Find Your Ideal Monitor for Photo Editing: Our Top Recommendations

If you’re a professional photographer and an editor, taking into consideration the best monitor for photo editing is vital to achieving the best results possible. Photo editing is an art that comes with perfecting the precision, clarity, and accuracy when it comes to playing with colors. Therefore, an ideal specialized photo editing monitor will serve as the window to your creative visualization.

In this ultimate guide, we list the best monitors for photo editing, modified to your various needs, ranging from 4k budget-friendly options to professional-grade display models. Now, we’ll dig deeper and explore how these preferences are the perfect match for your artistic journey!

Types of Monitors for Photo Editing

When you’re choosing the best monitor for photo editing, it is important to understand the various types available and their unique features. The monitor should not only match your personal editing style, but its full-time capabilities must also meet your creative demands. The following is an overview of the different types of photo editing monitors:

4K Monitor

A 4K Monitor presents a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, compared to the ones found in standard Full HD (1920 x 1080) displays. Specifically, this ultra-high-definition (UHD) type of monitor features sharp and detailed images that are ideal for a diverse range of applications. It is particularly helpful for editors who want their work to be as precise as possible.

Color Accurate Monitor

A color-accurate monitor offers a display with consistent colors and shades that match the original sources. It typically covers a wide color scale and has low Delta E values. In relation to this, color accuracy is a dominant aspect of photo editing that helps produce life-like images. This ensures that the hues in your captured pictures will remain exactly the same as your vision on screens, heavily affecting color difference.

Curved Monitor

A curved monitor refers to a slightly curved computer monitor that usually enhances the experience. It offers a more natural editing experience as the monitor wraps around your field of view. Moreover, this kind of display also reduces eye strain and can persuade editors to comfortably position themselves in front of their monitors, making long editing sessions much easier.

Touch Screen Monitor

Touch screen monitors allow you to store and receive information with mere taps and gestures. It generally offers an intuitive and easy interaction with your editing techniques. With this type of monitor, editors do not need to have a keyboard or mouse to directly interact with and manipulate their work, making sure that their efficiency is at its highest.

Budget Monitor

Budget monitors are good investments for starting editors with a tight budget. Despite its cheaper range of value, its offered quality, features, and performance can still compete decently against some expensive photo editing monitors.

Drawing Display

A drawing display is a monitor with drawing capabilities, allowing photo editors to engage directly on the screen using a stylus. This type is an ideal choice for editors who want to use a hint of digital art when retouching and enhancing their pictures. Modern drawing displays are already at a point where you can manipulate adjustments in your own creative way with little to no limitations at all.

Best 4k Monitor for Photo Editing

BenQ SW272U

The BenQ SW272U is a 27-inch professional-grade monitor designed specifically for photo and video editors so that they can maximize their input’s full capabilities. This monitor features calibrated color accuracy and HDR support that ensures that your edited photos look amazing and remarkable on any platform. Not only that, but its simple and sleek design makes it a top favorite among different editors!

Price: $1,199.99

Specifications:

Reasons to Buy:

• Factory-calibrated color accuracy (100% sRGB, 99% AdobeRGB)

• Supports HDR and HLG for amazing visuals

• Hardware calibration support feature

• Built-in colorimeter

Who Should Use It?

An ideal choice for professional photographers and editors demanding precise color accuracy during editing.

Cons:

• Higher/Premium price point

• Only limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, giving it less versatility for multitasking uses like gaming and video streaming.

• Calibration process may be too complex for beginners

Best Color Accurate Monitor for Photo Editing

ASUS ProArt Display OLED PA32DC

The ASUS ProArt Display OLED PA32DC is the world’s first OLED monitor that offers automatic calibration. Its unique OLED panel makes sure to integrate high-quality colors, making it an ideally perfect option for photo and video editors. This specific monitor display also stands out as one of the best color-accurate monitors for photo editing as it has a built-in motorized flip colorimeter, a rare trait that we don’t often see on monitors.

Price: $3,499.99

Specifications:

Reasons to Buy:

• Built-in OLED Display that provides true blacks and vibrant colors

• Professional-grade color accuracy with its Delta E < 2 and 99% DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB feature

• Includes true HDR support with Dolby Vision and HDR10 performance

Who Should Use It?

It’s the best choice for professional photo editors and graphic designers centralizing on high-end image display and color grading precision.

Cons:

• Higher/Premium price point which is triple the price of some competitors, suited only for professional and needing photo editors

• OLED panel has a high burn-in risk

• Requires a large desk space for its size

Best Curved Monitor for Photo Editing

ViewSonic ColorPro VP3881a

The ViewSonic ColorPro VP3881a is an ultra-wide, immersive, and high-quality curved screen monitor that offers a 3840x1600 resolution and a panoramic view editing experience. This monitor not only adds a layer of depth and dimension to your screens but also provides a high-end design with precise factory color-calibrated features, making it a perfect match for multitasking and detailed photo editing. It is a top contender in the category of the best-curved monitor for photo editing.

