The best ultrawide monitor for photo editing in 2020

(Image credit: BenQ)

Welcome to our guide to the best ultrawide monitors for photo editing. Ultrawide monitors offer huge amounts of screen real estate, which makes them ideal for photographers.

First of all, let's explain what makes a monitor ultrawide. Traditional widescreen monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9 (see our guide to conventional 16:9 monitors for photo editing). However, ultrawide monitors have a 21:9 aspect ratio. So, while they are the same height, they are much wider, giving you a lot more space to work on without having to set up multiple monitors on the same desk. There are also an increasing number of monitors that have even wider aspect ratios of 32:9.

There are a number of reasons why these ultrawide monitors are great for photo editing and video editing. For a start, they offer a huge increase in workspace, allowing you to have multiple windows, apps and tools open on your desktop. This makes multitasking much easier; enabling you to view and edit photographs all from one screen.

Traditionally, people would use multiple monitors to achieve this kind of desktop real estate. However, that approach has its drawbacks. First of all, buying multiple monitors can be expensive. They also take up more room on your desk, as each one has its own stand, and will trail its cables and leads from your PC.

There's also the fact that when side-by-side, you'll have the edges of each monitor breaking up the image. With an ultrawide monitor, that's not a problem.

What to look for in an ultrawide monitor

On the hunt for the best ultrawide monitor for photographers? There are a few things you should bear in mind. The first one is size. Due to the wide aspect ratio, you'll want a large monitor to ensure that the vertical height of the screen isn't too short. Look for one that's at least 34 inches wide.

You'll also want to make sure the monitor has a high resolution. While some ultrawide monitors come with 2,560 x 1,080 resolutions, we find the 1,080 vertical resolution to be too low, leading to the monitors feeling more cramped. If your budget stretches to it, we'd suggest going for 3,440 x 1,440 at a minimum.

We should also note that many of the ultrawide monitors on this page are gaming monitors – as the ultrawide format lends itself well to immersive gaming. That doesn't mean you should skip them if you have no interest in games, as many gaming-orientated features, such as high contrast ratios, wide color gamuts and low latency can really benefit photographers and video editors as well.

best ultrawide monitor for photo editing - BenQ EX3501R — (Image credit: BenQ)

1. BenQ EX3501R

The best ultrawide monitor for photo editing overall

Huge display

HDR

Needs a bit of tweaking

The BenQ EX3501R is our pick for the best ultrawide monitor for photographers. Its 3,440 x 1,440 resolution gives you a huge desktop to work on, and its 2,500:1 contrast leads to bright and vibrant images. It also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), which is still a rarity with ultrawide monitors. Crucially, this monitor has 100% sRGB support, making it a great choice for photographers and digital creatives.

best ultrawide monitor for photo editing- Asus Designo Curve MX38VC — (Image credit: Asus)

2. Asus Designo Curve MX38VC

A brilliant ultrawide monitor for creatives

4K and Ultrawide

Built-in Qi wireless charging

No HDR

The Asus Designo Curve MX38VC is an excellent ultrawide monitor for photographers, thanks in part to its impressive colour accuracy and high resolution. It's got a stylish design that will ensure it fits in with most modern studios, and while it doesn't offer HDR like the BenQ EX3501R (at number 1), it's still capable of breathtaking image quality. Built-in Qi wireless charging for smartphones is another excellent bonus.

3. AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition

A fast, accurate, ultrawide option

Amazing color

Up to 120Hz refresh rate

Thick bezels

The AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition is, like many ultrawide monitors, primarily a gaming monitor. And while its design might put some people off (this monitor is all sharp edges and glowing RGB lighting), the screen itself is fantastic, and would definitely suit photographers looking for a large monitor to work on. It has a high 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, decent 2,500:1 contrast ratio and high 120Hz refresh rate. This makes it feel fast, smooth and responsive when in use. The 100% sRGB support is another nice feature to have.

4. Samsung CHG90 QLED

The widest ultrawide monitor on the market

Flawless image quality

Impressive Color reproduction

Smooth 144Hz refresh rate

Expensive

Only 1080p vertically

If you're looking for the widest ultrawide monitor on the market today, the huge Samsung CHG90 QLED is the one to get. At 49.5 inches it'll take up your entire desk, but the amount of workspace it offers is unbeatable. It has a staggering 3,840 x 1080 resolution and HDR support, so you'll be able to work on multiple photos or videos at once, safe in the knowledge they'll all look fantastic on screen. This is expensive, but worth the money if you want a huge canvas to work on.

5. MSI Optix MPG341CQR

MSI's latest ultrawide is a sight to behold

Punchy VA panel

Great gaming performance

Really strong overall feature set

This class of monitor is expensive

The new MSI Optix MPG341CQR hasn't been out long, but it has made its way onto this list of best ultrawide monitors for photographers thanks in part to its use of VA technology. This offers more vibrant colors and better contrast when compared to IPS panel technology. Contrast ratio is high, there's sRGB support, and it's very bright as well. Overall, this is an excellent widescreen monitor for photographers, and it's reasonably well priced considering the specifications you get.

6. Alienware AW3418DW

This monitor is showing its age, but is still very good

Excellent display

G-Sync

Expensive

Dell is well known for producing excellent monitors, so its no surprise that its gaming brand Alienware is also a dab-hand at making screens. While the Alienware AW3418DW has been out for a while now, it's still one of the best ultrawide monitors money can buy – for both gamers and photographers. Alienware's a premium brand, so the price can be a bit high. However, for your money you do get a stunning high-resolution panel with sRGB support and a gorgeous design that's not too garish (as some gaming monitors can be) – and there are some nice deals to be had now that it has been out for a while.