Choosing the best monitors for photo editing is important. It's not just about your own viewing comfort and satisfaction. It's essential that you get a proper rendition of the detail, color, and contrast in your photos.
When you're editing an image, you only have what you see on the screen to go by – and if your monitor isn't up to the job, you can easily end up correcting the monitor's faults when your photos are perfectly fine. Of course, the best monitor calibrators can help you to sort out your screen and ensure optimum accuracy, too.
In this guide, we've picked some of the best monitors on the market that prioritize resolution, color accuracy, brightness consistency, and contrast to display your photos properly. If you regularly move around with your system, then take a look at the best portable monitors.
The top monitors in this guide are high-end, high-performance monitors designed for more demanding work and aimed at enthusiasts, artists, and professionals. However, we appreciate that not every photographer wants to spend a fortune on a high-end display, so scroll down and you'll find affordable upgrades for photographers who want to replace an older monitor with one that's usefully better, but at an affordable price.
Ben is the Imaging Labs Manager, responsible for all the lab testing of cameras and lenses on Digital Camera World. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. His expertise also extends to computing, with extensive knowledge of the latest laptop and desktop computers, as well as monitors, external storage and memory cards.
With headline specs like 98% DCI-P3 color space coverage, 4K resolution, USB-C connectivity with Power Delivery this makes this a great option for photo editing and more.
With top-notch color accuracy, the BenQ PhotoVue SW272U aced our comprehensive testing, and it's packed with extra tech and features. If you can pay the premium price, this no-compromise display delivers stunning results.
Whether you're using a MacBook, Mac Studio or Mac mini, this is the ultimate monitor to pair it with. The huge 5K resolution and extensive multimedia features mean you're sure to fall in love with this stunning display.
This 31.5-inch screen is notably larger than a 27-inch model, giving you more real estate for tools and palettes as you edit. It is a well-specced color-calibrated monitor - that offers good value despite its dimensions.
This isn't the outright cheapest 24-inch monitor you can buy, but it's the Dell's premium IPS LCD innards, high color accuracy and respectable color space coverage that set it apart from crowd.
Why you can trust Digital Camera World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
The Dell U2723QE is a 27-inch display with headline specs like 98% DCI-P3 color space coverage, 4K resolution, USB-C connectivity with Power Delivery, and even IPS Black technology to boost contrast and give deeper black depth. In our testing we found Dell's headline specs translate to excellent image quality results across the board.
If you need extensive DCI-P3 color space coverage and USB-C connectivity with Power Delivery, this display is certainly worth the money and is definitely worthy of serious consideration if you're in the market for a high-performing display for image or video editing.
BenQ has a history of making some of the best monitors for photo editing, and the SW272U is its latest flagship offering for discerning photo and video editors. The new 4K display boasts factory color calibration to an accuracy of Delta E ≤1.5 and is capable of displaying 100% sRGB and 99% AdobeRGB coverage - impressive stuff. Elsewhere, you get USB-C connectivity with 90W Power Delivery, plus BenQ's third-generation color Uniformity Technology, hardware color calibration, and a separate 'Hotkey Puck' remote control for easy settings adjustment and color mode switching. We found the SW272U performed brilliantly in our comprehensive testing. In fact, the only drawback here is the monitor's price, which is significantly more than some rival screens like the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE which perform almost as well as the BenQ.
For others, it’s a way of extending the desktop of their new MacBook Pro setup. Whichever way you look at it, the latest 27” 5k Apple Studio Display is a well-designed product, at a competitive price point (given its professional specifications).
Its multimedia features make it an ideal primary display for most creatives, while true and consistent color and brightness across the entire panel mean in some ways the Studio Display is on a par with that Apple's Pro Display XDR.
During our time testing the Studio Display we did get a little frustrated that the ability to raise or lower the display comes at an additional cost, and that the built-in camera isn’t exactly ground-breaking. But as a companion to any recent Mac, the Studio Display is hard to beat.
Color space coverage: 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709, 98% DCI-P3
Reasons to buy
+
Generous screen size & res
+
Excellent color space coverage
+
USB-C with Power Delivery
Reasons to avoid
-
Quite pricey
-
No extras like a hood or remote dial
Dell produces several excellent monitors for photo editing, but the U3223QE offers the best value of them all. This 31.5-inch panel can display 100% of the sRGB color space, and is capable of 100% Rec. 709 coverage and 98% DCI-P3 coverage - the latter being exceptional. Adobe RGB color support isn't advertised though, and is the only question mark over this otherwise superbly-specced screen.
