Top 8 Monitors for Game, Video Editing and Photo Editing in 2021
Top 8 Monitors for Game, Video Editing and Photo Editing in 2021
There is one piece of the equipment that working photo editing uses more than any other. No, it is not their camera. Not their favorite lens either. I am talking about their photo editing monitor.
The unless you plan to outsource your post production, you will probably spend many more hours staring at monitor than you do looking through view finder. As such, high resolution, color accurate display is the absolutely indispensable, and while we will definitely continue to the publish in depth monitor reviews here on PetaPixel, this round up will serve as catch all for the readers who need a quick overview and the some buying advice.
Unlike daily news and the individual product reviews you see on site, this article will'be updated regularly as new products and more advanced display technology hits market, so you can come back to it every time you are looking to upgrade your photo editing setup. Whether you are looking for best curved monitors, best monitor for HDR, or best monitor on budget, we have got you covered.
What We are Looking For
Best monitor for photo editing strikes right balance between resolution, color depth, color accuracy, and price. When evaluating best monitors for the photography we prioritize color depth and the color accuracy, then resolution, then judge whether the price justifies this combination. For the example, a monitor with a true 10Bit panel, high AdobeRGB coverage, and 4K resolution is really difficult to find under 4,000$. but they do exist.
- The Best Overall Monitor for Photo Editing: Dell UP2720Q
Size: 27 inches
Resolution: 4K
Brightness: 250 nits
Color Depth: 10-bit
Color Accuracy: 100% AdobeRGB 98% DCI-P3
Extras: Built-in Colorimeter, Monitor Shade
Price: $2,000 $1,600
When you look at all factors: size, resolution, color accuracy, color depth, price to performance ratio, and smattering of the photocentric features that you will find useful it is hard to beat Dell UP2720Q. The BenQ SW321C comes close for same price, but it lacks built in the colorimeter and we're able to confirm that it uses 8Bit panel with FRC, not true 10Bit panel like Dell.
In fact, Dell is a rare find in this price range most an other monitors that the claim 10Bit at or around 2,000$ almost all use 8Bit plus FRC, a trick used to create 10Bit color depth from 8Bit panel by flickering between 2 colors very quickly. An other 10Bit option in this price range is EIZO ColorEdge CS2740.
If you need to edit video and especially if you are doing work with HDR10 or Hybrid Log Gamma, there are better monitors out there that hit higher peak brightness and feature full array local dimming. Check out “Best for HDR” category below for something that can really burn your retinas and reach required contrast. If you want the unparalleled color and the uniformity from company that specializes in exactly that, “Best for the Ultimate Color Accuracy” category is place to look. But for typical reader of this site who wants a large high resolution monitor with all bells and whistles at shockingly reasonable price, Dell UP2720Q is our top pick.
2. Best Budget Monitor for Photo Editing: ASUS ProArt PA278QV
Size: 27 inches
Resolution: 2K
Brightness: 350 nits
Color Depth: 8-bit
Color Accuracy: 100% sRGB
Extras: Quick Fit Virtual Scale and Built In ProArt Presets
Price: 290$
The terms “budget monitor” and the “color accuracy” do not typically together, but ASUS does decent job at extremely accessible price with ProArt PA278QV. Factory calibrated and Calman certified, it might not get you amazing AdobeRGB or DCI P3 numbers neither are even the mentioned but it compares favorably against it is main competition, BenQ PD2700Q.
For now, if you are looking for best budget monitor for the photo editing, ASUS PA278QV is the way to go.
3. The Best “Bang for Your Buck” Monitor for Photo Editing: BenQ SW270C
Size: 27 inches
Resolution: 2K
Brightness: 300 nits
Color Depth: 8-bit + FRC from 16-bit LUT
Color Accuracy: 99% AdobeRGB, 97% DCI-P3 (claimed)
Extras: Control Puck, Monitor Shade
Price: 800$
BenQ SW270C is affordable follow up to incredibly popular SW2700PT. In terms of core specs the 2 monitors share several key features: 2K, 99 percent AdobeRGB coverage, handy control puck, etc.
However, extra 200$ gets you several important upgrades: a 16bit LUT, USB C connectivity with 60W power delivery, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, 97 percent DCI P3 coverage, and the newer version of control puck. In other words, you were benefitting from all little incremental upgrades that make SW2700PT seem dated, and adding little bit of juice to your color accuracy arsenal with that 16bit LUT.
But If you want to save some cash, you can still buy BenQ SW2700PT for just 600$, but you were giving up all of the above, which is well worth the extra 200$ in our estimation.
4. The Best Mid Range Monitor for Photo Editing: ASUS ProArt PA329C
Size: 32 inches
Resolution: 4K
Brightness: 400 nits sustained, 600 nits peak
Color Depth: 10-bit from a 14-bit LUT
Color Accuracy: 100% AdobeRGB, 98% DCI-P3 (claimed)
Extras: USB hub, Picture by Picture Mode, DisplayHDR 600 certification
Price: 1,150$
The Best mid range ended up being tight race between BenQ SW271 and ASUS PA329C. Both offer the great color accuracy, but the ASUS wins out with its combination of a true 10bit panel, 100 percent AdobeRGB coverage, high DCI P3 coverage for video editing, 600 nits peak brightness for viewing or editing HDR content in a pinch, and 32 inch screen, all for same price as BenQ.
Monitor also has USB C connection with 60Watt power delivery, a built in four port USB A hub, Picture by Picture mode that lets you compare color spaces side by side, and earn VESA Display HDR 600 certification. All extremely useful features in the our book.
Your main problem will be finding one to the buy, since ProArt PA329C has been “on backorder” several times since it is release. But if you can find 1 it is best choice until and the unless you can afford our Best Overall pick.
