Best monitors for photo editing in 2024

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID

The best monitors for photo editing are color accurate, with high resolutions, response times, and color coverage. But which are worth your time? Our expert reviewers put the top models to the test to find the best monitors for photographers, designers, artists.

While you can use just about any monitor for photo editing, not all displays are built the same. So, whether you're working in print ort digital, the image you see on your screen may not match the final export - and that's where photo editing monitors are essential. Boasting color accuracy and Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, and better panels, these screens help make photos and images really stand out. 

Our team of review experts have tested hundreds of displays - and these are the ones we recommend for editing photos. Pairing these screens with some of best photo editing computers and the best laptops for photo editing, we've analyzed each screen's performance, build quality, color accuracy, luminance to find the best monitors for photo editing for every creative endeavour. 

The quick list

Best monitor for photo editing overall

Dell UltraSharp 3224KB on a desk in a home office

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
A 6K masterpiece

Specifications

Screen size: 32-inch
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 6144 x 3456
Brightness: HDR off - 450 nits (SDR) HDR on - 750 nits
Response time: 5ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 2000:1
Color coverage: sRGB 100%
Weight: 13.3kg / 29.3lbs

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful 6K display
+
Integrated 4K HDR webcam
+
Thunderbolt 4 connection
+
Great collection of connectivity ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Same stands with low cable passthrough
-
Mic sound is slightly tinny
-
Expensive

With its impressive 6K resolution and sRGB 100% color coverage, the Dell U3224KB UltraSharp is arguably the best photo editing monitor for pretty much everyone.

Beautifully designed, the display features a Thunderbolt hub, 4K webcam, and a soundbar, all built into one clean package. The only other monitor we've tested that comes close with this combination is the Apple Studio Display; in terms of image quality and size, the Dell U3224KB UltraSharp is more like the Apple Pro Display XDR. Both are excellent choices for photographers and creatives - but here, you're getting the best of both worlds in a single 32-inch screen (and it's cheaper with better connectivity, too)

That sRGB color space, though broad, may be a deal-breaker for some professional users who prefer Adobe RGB, and the 16:9 ratio has fallen out of favor in recent years. But for most these specs will be absolutely great. And with the stunning picture quality, extra-high resolution. it's got every other base covered, whatever photos you're working on. 

Read our full Dell U3224KB UltraSharp 6K monitor review 

Best budget photo editing monitor

ASUS ProArt PA279CRV during testing in the TechRadar office

(Image credit: Jeremy Laird // Future)
A near-pro experience without the premium price

Specifications

Screen size: 27in
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Response time: 2ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 1000:1
Color coverage: 99% Adobe RGB, 99% DCI-P3
Weight: 8.69kg / 19lbs

Reasons to buy

+
Gorgeous 4K IPS panel
+
Very nicely calibrated
+
Excellent value for money

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited HDR support
-
Slightly plasticky build

There aren't many budget photo editing monitors that boast 99% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3, but the Asus ProArt PA279CRV is one of them. 

This affordable screen delivers a near-pro level experience without breaking the bank. Better still, it looks great straight out of the box, before you even dive into the monitor's extensive calibration settings.

The 27-inch IPS panel features full 4K resolution for crisper images, excellent color space coverage, and a decent 400nits luminance. We really liked the features and connectivity with this screen, too, which includes includes USB-C connectivity. With its 96W power delivery and display daisy chaining, this makes for a very versatile display. 

However, it is a budget screen, so there are some compromises here. We did find the contrast to be relatively weak at 1,000:1, and the ProArt PA279CRV only has basic DisplayHDR 400 certification. But when it comes to picture quality, color accuracy, and plentiful connectivity, it's difficult to beat the value for money here. 

