Best Monitor For Photo Editing Under 500
The best monitors for photo editing in 2021
The best monitors for photo editing might not be something you've given much thought to, but if you regularly edit photos for work or leisure, you'll know that colour accuracy is key. That means you'll need a great display to edit with.
On this page, we bring you a selection of top-notch screens for photo editing on PCs and Macs. And, of course, there are plenty of deals around in the lead up to Black Friday (check out our specific Black Friday monitor deals page to pick up some bargains).
For photo editing, it's a good idea to be able to beat reflections with an anti-reflective coating - this is a must if you're editing in a workplace with harsh lighting. For more on what to look out for, jump to our what to consider when buying a monitor for photo editing section.
The very best displays for photo editing will all give you great colour accuracy as well as even and uniform levels of brightness across the whole screen. Many of these displays have support for colour spaces such as Adobe RGB. Some also include their own calibration options. Total colour accuracy can be aided using one of the best monitor calibrators if you need an accurate display.
There are plenty of options here, but if you'd like to see other great 4K displays, see our guide on the best 4K monitors overall. You might also want to see our roundup of the best touchscreen monitors if you need touch.
The best monitors for photo editing
01. BenQ SW321C
The best monitor for photo editing for those with bigger budgets
Specifications
Screen size: 32-inch
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Panel technology: IPS
Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI
USB: 2 x USB 3.1 USB-C
Reasons to buy
+4K detail and excellent accuracy +16-bit look-up table and hardware calibration +Good connectivity
Reasons to avoid
-May be too large for some -And too expensive
Want a photo-editing screen that makes no compromises? This BenQ SW321C offers 99% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB and 95% P3 gamut coverage, and comes expertly calibrated, though it also offers hardware calibration independent of your computer. You can switch between colour spaces rapidly too, thanks to a separate control unit. The colour precision and uniformity across the screen are near faultless, and when combined with the detail of the 4K display, there's no better way to really study your work in detail.
It's full of useful touches beyond these, ranging from the 'Paper Color Sync' mode (which helps you create a colour space based on your printer and paper type, for more accurate previewing), to M Book mode (which makes the screen more closely match a MacBook Pro, for easily moving between two screens), to its support for USB-C with power delivery up to 60W, so you can connect a laptop to it and get power and data over a single cable.
02. Asus Designo Curve MX38VC
The best ultrawide monitor for photo editing
Specifications
Screen size: 37.5-inch
Aspect ratio: 21:9
Resolution: 3,840 x 1,600
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Response time: 5ms G2G (grey-to-grey)
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 1,000:1
Color support: 1.07 million colors
Weight: 9.9kg
Reasons to buy
+4K and Ultrawide +Built-in Qi wireless charging
The Asus Designo Curve MX38VC is a stunning ultra-wide monitor for photo editing, which makes it one of the best money can buy. This is thanks to its exemplary colour accuracy. Add in its high resolution, and wide 21:9 aspect ratio (most other monitors on this list are a standard 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio), and you've got easily one of the best productivity monitors money can buy right now.
Not only does it pack some great tech inside its body, but it also has some brilliant features, like Qi charging built-in, and it benefits from Asus' formidable build quality.
However, while this is undoubtedly one of the best monitors for photo editing money can buy right now, it won't be for everyone. First of all, this is a very large monitor. That's great for having loads of apps and photos open at once, but it also means you need a lot of physical desk space. It's also one of the more expensive monitors on this list.
03. LG 27UL500-W
A really well-priced, crystal clear display
Specifications
Screen size: 27-inch
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Panel technology: IPS
Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI
USB: 2 x USB 3.1 USB-C
Reasons to buy
+Exceptionally well priced +Great entry-level 4K monitor
Reasons to avoid
-Smaller than other options here
While a lot of the appeal for this display comes from the price, there's a lot to like - LG displays are excellent quality and this LG 27UL500-W 4K model has some decent specs and what's more, includes a colour calibration tool so you can check that you're seeing what you should be on screen - making it ideal for photo editing. There's 98 percent coverage of the sRGB space which is more than enough for many while there's also HDR 10 compatibility and AMD FreeSync if you're interested in playing games too.
