The best USB-C monitors make it easy to connect your computer to your display, while delivering exceptional color accuracy and resolution. Using a single USB-C cable, not only will they replicate (or extend) the screen of your laptop, some can also act like a USB hub, so you can plug in other USB devices.
Of course, such cool features don't matter as much as having a high-quality display. Color accuracy, resolution, and panel technology directly impact your ability to produce professional-quality work, so it's worth picking the right model.
To help you out, our reviewers have evaluated dozens of USB-C displays to identify those that excel in color reproduction, resolution and the features that matter most. Based on our testing, here's our pick of the best USB-C monitors for photo editing and other creative tasks right now.
Best USB-C monitors
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The best USB-C monitor overall
This USB-C monitor isn't exactly cheap, but if you're serious about photo or video editing, you need wide color space coverage so you're able to see as much color as possible. And with 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709 and an impressive 98% DCI-P3 color coverage, the Dell UltraSharp U2723E comes close to much pricier displays for color accuracy.
It also packs 10-bit color depth and an excellent 2000:1 maximum contrast ratio, all inside a smart case with ‘InfinityEdge’ ultra-thin bezels. Video ports include HDMI, 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.
As we'd expect from a premium IPS-based monitor, the U2723QE's image quality impresses right out of the box, with excellent color vibrancy, contrast intensity and uniformity, none of which shifts if you change your viewing angle. During our testing we also found Dell's color space coverage claims to be spot-on, as was the factory-calibrated Delta E color accuracy of <2. Even color and brightness uniformity were top notch.
In short, Dell UltraSharp U2723QE USB-C monitor is really is very hard to beat at this price point, making our top all-round choice overall.
For more details, read our Dell UltraSharp U2723QE review
The best USB-C monitor for color accuracy
If color accuracy is very important to you, then you'll love this USB-C monitors, which provides incredibly accurate colors. The 27", 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 its price, which is significantly more than our number one all-round pick, Dell UltraSharp U2723QE.
For more details, read our BenQ PhotoVue SW272U review
The best USB-C monitor for Mac
The Apple Studio Display is the perfect companion for Mac users. This 27-inch 5K monitor delivers impressive visual performance with 600 nits of brightness and wide P3 color gamut support, making it suitable for serious creative work.
The Apple Studio Display features three downstream USB-C ports, which are primarily designed for connecting peripherals, storage devices, and networking equipment. While they can provide some power, their main function is for data transfer, with speeds up to 10Gb/s. The display also has a Thunderbolt 3 port, which provides 96W of power delivery to a connected Mac laptop.
Unlike many competitors, it includes significant multimedia features with six built-in cinema speakers and a three-microphone array that delivers rich sound and excellent voice isolation. The display includes nine standard reference modes for media creators and performs nearly as well as the much pricier Pro Display XDR for SDR content.
While the 12MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage is a welcome addition, image quality has been criticized for lacking detail. Overall, for Mac users looking for an integrated solution without additional speakers or webcams, the Studio Display offers exceptional value despite its premium price.
For more details, read our Apple Studio Display review
The best large USB-C monitor
The BenQ DesignVue PD3205U is an excellent option for creative professionals who need a larger workspace. While primarily marketed toward graphic designers, it offers photographers and video editors a compelling combination of size and performance.
The 31.5-inch 4K panel (3840x2160 pixels) provides excellent image definition at 140 ppi, making fine details easy to discern at comfortable viewing distances. This monitor features 10-bit color processing for smoother gradations and color transitions, with 99% coverage of sRGB and Rec.709 color spaces, plus there's HDR10 support and a fast 5ms response time.
The display comes factory calibrated and includes comfort features like flicker-free technology and Low Blue Light mode to reduce eye strain during long work sessions. Connectivity is impressive with dual USB-C ports (one supporting 90W power delivery) and a KVM switch for controlling multiple computers.
While its Adobe RGB coverage isn't as comprehensive as some monitors, the overall color accuracy and value make it an excellent choice for photographers who don't primarily focus on print production.
For more details, read our BenQ DesignVue PD3205U full review
The best ultrawide USB-C monitor
An ultrawide USB-C monitor gives 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 software.
The BenQ PD3420Q is our top choice when it comes to ultrawides. 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.
For more details, read our BenQ PD3420Q review
The best USB-C monitor for built-in calibration
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 USB-C 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.
How to choose the best monitor for photo editing
What size monitor is best for photo editing?
Bigger is usually better, as extra screen space makes for a more comfortable editing experience, with additional room for tool pallets or split-screen viewing. Generally, a 27-inch screen is a good compromise between screen space and a comfortable working distance, but a 24-inch monitor is fine if you work quite close to the screen, or for extending the display area of your laptop. At the other end of the scale, 32-inch monitors give an expansive screen area, and these days they needn't break the bank.
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 (24-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.
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.
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.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World.
