 Pixels Per Inch)
Peak Brightness: 600 Nits
Refresh Rate: 60hz
Response Time: 12ms
PROS:
Colour Accuracy: Apple displays are known for their excellent colour accuracy, which is crucial for photographers who require precise colour representation in their work.
Very High Resolution: A high-resolution display can provide photographers with the detail they need to edit images accurately and efficiently.
True Tone Technology: If the Apple Studio Display includes True Tone technology, it can help photographers by adjusting the display’s white balance to match ambient lighting conditions, reducing eye strain and improving colour accuracy.
CONS:
Price: Apple products tend to be premium-priced, so the Studio Display is relatively expensive compared to other monitors.
Limited Connectivity: Photographers may find it challenging to connect multiple devices or peripherals simultaneously.
Compatibility: While Apple displays are optimised for use with Mac computers, they may not offer the same level of compatibility with other operating systems, potentially limiting their usefulness for photographers who use PCs.
You are reading
5 Best Monitors For Photo Editing 2024
MOST COLOUR ACCURATE
SAMSUNG
Review Score: 4.6/5
Price (When Reviewed): £1399
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Pannel Type: OLED
Screen Size: 49 Inches
Supported Colour Gamut: Wide Colour (DCI-P3 99%)
Bit Depth: 10-bit
Resolution: 5120 x 1440 (108 Pixels Per Inch)
Peak Brightness: 250 Nits (1000 Nits Peak)
Refresh Rate: 240hz
Response Time: 0.03ms
PROS:
OLED Technology: Offers vibrant colours, true blacks, and excellent contrast ratios.
Expansive Screen: 49-inch size provides ample space for multitasking and immersive viewing.
Wide Colour Gamut: Ensures accurate colour reproduction for photo editing tasks.
High Resolution: 5120 x 1440 resolution delivers sharp and detailed images.
Gaming Features: High refresh rate and response time enhance gaming experience.
Ergonomic Design: Adjustable stand and ergonomic features improve user comfort.
CONS:
Price: Higher price point compared to traditional LCD monitors.
Uniformity Issues: Some users report slight variations in brightness or colour uniformity around the corners and edges of the screen.
Gaming-Oriented Features: Some features may be unnecessary for non-gaming users who just want a screen dedicated to photo editing only.
Limited Calibration Options: Calibration options may be limited compared to professional-grade monitors.
MOST PRACTICAL
SAMSUNG
Review Score: 4.4/5
Price (When Reviewed): £2199
The 57″ G95NC Odyssey Neo G9 monitor, renowned for gaming, excels in photo editing too. Its expansive 57-inch screen, 7680×2160 resolution, and wide colour gamut ensure clear visuals and vibrant colours. With a peak brightness of around 1000 nits, it’s perfect for detailed editing. Despite its gaming features like 240Hz refresh rate and 10-bit depth, photographers appreciate its precision and colour accuracy, making it ideal for both gaming and editing tasks. What makes this screen particularly practical is its 32:9 ratio which effectively gives you two 16:9 UHD monitors stitched together. Perfect for multi-tasking while editing your photos.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Pannel Type: VA (Mini-LED)
Screen Size: 57 Inches
Supported Colour Gamut: Wide Colour (DCI-P3 95%)
Bit Depth: 10-bit
Resolution: 7680 x 2160p (140 Pixels Per Inch)
Peak Brightness: 420 Nits (1000 Nits Peak)
Refresh Rate: 240hz
Response Time: 1ms
PROS:
Expansive Screen: The 57″ size offers ample space for multitasking and viewing images in detail.
High Resolution: With a resolution of 7680×2160 pixels, it provides very sharp and detailed images.
Wide Colour Gamut: The monitor covers 125% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3, ensuring vibrant and accurate colours.
High Brightness: A peak brightness of around 1000 nits ensures accurate brightness levels, crucial for detailed editing work.
Gaming Features: Features like a 240Hz refresh rate and 10-bit depth can enhance the editing experience, providing smooth motion and accurate colours.
CONS:
Overkill for Some: The size and features may be excessive for users who primarily focus on photo editing and don’t require gaming-oriented specifications.
Cost: The high-end features come with a premium price tag, making it a significant investment for some users.
Uniformity Issues: Some users have reported slight variations in brightness or colour uniformity across the screen, which may affect colour accuracy in certain areas of the display.
Limited Calibration Options: Unlike professional-grade monitors, the Odyssey Neo G9 may have limited hardware calibration options, requiring users to rely on external calibration devices for precise colour calibration.
BEST BUDGET
VIEWSONIC
Review Score: 4.1/5
Price (When Reviewed): £320
The ViewSonic VP2768a is perfect for photo editors. Its 27-inch QHD display offers stunning visuals and precise colour reproduction with 100% sRGB coverage. Supporting 10-bit colour depth ensures smooth gradients and true-to-life colours, essential for accurate photo editing. With hardware calibration options, users can fine-tune colours for optimal accuracy. Its ergonomic design and versatile connectivity make it a reliable choice for professionals seeking precision and ease of use in their editing workflow.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Pannel Type: IPS
Screen Size: 27 Inches
Supported Colour Gamut: 100% sRGB
Bit Depth: 10-bit
Resolution: 2560 x 1440p (109 Pixels Per Inch)
Peak Brightness: 350 Nits
Refresh Rate: 60hz
Response Time: 5ms
PROS:
Accurate Colour Reproduction: The ViewSonic VP2768a offers 100% sRGB coverage, ensuring accurate colour representation for photo editing tasks.
High Resolution: With its Quad HD (QHD) display, the monitor provides crisp and detailed visuals, allowing users to see fine details in their images.
Hardware Calibration: The VP2768a supports hardware calibration, allowing users to adjust colour settings for optimal accuracy.
Versatile Connectivity: It features a range of connectivity options including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB ports, ensuring compatibility with various devices and peripherals.
Ergonomic Design: The monitor offers ergonomic adjustments such as tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment, providing users with a comfortable viewing experience.
CONS:
Limited Colour Gamut: While the VP2768a offers 100% sRGB coverage, it may not fully cover wider colour gamuts like Adobe RGB or DCI-P3, limiting its suitability for colour-critical work outside the sRGB space.
Average Brightness: The monitor’s brightness level may be sufficient for most indoor environments but may not be ideal for well-lit rooms or environments with high ambient light.
No Built-in Calibration: Unlike some higher-end monitors, the VP2768a does not come with built-in calibration tools, requiring users to rely on external calibration devices for precise colour calibration.
Uniformity Issues: Some users have reported slight variations in brightness or colour uniformity across the screen, which may affect colour accuracy in certain areas of the display.