Factory color calibration ensures a Delta-E accuracy of less than 2 and the monitor is capable of displaying HDR content as it just meets the 400cd/m2 brightness needed for HDR playback.
A highly adjustable stand, plus a USB 3 hub, mean that while this is not a cheap monitor, we reckon it's nonetheless good value for money.
Rotates between landscape and portrait orientation
+
Easy connection
Reasons to avoid
-
High price
-
Single USB-C port
-
Orientation switching not seamless
Eizo is one of the best-known names in computer monitor production and it has strong reputation amongst photographers and videographers thanks to producing no-compromise screens that command no-compromise prices.
The CG2700X can reproduce 99% of the Adobe RGB photo color space, and 98% of the DCI-P3 digital cinema standard. Another attractive feature for photographers and videographers is that this monitor has a calibration system built in. The hardware is recessed into the edge of the screen ready for deployment and it operates with Eizo’s free ColorNavigator 7 software which also enables features such as the ability to control a network of screens with colour matching.
The ColorEdge CG2700X’s 4K resolution ensures there is plenty of detail visible, while the 10-bit colour means that gradations look great. Meanwhile, the calibration system is easy to use and ensures that the colors are always accurate.
Inevitably, the main drawback here is the screen's hefty price. There are plenty of other 27-inch, 4K monitors that'll perform almost as well but for a lot less cash. But if only the very best will do, then it's got to be an Eizo.
An ultrawide monitor like this will give you an aspect ratio of 21:9, rather than the standard 16:9, giving you extra space to view lots of photos at once, place multiple windows side-by-side, and see all the tools and palettes in your photo editing software.
The BenQ PD3420Q is our preferred ultrawide monitor for photographers. It boasts a quality 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, spread over a 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide screen, giving you a huge desktop to work on. Crucially, this monitor also has 100% sRGB, 100% Rec.709 and an impressive 98% DCI-P3 color space coverage, making it a great choice for photographers, videographers and designers alike.
If you're in the market for an ultrawide monitor that's going to give you solid, dependable image quality for image or video editing, the BenQ PD342Q is a fine choice. Extras like USB-C connectivity with Power Delivery are also welcome, as is the factory color calibration and Hotkey Puck remote control.
If you want a useful step up in specifications from our old monitor and the reassurance of a well-known brand, you've found it. The Dell UltraSharp U2424H isn't the cheapest 24-inch monitor you can buy, but there is such a thing as a false economy, and this Dell does give photographers a good combination of performance and value.
The Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution is about as low as we'd want to go in a 24-inch monitor if you can accept a little visible pixelation if you look hard enough. Otherwise, this Dell's IPS image quality gives great color space coverage for the money (100% sRGB, 100% Rec709, and 85% DCI-P3), along with factory color calibration ensuring accuracy of Delta-E less than 2.
This is the kind of quality we'd expect from a monitor costing several times the price, therefore the Dell UltraSharp U2424H is an absolute steal. Our guide to the best Dell monitors offers plenty of alternatives if you're not sure that this is the right option for you.
A small(ish) screen that goes big on color accuracy and image quality
Specifications
USB-C: No
Screen size: 23.8 inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Aspect ratio: 16:9
HDMI inputs: 1
Display ports: 0
Reasons to buy
+
Desk-friendly 24in screen size
+
Stylish exterior
+
99% sRGB color space coverage
Reasons to avoid
-
Not USB-C
-
No Display Port inputs
Monitors with dependable image quality and respectable color space coverage used to cost a fortune, but this bargain HP display proves those days are long gone. Boasting 99% sRGB color space coverage and the kind of color and contrast consistency that only IPS LCD screen tech can offer, the HP M24fw gives you premium display quality at a rock-bottom price.
Even the exterior looks pretty snazzy with a modern-looking stand and super-slim bezels. The Full HD (1920 x 1080) screen resolution is nothing special, but we think it's high enough to keep things looking crisp on a display this size. Connectivity is limited to just a single HDMI port and an old-school VGA port, but that does mean compatibility with older computers should be simple.
A cut-price monitor that doesn't cut corners when it comes to image quality
Specifications
USB-C: Yes
Screen size: 27 inches
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Aspect ratio: 16:9
HDMI inputs: 1
Display ports: 1
Reasons to buy
+
Fair price
+
100% sRGB color coverage
+
USB-C
Reasons to avoid
-
Dim sRGB setting
-
Fiddly menu
While you can get monitors with the same resolution and even wider color gamuts for around half the price of this display, you won’t find a certified color-accurate sRGB monitor for less than the PA279CV. The 27-inch display doesn't just use IPS screen tech, it's also capable of displaying 100% of the sRGB photo color space and 100% of the Rec. 709 video color space.