Price: $1,199.99

Specifications:

Reasons to Buy:

• Built as an immersive ultra-wide curved display monitor

• Professional-grade color accuracy with its Delta E < 2 and 98% DCI-P3 feature

• Supported a factory color calibration

• Includes a future-proof USB Type-C port, DisplayPort technology, and HDMI

Who Should Use It?

Perfect for photo editors who prefer a wider point-of-view while editing. It may also be applicable to users who want multiple windows while working to increase their multitasking efficiency.

Cons:

• Price point is above $1000

• Not as sharp as a 4K monitor displays

• Requires a large desk space for its size

Best Touch Screen Monitor for Photo Editing

Alogic Clarity Pro Touch

The Alogic Clarity Pro Touch is designed for photo editors demanding an interactive approach to photo editing without the use of any standard mouse and keyboard. This model has integrated a fast and high-end touchscreen that aims to cater to tasks that require precision and flexibility. Moreover, what makes the Alogic Clarity Pro Touch unique is its impressive specifications for one of the lowest prices on this list.

Price: $899.99

Specifications:

Reasons to Buy:

• Built as a high-resolution touch screen for flexible and interactive editing

• Has a 4K UHD resolution quality

• Covers 100% sRGB and 99% Adobe RGB for accurate color production

• Includes a USB Type-C port compatibility

Who Should Use It?

Suitable for editors who prefer hands-on and direct editing immersion in their work.

Cons:

• Features a glossy screen that may reflect light for workspaces with brighter environments

• Prone to touch functionality accidents

Best Monitor for Photo Editing Under 500

LG 27UL500-W

The LG 27UL500-W is the best budget-friendly monitor option for photo editing that doesn’t compromise the device’s quality. It offers solid color accuracy and 4K resolution at a cheaper price than most monitors, making it an ideal model for starters who don't exactly know how to start. This gives them the chance to explore high-resolution photo editing without splurging a huge amount of money.

Price: $349.99

Specifications:

Reasons to Buy:

• Affordable

• Good color accuracy for its price

• 4K resolution with HDR10 support

• Affordable 4K resolution with HDR10 support.

• Have 98% of the sRGB color spectrum.

Who Should Use It?

A perfect and suitable starting model for photo editing beginners on a budget. It’s also one of the best options for students and casual photo editors.

Cons:

• Has limited advanced calibration features

• Basic stand

• Unavailable USB Type-C port

Dell U2424H

The Dell U2424H is a compact size monitor and is considered one of the most affordable and reliable monitors for photo editors. Without spending a lot, you can already access great performance and good quality, with its color accuracy and user-friendly features.

Price: $239.99

Specifications:

Reasons to Buy:

• Affordable for its quality

• Good color accuracy

• Well-known and reliable brand

• Compact size

Who Should Use It?

Just like the LG 27UL500-W, it’s one of the best choices for students or photo editing beginners on a budget.

Cons:

• Only has limited advanced calibration features

• No 4K resolution display

• Smaller screen size

Best Drawing Display for Photo Editing

If you’re a photo editor who’s also interested in digital art and similar techniques for your work, then this might be the section for you. Check out the best drawing display for photo editing with one of the best picks from this category, the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Series!

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 is a renowned device that primarily meets the standards for color accuracy with its color calibration software. It also revolves around innovative features like 4K resolution quality, a responsive free stylus with high-pressure sensitivity, and a Calman-verified display.

Best Monitor for Photo Editing on your Mac

Apple Pro Display XDR

The Apple Pro Display XDR is an astonishing and groundbreaking monitor designed exclusively for Mac users. With its high-end Retina 6K display resolution and unmatched color accuracy, it blooms to be the new standard for the best photo editing monitor.

Price: $4,999.99

Specifications:

Reasons to Buy:

• Amazing 6K resolution quality, one of the first of its kind

• P3 wide color gamut with a 10-bit depth for vibrant and precise colors

• Excellent brightness and contrast feature

• Simple yet elegant design

Who Should Use It?

Best for editors that would highly invest in the Apple space quality, seeking the best of the best performance in photo editing projects.

Cons:

• Extremely expensive

• Few have accessibility as it is exclusive for Mac users

• Requires a high-end hardware for its maximized performance

Final Remarks

Choosing the best monitor for photo editing still varies depending on your specific needs, budget, and editing necessities. You have the final power to weigh all the given factors and opt for the best and most suitable choice for yourself. The following table will be the overall summary of our top picks:

Transform, upgrade, and enhance your photo editing experience by choosing the best monitor that parallels your needs. Invest for your creative future as the photos you capture deserve to be seen through their real color and try out the XPPen Artist Pro 24 (Gen 2) for an experience that surpasses your expectations.