Read our full Asus ProArt PA279CRV review 

Best 4K monitor for photo editing

BenQ PD3220U Monitor in a dimly lit home office

(Image credit: Future)
Professional-grade 4K UHD monitor with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity

Specifications

Screen size: 32-inch
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Brightness: 350 cd/m2
Response time: 4ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 1000:1
Color coverage: sRGB 100%, 95% Display P3/DCI-P3
Weight: 8.5kg / 18.7lb

Reasons to buy

+
High-quality build and attractive design
+
Excellent display performance with 4K resolution, high pixel density, and HDR capability
+
Wide range of connectivity option

Reasons to avoid

-
Built-in speakers are not great

The BenQ PD3220U is a sound choice if you want a 4K photo editing monitor that's packed full of features, That broad 32-inch screen, high resolution, and connectivity for fast data transfer speeds make it ideal for image editing, graphic design, video production, and content creation. 

In our tests, the PD3220U proved to offer a crisp picture quality, with images really standing out on the screen. And the 100% sRGB color gamut and 10-bit color depth makes for a vibrant, color-accurate photo editing monitor. Even more useful for photographers working with a wide color range, the monitor's impressive HDR capabilities display a greater range of contrast between light and dark areas of an image. 

Connectivity is excellent, including multiple HDMI and DisplayPort ports - essential for many in the photographic field - as well as a USB-C port for data transfer and power delivery. The built-in KVM switch is also a handy feature for those who work on editing projects across multiple computers. 

Read our full BenQ PD3220U review 

Best mini LED photo editing monitor

InnoCN 27M2U Mini LED monitor in a home office next to a connected laptop

(Image credit: Future)
A fantastic monitor that will appeal to creatives and content creators

Specifications

Screen size: 27in
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Brightness: 1000 cd/m2
Response time: 8ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 1220:1
Color coverage: 99% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB

Reasons to buy

+
90W Type-C power delivery
+
Superb color reproduction
+
Impressive peak brightness
+
Thoughtful packaging
+
Brightness sensor

Reasons to avoid

-
OSD controls could be better
-
No extra USB ports or KVM features
-
Cheap-looking, plastic finish
-
Lights at the back

Tired of the same old OLED panels on your photo editing monitor? The InnoCN 27M2U tries something different - a 27-inch 4K mini LED display with exceptional visual performance, solid OSD controls, and superb build quality. It's not cheaper, though, and we recommend this one for creative professionals and thoser who demand excellent color reproduction.

With support for 99% Adobe RGB, 99% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB color spaces, this monitor certainly scores high on color reproduction and fidelity. And with its mini LED, the screen has crisp whites, vibrancy, and color saturation, better viewing angles. It's the same tech used in Apple laptops popular across the creative community. This smaller light emitting diodes that are used to literally shine a light on the LCD panel.

Beyond this, the 27M2U sports a built-in automatic lighting sensor capable of adjusting brightness depending on ambient lighting. And the gravity sensor clever adjusts the screen's orientation depending on whether you're editing photos in landscape or portrait mode.

Read our full InnoCN 27M2U review 

Best all-in-one photo editing monitor

Dell U2723QE used as a second screen with a laptop in a home office

(Image credit: Bryce Hyland / Future)
Designed to be your all-in-one workspace solution

Specifications

Screen size: 27in
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Brightness: 400 cd/m²
Response time: 5ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 2000:1
Color coverage: 100% Rec 709, 100% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3
Weight: 4.5kg / 9.9 lbs

Reasons to buy

+
Built-in connectivity hub with plenty of USB ports
+
Wide range of color setting options (sRGB, Rec. 709, DCI-P3, HDR)
+
High image quality, Low Blue Light setting and anti-glare finish

Reasons to avoid

-
When connecting via USB-C you have to choose between High Resolution or High Data Speed
-
The provided USB-C cable is too short
-
Display panel had a faint shadow along the top and bottom edge

A wide range of  color spaces - 100% Rec 709, 100% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3 - mark the 27-inch Dell U2723QE as one of the best monitors for photo editing if you want an all-in-one work hub.  

This 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 LED screen offers true-to-life color, and while not the brightest monitor, we found the 2000:1 contrast ratio and HDR features helped to create a well-balanced, beautiful image with accurate colors when editing your photos. Those color space presets do more than just look great. They're excellent for increasing productivity. The ability to choose different presets meant we could switch from office apps to photo editing workflows quickly and easily. 

For those spending long hours in front of the screen, we also found Low Blue Light emissions let us use the monitor without eye fatigue, even when we were parked in front of it for hours. 

