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.
We appreciate that not every photographer wants to spend a fortune on a high-end display, so we've split our guide into two parts:
1. Affordable upgrades for photographers who want to replace an older monitor with one that's usefully better but without spending a fortune.
2. High-end, high-performance monitors designed for more demanding work and aimed at enthusiasts, artists, and professionals.
If you fancy getting more specific, we've already got a guide on the best video editing monitors, the best ultra-wide monitors, and even the slightly futuristic but best curved monitors.
Best monitors for photo editing in 2023
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Affordable monitors for photographers
If your current display is a few years old, there's a good chance you can upgrade it to a bigger, higher-resolution screen with better contrast and color, all without spending a fortune.
You won't get some of the more advanced features of premium monitors for photographers, but you will almost certainly get a screen a lot better than the one you're replacing.
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 U2419H 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 (99% sRGB, 99% 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 U2419H 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.
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.
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.
See also Best 4K monitors
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.
Premium monitors for photographers
The BenQ PhotoVue SW271C is an outstanding 27-inch 4K monitor which performed almost flawlessly when we reviewed it. It's incredibly color-accurate thanks to 99% sRGB and 99% AdobeRGB color space coverage and a delta-E color accuracy of less than 2.
If you're after an exacting and reliable screen for precise image or video editing, this is a superb choice and simply can't be bettered at this price point. 60W USB Power Delivery and BenQ's third-generation color Uniformity Technology further justify the premium price, as does hardware color calibration and a separate 'Hotkey Puck' remote control for easy settings adjustment and color mode switching.
Read our full BenQ PhotoVue SW271C review for more details
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.
Read our full Dell UltraSharp U2723QE full review for more details
For many, the Apple Studio Display is seen as a long-awaited replacement to the previous 27” Apple Cinema Display. It could also be the perfect partner to an Apple Mac Studio or M1 Mini.
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.
Read our full Apple Studio Display review for more details
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.
Read more: What are aspect ratios?
The NEC MultiSync EA271U monitor has a slightly corporate feel to it, supporting ‘cost-saving device management’, whereby all connected NEC devices can be controlled from a central location. There’s also a wide range of eco-friendly settings.
Standard and ‘photo’ viewing modes are accompanied by text, gaming, movie, and dynamic modes, but there’s no preset for the Adobe RGB color space. Connection ports include DP, DVI, and HDMI, along with a USB 3.0 hub. Unusually, the MultiSync EA271U also features built-in speakers, though, with an output of only 2W each, they're of limited aural appeal. Touch-sensitive virtual control buttons are easily accessible on the lower bezel.
Used in its sRGB preset, the NEC proved disappointingly inaccurate for color rendition, with a noticeably red color cast. Switch to the default viewing mode, however, and this monitor really shifts gear, producing spectacularly accurate colors. Brightness uniformity is boosted by a dedicated uniformity-enhancing mode. Adobe RGB color space coverage is good, but not great.
An attractively-priced panel compared to equivalent screens from the likes of Eizo and NEC, the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q still packs full 4K UHD resolution, 10-bit color depth, and some neat extras, all inside a smart case with an ‘InfinityEdge’ ultra-thin bezel. There’s no preset Adobe RGB mode, but the standard viewing mode is accompanied by game, movie, custom color and several additional presets, which include an HDR mode.
The latter is helped by the excellent 1300:1 maximum contrast ratio - higher than many rivals. 99% sRGB, 99% Rec. 709, and 95% DCI-P3 color coverage are also very impressive. Video ports include HDMI, and DisplayPort, plus there's a built-in USB 3.0 hub and 2x USB-C ports, one of which can supply up to 90w of power to an attached laptop.
This 31.5-inch screen is notably larger than a 27-inch model, yet the ultra-thin bezel keeps the overall size from being too intimidating, while the 4K UHD resolution maintains pin-sharp image quality despite the pixels being spread a little thinner than on a 27-inch 4K screen.
Around the back, there are Display Port, Mini DP, and dual HDMI inputs, as well as the practically ubiquitous USB 3.0 hub. The 350cd/m2 maximum brightness rating is typical for an LED-backlit panel, while 5ms response time (grey-to-grey) and 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles are respectable.
Distinctive features include an HDR mode and a 1300:1 contrast ratio. On the negative side, there’s no preset Adobe RGB mode and ViewSonic only claims 77% coverage of the full Adobe RGB gamut.
Image quality in our testing looked a little dull when using the sRGB preset, which locks out any brightness adjustment. Color accuracy is good but the gamut is a little lacking for the Adobe RGB color space and brightness uniformity could be better.
Overall, however, image quality is very satisfying, and once you step up to a screen of this scale, you might wonder how you managed with anything smaller!
4K resolution may be de rigueur these days for monitors and televisions, but this Eizo ColorEdge sets its sights a little lower at 2540x1440, resulting in a pixel count of about 3.7MP instead of 8.3MP. The pixel density is also lower for a 27-inch screen, at 109ppi rather than 163ppi, but the image quality still looks absolutely super-sharp.
Ports at the rear include DVI, HDMI, and DP, along with two upstream USB 3.0 ports. There are three downstream USB 3.0 ports behind the left-hand side of the case. Bundled software includes Quick Color Match, to enable easy color matching between screen viewing and printed output. It also comes with ColorNavigator software for use with independent calibration hardware (not supplied).
The color accuracy of our review sample was pretty much spot-on, straight out of the box. The Eizo ColorEdge also delivers an excellent gamut for both sRGB and Adobe RGB, with presets available for both color spaces, direct from the menu system. Uniformity across the screen is particularly good, and there’s very little backlight bleed.
It may not set any resolution records, but it does set a benchmark for every other measure of screen quality.
If you want 4K resolution with Eizo performance, check out our full review of the significantly more-expensive Eizo ColorEdge CG2700X.
How to choose a monitor for photo editing
What size monitor is best for photo editing?
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.
How we test monitors
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.