04. LG 32UN880 UltraFine Ergo
The best monitor for photo editing if you want to control your workspace
Specifications
Screen size: 32-inch
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Panel technology: IPS
Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI
USB: 2 x USB, 1 x USB-C
Reasons to buy
+Excellent picture quality +Unbeatable ergonomics and comfort +Highly accurate
Reasons to avoid
-No USB-C
This LG monitor has so many merits, from being a big 32-inch 4K screen packed with pixels, to offering 95% P3 colour gamut support, HDR compatibility (though the brightness is fairly low at 350 nits), to even and accurate images that look totally authentic, to great connections, including USB Type-C.
But it's the 'Ergo' part that really puts it over the edge for us – this monitor comes with an adjustable arm for positioning it however you want in terms of height, rotation, tilt and how far forward you want it. The pillar support clamps to the back of your desk, so it actually leaves you more space on the desk too.
05. Asus ProArt PA329Q
A great all-round monitor for photo editing, if you have a bit more cash
Specifications
Screen size: 32-inch
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Panel technology: IPS
Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1x Mini-DisplayPort, 4 x HDMI
USB: 3 x USB 3.0
Reasons to buy
+Great selection of inputs and USB connectivity +Useful joystick for OSD navigation
Reasons to avoid
-No USB-C
The 32-inch Asus PA329Q is a 4K monitor with a fairly hefty price tag: it's considerably more than other displays of its size. However, you can see where this extra money goes when you first catch a glimpse of its sumptuous image, thanks to its full support for Rec.709, sRGB and AdobeRGB (99.5%) colour spaces.
It features proper 10-bit colour depth (as opposed to cheaper 8-bit monitors which use trick called frame reference counting to simulate 10-bit colour depth) with a 14-bit colour look-up table. Features-wise, it has a lot to offer as well, with a three-port USB 3 hub, four HDMI inputs, two DisplayPort inputs and full tilt, swivel and rotate capability. Best of all, it has a joystick to quickly navigate through the on-screen menus, vastly speeding up the time to flick through all the different preset colour options or make changes to the display brightness, gamma or contrast. If money is no option, this is, overall, the best monitor for photo editing.
06. Eizo ColorEdge CG319X
The best photo-editing monitor for professionals
Specifications
Screen size: 31-inch
Resolution: 4096 x 2160
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Panel technology: IPS
Inputs: 2 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI
USB: 3 x USB 3.0
Reasons to buy
+Unrivalled image quality +High-end specification
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive -Some features unnecessary for non-pros
Eizo trades heavily on a reputation for being the ultimate professional display brand. When you first see the clarity, vivacity and brightness of an Eizo display, it's immediately obvious why they're so much more expensive than other monitors and cost far more than most of us spend on an entire PC. The latest version of Eizo's flagship 31-inch professional monitor, the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X, builds upon its predecessor, using an unmatched 24-bit look-up table for 10-bit colour depth, supporting 99% AdobeRGB, 100% Rec.709 and 98% DCI-P3 colour spaces. It also supports a slightly wider 4K resolution of 4096 x 2160, conforming to the professional DCI 4K standard used by some professional studios.
It has a unique built-in hardware colour calibration tool that pops down with a click every time the monitor is power cycled, ensuring the colours remain in sync without needing to use a third-party colourimeter. New to this generation are hybrid-log gamma and perceptual quantisation for working with HDR video – a feature that, again, will be of most interest to studios and freelancers working with high-end imagery.
Although most of us will take one look at the price and quickly move on, it should be remembered that the CG319X is a display that's on another level. It's aimed at a niche professional audience where business demands the best possible colour accuracy, and boy, it sure delivers on this front.