On the connectivity side, the U2723QE provides USB-C or DisplayPort ports for daisy chaining monitors. You can also set up KVM, Picture-In-Picture, and Picture-By-Picture if you need to see or control multiple computers simultaneously. It may all be more than you need, and it doesn't come cheap, but as an all-in-one hub for any serious workspace, it excels. 

Read our full Dell UltraSharp U2723QE review 

Best photo editing monitor for creative professionals

BenQ PD2725U on a desk behind a laptop

(Image credit: Future)
A feature-packed 4K display for creative professionals

Specifications

Screen size: 27in
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Brightness: 400 nits
Response Time: 5ms
Viewing Angle: 178/178
Contrast Ratio: 1200:1
Color Support: 100% Rec.709, 100% sRGB, 95% P3
Weight: 8.3kg / 18.3lbs

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent color accuracy
+
A wide range of connectivity options
+
Sleek design with thin bezels and adjustable stand
+
On-screen display and shortcut keys

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive compared to other 4K monitors on the market
-
Poor built-in speakers compared to rivals

There's a lot to like about the BenQ PD2725U if your focus is on photo editing. It's a sleek, 4K 27-inch display designed for creatives, with incredible color accuracy, connectivity options, and wide color space coverage.

This sort of monitor does have a premium price-tag, so it is an investment - but you get a great feature-set for the money. The PD2725U supports 100% Rec.709, 100% sRGB, and 95% P3, has a relatively quick 4ms response time for minimal disruption to the images. We really liked the Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture modes on offer here, too, which made multi-tasking and referencing much easier. And we had no trouble using the screen in both portrait and landscape orientations. 

Elsewhere you'll find a suitably modern port selection, with Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C. There's even on on-screen and shortcut keys built into the monitor, which meant we could change the settings and inputs very quickly. 

If there's a downside with the BenQ PD2725U, it's the built-in speakers. We found them to be very poor, and would strongly recommend using headphones or external speakers with this one. But as a pure 4K monitor for photo editing aimed at the creative community, it's ideal. 

Read our full BenQ PD2725U review 

Best portrait monitor for photo editing

LG DualUp in a home office in portrait (vertical) position

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The monitor we have been waiting for without even knowing it

Specifications

Screen size: 28in
Aspect ratio: 16:18
Resolution: 2560 x 2880
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Response time: 5ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 1000:1
Color coverage: 98% DCI-P3
Weight: 9kg / 20lbs

Reasons to buy

+
Expansive screen real estate
+
Fantastic Ergo Arm
+
Great port selection
+
16:18 aspect ratio

Reasons to avoid

-
60Hz refresh rate
-
Only QHD

Plenty of the best monitors for photo editing can switch between landscape and portrait mode - it's essential - but in our experience, the LG DualUp is the pick of the bunch. After all, as the name suggests. it's specifically designed for the job. 

The secret sauce here is a sturdy, secure, highly adjustable ergonomic monitor arm. You're free to use a VESA mount, but we found using the DualUp's twin arms effortlessly allowed us to alter the height, angle, and orientation. Supporting that are picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes, for splitting the screen in two - Photoshop on one half, reference images and the brief on the other. It's rare to highlight a monitor arm, but the DualUp has nailed the design and operation, and it's really is a stand-out feature here. Elsewhere, the screen shows excellent performance and picture quality. 

It's admittedly expensive, so if you're not regularly switching orientations, other displays offer better value for money. But we tested this monitor for over a month, and loved every second - somehow, most other monitors just can't compare after using it. 