What's more, a Delta-E color accuracy of less than 2 - along with factory color calibration - ensures color is spot-on, right out of the box. Elsewhere, you get a versatile spread of connections - HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C connectivity with 65W Power Delivery to power a connected laptop. The panel sits on an ergonomically-designed stand with full tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment.
For a quality monitor at a fair price, we think the PA279CV is hard to beat.
A 4K IPS monitor for a bargain price - what's not to like?
Specifications
USB-C: No
Screen size: 27 inches
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Aspect ratio: 16:9
HDMI inputs: 2
Display ports: 1
Reasons to buy
+
FreeSync
+
98% sRGB coverage
+
Affordable
Reasons to avoid
-
Only one-year warranty
The excellent 27-inch LG 27UL500-W might look expensive compared to budget screens you see in a computer store, but if you can afford the extra it's well worth it. The 4K resolution is ideal for photographers, and the Color Calibration Pro tool boosts the color accuracy of the monitor, which is essential for anyone who is looking for high-end photography capabilities but at a competitive price.
Extras like HDR-10 compatibility, AMD FreeSync support, and 98% coverage of the sRGB cover space add even more appeal.
We also like the slimline design and slender crescent-shaped silver base - it all makes most desktop monitors look comparatively clunky. The only real compromise is that, while tilt, height, and pivot facilities are available, there’s no swivel mechanism built into the base.
Bigger is better, but a 27-inch screen is about as far as we'd go. It's a good compromise between screen space and a comfortable working distance, but a 24-inch display is fine if you work quite close to the screen, or even the 21.5-inch display of a smaller iMac model.
What resolution is best for photo editing?
Cheaper screens tend to max out at full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. That's fine in a smaller screen, but at larger sizes (20-inch and above). You'll start to see the dots. If you can, look for high resolution 4K or Mac 'Retina' screens is that you don't see the pixels. Photos look beautiful and you don't have to zoom in to see if they're sharp.
Is the aspect ratio of a monitor important?
What are aspect ratios, we hear you cry. Most modern screens have a 'widescreen' 16:9 aspect ratio. This corresponds to current video standards and also gives a little space at the side of the screen for tools and palettes when you're editing regular still images. Once you've used a 16:9 screen, you won't go back to an old 'narrow' 4:3 display. Also consider ultrawide monitors, which can give you more space to view more windows or palettes – and are an alternative to using a second screen.
What other features are important in a photo editing monitor?
IPS screen technology: IPS (in-plane switching) screens have much better colour and contrast consistency than older, cheaper, older TN (twisted nematic) panels. All the screens in our premium list use IPS technology.
Graphics card: When buying a high-end display, it’s important to make sure your computer’s graphics are up to the task of displaying 4K resolution smoothly. Most recent PCs or Macs should have the necessary firepower to run Photoshop on a 4K screen, but older computers may not.
Color gamut: The base level standard for all displays and devices is sRGB. You can’t go wrong with this because every device will support it. However, in commercial publishing, where the demands are higher, they like to use the larger Adobe RGB color space. High-end photographic monitors can display most/nearly all of the Adobe RGB gamut.
USB-C connection: this makes it easy to hook up your monitor to a computer with USB-C output. We have a separate guide to the best USB-C monitors for photo editing.
Wondering what makes us qualified to judge the best monitors for photo editing? How we test and review is very important to us, and we evaluate a monitor with particular attention given to its core image quality, including brightness, contrast, color vibrancy and accuracy. While this can – and will – be assessed by the experienced eye of our professional reviewer, some manufacturer screen specs can only be definitively judged by an 'electronic eye' - a monitor calibrator.
Where possible, a calibration device will be placed on the screen to verify its advertised color space coverage, brightness output and consistency, and factory color calibration accuracy. Beyond image quality, we'll also scrutinize the monitor's display and data ports to ensure acceptable connectivity, and will give a thorough assessment of build quality, including the range of ergonomic adjustment in its stand. Only then will we determine if a screen is worthy of use by a discerning imaging or video enthusiast.
Any monitors included on this list which have not undergone our full testing process have been selected based on whether their specifications are good enough to satisfy discerning photo editors. We then choose the best-specified monitors for a range of budgets.
Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.