07. Dell UltraSharp U2719D
A well-priced photo-editing monitor has super picture quality
Specifications
Screen size: 27-inch
Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Refresh rate: 240Hz
Panel technology: LED LCD
Inputs: 2 x DisplayPort (in/out), 1 x HDMI
USB: USB 3.0 hub, 2x downstream, 1x upstream
Reasons to buy
+Beautiful near-borderless design +Good connectivity options
Reasons to avoid
-Not built for gaming
Dell's UltraSharp range always delivers a great image and, while its design isn't going to stand out from the crowd, the tiny bezels around this display mean that it's easy on the eye even so. Dell makes excellent quality displays with great colours that make them ideal for photo editing, though this isn't a display designed with colour accuracy in mind.
The Dell UltraSharp U2719D is a great all-rounder 4K display and is more adjustable than most - you can pivot, tilt, swivel and adjust the height of your display. The pivot is especially great and the USB hub a handy extra feature, too.
08. Dell UltraSharp UP3216Q
Another brilliant monitor for professional photographers
Specifications
Screen size: 31.5-inch
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Panel technology: IPS
Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x Mini DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI
USB: 4 x USB 3.0
Reasons to buy
+Great colour accuracy +10-bit IPS panel with 16-bit look-up table
Dell's 31.5-inch 4K screen is easily one of the best monitors for photo editing on the market right now - but be warned straight off the bat that this is a very expensive monitor. However, it boasts a large range of professional-grade features that results in colour accuracy that many of its rivals simply cannot match.
Of course, you also get a large 4K screen and comes with support for the DCI-P3 colour spectrum. It has a specification that hits 99% Adobe RGB coverage and 87% DCI-P3, delivering great picture quality. So, while there are more affordable monitors on this list, if you have the budget, this is a great investment.
09. Viewsonic VP3881
The best ultra-wide monitor for photo editing
Specifications
Screen size: 37.5-inch
Resolution: 3840 x 1600
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Panel technology: IPS
Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI
USB: 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB-C
Reasons to buy
+Huge amount of desktop space +Comprehensive array of colour options
Reasons to avoid
-Image spec behind other displays -Resolution doesn't support 4K
The ultra-wide form factor is usually found in displays aimed at gaming or general computer use, so it's a pleasant surprise to see ViewSonic has stepped in to offer graphic artists a massive 37.5-inch 21:9 display with the VP3881.
Ultra-wide displays such as this are like having two smaller monitors together on the desk, without a bezel breaking up the desktop space. It gives you space to have multiple windows open at once, boosting productivity immensely as you can have webpages, file explorers, and multiple editing applications on-screen simultaneously.
The image quality isn't quite in the same league as other displays listed here – it offers 100% sRGB coverage but a slightly narrower AdobeRGB conformity, and the 10-bit colour depth is compensated by frame reference counting. But it has a very complete set of image customisation settings in the on-screen menus that's enough to make the VP3881 a cut above other ultra-wide screens.
What to consider when buying a monitor for photo editing
What size should I look for?
The most important thing to think about when buying a monitor for photo editing is what size monitor you want to work on. Many displays come in the standard 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio but there are also ultra-wide monitors, which will give you masses of screen space but aren't necessarily best for focused work. They're also huge on the desk, too, so you need to think about that.
What resolution should I look for?
You really should be looking at a resolution of 4K (3,840 x 2,160) and up these days, although you need to check that your PC or Mac supports this resolution; a great many do now. The higher the resolution, the better the image quality, though higher resolution monitors are usually more expensive.
What else do I need to consider?
If you're buying for photo editing, it's a good idea to consider if the display supports any colour spaces like Adobe sRGB. Connectivity is a key issue, too – many can use HDMI, but some also support Thunderbolt meaning you can have a single cable going to your PC or Mac that powers it and also carries the display signal.
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A veteran from the days of the 8-bit ZX Spectrum, Orestis is always interested in the fastest, slickest way to make computers do new and exciting things.
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Best Monitor For Photo Editing Under 500
Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-monitors-for-photo-editing
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