Read our full LG DualUp review 

Best color-accurate monitor for photo editing

BenQ PD3205U Monitor in a low-lit home office with a laptop in front

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
A big screen with intense focus on color accuracy and ease of use

Specifications

Screen size: 31.5in
Aspect ratio: 21:9
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Brightness: 350 nits
Response time: 5ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 1000:1
Color coverage: 99% Rec.709, 99% sRGB
Weight: 9.4kg / 20.7lbs

Reasons to buy

+
Brilliant color
+
High resolution
+
Great port selection
+
BenQ Hotkey Puck control

Reasons to avoid

-
Bulky frame
-
Not the brightest display

The BenQ PD3205U is our pick for best color accurate monitor for photo editing - we expected good things here, having experience with BenQ's line-up, but this IPS panel surpassed them all 

The 31.5-inch 4K screen in a 21:9 ratio proved to be a very well-sized canvas. We found images were impressively crisp, sharp, the high-resolution providing excellent levels of detail, colors were vibrant. Add 99% sRGB and Rec. 709 color space coverage into the mix, and it's a very potent mix for photo editors and designers. 

Color accuracy isn't the only aspect we liked about the PD3205U. The BenQ Hotkey puck provides a novel way of interfacing with the monitor. It adds a simple way to switch between USB-C, HDMI, and Displayport or access custom control settings like color modes. We had no issues performing these tasks with the puck (once we'd learned to love it, that is), and it easily helps speed up workflows. 

Despite the good color space, we did find it's not the brightest out there, and it's not at a budget price-point, but overall, the BenQ PD3205U offers stellar performance for pretty much any task or project. 

Read our full BenQ PD3205U review 

Best portable monitor for photo editing

espressoDisplay connected to a laptop as a second screen in a bright home office

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
An all-inclusive portable monitor for serious work, anywhere

Specifications

Screen size: 13.3 / 15.6in
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Response time: 4ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 1000:1
Color support: 100% sRGB
Weight: 0.65kg / 1.4lbs / 0.87kg / 1.9lbs

Reasons to buy

+
High-quality display with excellent color coverage
+
Great magnetic stand and folio
+
Responsive touch display
+
Super thin and minimalist screen

Reasons to avoid

-
Accessories are an additional cost
-
A screen protector is needed to cut down on glare

If you're working across locations, a portable monitor is a smart choice. Lightweight, easily carried, but with the same high resolutions and color coverage you'll need photo editing on the go. We've tested loads of compact models, but the espressoDisplay really stands out for us. 

Design-wise, it's slim, sleek, simple - a single cable and a screen about the size of an iPad. We immediately felt the high build quality when in our hands - it feels durable, built for taking with you when you're roaming the streets, taking the commute. 

The display supports 100% sRGB color space - that may or may not be a deal-breaker, but as a portable or second monitor away from your home workspace, this should be more than enough. The highly responsive touch FHD display makes it ideal for anyone drawing or photo editing with a stylus. You'll need pay extra for the espressoPen, but with excellent pressure and sensitivity, we can say it did provide a fair approximation of drawing on paper, considering the glass screen. 

In fact, our only issue is the need to buy accessories - and there are plenty of them, not just the stylus - separately. After testing it for weeks, we were left beyond impressed, even awarding it a TechRadar Recommends badge in our review.

Read our full EspressoDisplay portable monitor review 

Best Apple monitor for photo editing

Studio Display in a photo studio

(Image credit: Future)
A 5K display for creatives

Specifications

Screen size: 27-inch
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Resolution : 5K
Brightness : 600 nits
Response time: 20ms
Viewing angle: 178/178
Contrast ratio: 1200:1
Color coverage: 98% DCI-P3
Weight : 5.5 kg

Reasons to buy

+
Sharp, vibrant display
+
5K resolution
+
Great color space coverage

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
No HDR

If you want the absolute best Apple monitor for your photo editing, it's the Apple Pro Display XDR and it's not even close. But that professional-grade screen is seriously expensive and best-suited to professional photographers and creatives.  

The Apple Studio Display, on the other hand, is a lot more affordable, with a similar focus on creative professionals across image, video, and graphic design work, making it a better option for most Apple fans - but it's far from perfect. 

The design of the Apple Studio Display reminds us of an iMac only with a 27-inch 5K IPS display that dazzles in its vibrancy. Picture quality is excellent, with sharp, colorful images. But at 600 nits, it’s not as bright as the MacBook Pro’s 1600 nit display. Nor does it feature the outstanding Liquid Retina XDR and mini LED technology found in Apple’s laptop line-up. There’s not even HDR support. 