5. The Best Curved Monitor for Photo Editing: Dell U4021QW
Size: 40 inches
Resolution: WUHD 5K x 2K
Brightness: 300 nits
Color Depth: 10bit
Color Accuracy: 98% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB (claimed)
Extras: KVM switch with four USB A ports, 1 USB C port, and an Ethernet Port. 9Watt speakers.
Price: 2,100$
Dell U4021QW is latest and greatest in the curved color accurate displays. Unveiled just last month at CES, U4021QW is being hailed as world’s first color accurate 40 inch WUHD 5K 2K monitor, touting exceptional for its class color accuracy, with 98 percent coverage of DCI P3 and 100 percent of sRGB, and 5,120×2,160 pixel resolution in screen that gives you 33 percent more screen area than typical 32 inch 16:9 4K monitor.
It also come with the every connection you could possibly need, including Thunderbolt 3 with the 90Watt of power delivery extra USB C port, 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort, built in KVM switch with four USB A ports, audio out and the ethernet port. There are even built in 9Watt speakers.
There will be always 1 or 2 trade offs when using a monitor like this. For 1 you should make sure that your computer GPU can actually drive it full resolution, and you will almost always be giving-up some color performance in the order to replace your two monitor setup with massive single display. Dell does not list AdobeRGB performance and we have not had chance to the test it yet stay tuned. But for sheer efficiency, a 40 inch curved monitor is hard to the beat, and Dell U4021QW is currently best choice for photo and the video editors.
6. The Best Photo Editing Monitor for Mac Lovers: Apple Pro Display XDR
Size: 32 inches
Resolution: 6K
Brightness: 1000 nits sustained, 1600 nits peak
Color Depth: 10bit
Color Accuracy: 100% DCI P3 (measured), 89% AdobeRGB (measured)
Extras: Built in Presets, Full Array Local Dimming 576 zones
Price: $5,000
If you want ultimate photo editing monitor that is tailor made for Mac, well there is no escaping Apple ecosystem. Yes, this display is absurdly expensive 5,000$ with the no mounting hardware, but it is combination of 6K resolution, VESA HDR1000 performance, 100 percent DCI P3 coverage, and the absurd 1600 nit peak brightness make it 1 of best photo and the video editing monitors on market, period.
However, these are not main reason we were dubbed it “Best for the Mac Lovers.” The Pro Display XDR wins that title because of it is seamless integration with it is mother operating system and it is distinctly Apple esque design.
There are no controls whatsoever on display, and as result, all of it is settings are controlled from within mac OS Display settings. From there you can change the scaling, adjust brightness, configure settings like “Night Shift” and “True Tone,” and select from many presets Apple built in to display, including Photography, HDR, Digital Cinema, and the Design & Print.
7. The Best Monitor for the Photo Editors Who Want Ultimate Color Accuracy: EIZO ColorEdge CG319X
Size: 32 inches
Resolution: 4K
Brightness: 250 nits
Color Depth: 10bit from 16bit LUT
Color Accuracy: 99% Adobe RGB, 98% DCI-P3
Extras: Built in Colorimeter, Monitor Shade
Price: 5,739.00$
EIZO is 1 of most respected professional monitor brands out there, and for thr good reason. Their are elite monitors that prioritize color accuracy and uniformity over everything else, delivering true 10bit color from a 16bit 3D lookup table LUT 99 percent coverage of Adobe RGB color space, special “digital uniformity equalizer” to prevent fluctuations in the brightness and color reproduction, and built in colorimeter so your display quality never slips.
Another underrated feature that is worth noting is how quickly this monitor warms up and the stabilizes. The most high end monitors suggest that you let them warm up for 15min or 30 minutes before doing any color critical work, as the LCD’s brightness and color need to the stabilize. EIZO claims to do this in just three minutes, allowing you to get down to the business without further delay.
Downsides can be summed up in 1 word: price. An eye watering 5,739$ that puts it in Pro Display XDR territory. That might be bit too much for the many people, especially when Dell UP2720Q claims similar color performance. But what you were paying for here is rock solid reliability and guarante performance from brand that professionals unequivocally trust.
Editor note: EIZO’s ColorEdge monitors are broken down in to 2 model classes: professional grade CG and the enthusiast grade CS. If you want to save some money without sacrificing to of line color performance and uniformity, check out EIZO ColorEdge CS2740.
8. The Best Monitor for HDR: Dell UP3221Q
Size: 32 inches
Resolution: 4K
Brightness: 1000 nits sustained
Color Depth: 10bit
Color Accuracy: 100 percent DCI P3 measured, 94 percent AdobeRGB measured
Extras: Built In Colorimeter, Monitor Shade, Full Array Local Dimming 2,000 zones
Price: 5,000$
If you want the true HDR performance, you need 3 things and you need them in spades. They are: brightness, contrast, and the color accuracy.
Dell UP3221Q gives you best of all 3 worlds: sustained full screen brightness of the 1000 nits, staggering 2,000 Mini LED backlight with full array local dimming, and 100 percent DCI P3 paired with 94 percent Adobe RGB coverage. This is true VESA Display HDR 1000 certified display with the more local dimming zones than anything else on market, so until OLED technology is able to the maintain this kind of the sustained brightness and the uniformity, it is your best bet for the working with HDR content.
Other great features include built in Calman powered colorimeter, included monitor shade, built in USB A hub, Thunderbolt 3 connectivity with 90Watt power delivery, and mode that lets you compare 2 color spaces side by side on same display. All of this is packed into 32 inch 4K display with a true 10bit panel that does not play around.
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