For the price, that’s disappointing. Like most of the Apple line-up, it’s an expensive investment. However, compared to other professional-grade photo editing monitors - including the Pro Display XDR - it’s a reasonably priced screen that’s focused on content creation over gaming or casual office use. 

Read our full Apple Studio Display review 

Best photo editing monitors: FAQs

What are the minimum monitor specs for photo editing?

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Wondering what the best specs for a photo editing monitor are? Here's what we look for when testing our displays and what we recommend looking for. 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0 MinimumBest
Screen size24-inch27-inch and above
Color space100% sRGB100% Adobe RGB / DCI-P3
PanelIPSIPS / OLED
Bit depth8-bit10-bit
Pixels per inch (PPI)150300
Color accuracyDelta E 2Delta E 1
Screen resolution1080p4K and above
Aspect ratio16:916:9 / 16:10
Luminance300nits400nits and above

Why do I need the best monitor for photo editing?

If you're photo editing or using them for photography, the best monitors capture a level of detail that can sometimes be missing in standard monitors designed for general use. Monitors for photographers and other content creators deliver greater clarity thanks to pin-sharp resolutions and picture-perfect color accuracy. So, even if your clients can't see on their standard monitors, if the image is used elsewhere - from display ads to printed assets - you can be confident that they look precisely as intended.

Do I need a 4K monitor for photo editing?

You don't necessarily need the best 4K monitor for basic photo editing, but if you're a professional photographer or creative, it's the ideal resolution. A 4K photo editing monitor offers a lot more clarity over standard 1080p monitors. This gives you even more control over the finer details of each image you edit, producing outstanding results. 

For photo editing, the best 5K and 8K monitors are even better, with even more details displayed. However, they've yet to go truly mainstream, so even if you edit images on an 8K monitor, others may not appreciate your work (until they get a similarly specced screen, at least). Opt for 4K if it's within budget. 

Should I choose sRGB or DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB?

If you’re in the market for a photo editing monitor - or even the best monitor for graphic design - you may have come across sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color spaces. These are important, as it tells you how much of the spectrum is represented on the screen - and ideally, you’ll want what you see while working to be as accurate to the finished product as possible. Effectively, it’ll look the same on your screen as it does when, say, that asset is exported or sent to print. 

sRGB is the most common color space and is ideal for most photo editing, especially online or digital work.

Adobe RGB covers 35% more of the color space than sRGB, displays better blues, and is great for printed assets. 

DCI-P3 is similar to Adobe RGB, displays better blues, primarily designed for video editing, and it's Apple's preferred color space. 

What's the difference between OLED and QLED?

When scouting for a new monitor to complement the best photo editor app you use, you're likely to come across the terms OLED and QLED. But which one should you choose for your creative endeavours? 

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screens are best for picture quality. Contrasts are better, with deeper blacks, better contrast, and better viewing angles, while consuming less power. QLED (Quantum Light-Emitting Diode) displays are best when you're working to a budget. These screens are typically brighter, with good color display, but they lack authenticity when it comes to displaying, say, deep blacks on screen. 

Explore the topic in our guide OLED vs QLED: Which TV tech is the best?

Should I choose a curved monitor for photo editing?

TechRadar Pro spoke to Brett Barbour, VP at US monitor vendor, Viotek, to find out whether it makes business sense to opt for a non-flat monitor for photo editing. Here's what he told us: 

When you think of the types of people that use – and love – the best curved monitors, three types of people come mind: gamers, gamers and gamers. But why should gamers have all the fun? Curved monitors could bring a fair bit of ergonomic benefit for office workers too. After all, our eyes have a nice curve to them. We might as well have a monitor that comes with a nice curve to match, right? Especially if we’re expected to use them at least 6-8 hours a day. Ergonomics isn’t the only benefits to curved monitors for the office.

Most of us are spending a lot of time staring at a screen, be it for work or for play. And this brings additional health risks for our eyes. Headaches. Eye strain. Eye fatigue. But research has shown that curved panels yield less eye strain and fatigue than flat panels. So they’re easier on the eyes – especially helpful if you spend most of your day in front of a monitor (or expect your employees to).

This benefit can also be further leveraged by software integrated into the monitor. For example, ASUS has their Eye Care technology; Viotek has their “Viotek Protect”; and Samsung features a proprietary “Eye Saver Mode.” These all provide a range of eye-saving benefits, including reducing the amount of harmful blue light radiation from hitting your eyes – particularly helpful when you’re looking at the screen for extended all day.

You can expect less glare and distortion with a curved monitor. Its corners are closer to you, replicating the natural curvature of the human eye. In most workspace setups, the curved monitor won’t reflect light at all, effectively reducing glare from other sources of light. The only exception being if a window is directly behind you at a certain angle. This is a rarity, but it can certainly happen.

But that's not all; normally, how nice a monitor looks is purely a question of personal preference. You like what you like – simple as. But the reality is that a curved monitor might take up less desk real estate than its flat counterpart. It might be nominal depending on the stand that it uses, but the curved ends will definitely give you some extra space to place odds and ends on your desk, from phone charging pads, pen holder or what have you.

However, it is worth looking at the potential issues they might come from. In most cases, a curved monitor still costs a bit more than its flat-screen counterpart. An LG 34WK650-W is a 34-inch flat-screen IPS monitor with 2560x1080p resolution that goes for about $396.99. Or you could grab an LG 34GL750-B 34-inch curved monitor with the same resolution and faster refresh rate for around $449.99. 

The difference might be as little as $50-75 per monitor. Still, if you’re trying to fill up an entire office, that can add up. 

But Is It Really a Con? Well, for now, maybe. But the cost gap is closing quickly, as manufacturing costs are dropping fast and certain brands (Samsung, ASUS, Viotek, et al.) find ways to pack a lot of features in quality monitors without sending the price through the roof.

There's also talks about the fact that curved monitors could hinder straight-line perception. This is another possibly niche drawback with curved monitors. It certainly won’t apply to every office. Professionals in engineering, drafting or drawing industries may find that their straight-line perception is slightly skewed because of the curvature of a monitor. There is software that can “fix” this issue, but if you’re in one of these industries, you may be better off sticking with a flat screen monitor for now.

Brett Barbour

Brett Barbour is vice president of US monitor vendor Viotek. 

How to choose the best photo editing monitor for you

Display quality is absolutely critical when choosing which photo editing monitor is best. Whether you're running the best graphic design software or the best photo editors out there, you can use virtually any screen for editing photos. However, the quality will vary, and images will likely display very differently on different devices. 

Color accuracy is a good starting point. IPS panels have the best color accuracy, though there is significant variation from one monitor model to the next. You'll find that some of the best business monitors are similarly-specced for photo editing. Many professionals with very specific digital or print workflows will know exactly what they need in terms of gamut coverage. But if you're not sure what you need, look for at least 95% coverage of either the DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB gamuts in the specs.

That isn't professional grade color coverage. But it can be achieved quite cheaply these days and it's a good starting point for photo editing for web and other entry level or semi pro workflows. True 8-bit color coverage without dithering is another good minimum requirement, though again professional grade displays will be 10-bit.

Resolution is the next major spec point. More pixels allow you to view images in greater detail and closer to their true resolution. These days, there's little need to settle for less than 4K given entry-level 4K displays are now truly affordable. Just remember that you lose pixel density as screen sizes increase if the resolution remains the same. A 4K 40-inch monitor sounds great, but it doesn't actually have the pixel density required to render really sharp images.

You also have the option of larger format ultrawide panels, including 5K2K monitors, which allow for more space while multi-tasking at the same time as displaying plenty of detail for image editing.

As for HDR support, that's another aspect that may or may not be required for your workflow. But be aware that few monitors that claim HDR capabilities are truly HDR monitors. If you want full HDR fidelity, it's very, very expensive. If in doubt, don't worry about HDR support, it's probably not required and you almost certainly don't want to spend the money to achieve actual HDR display performance.

On the connectivity side, we recommend displays with USB-C sockets supporting power delivery of at least 65W, especially if you use a laptop or MacBook. USB-C used to add significantly to the price of a monitor. But more recently, 4K displays with USB-C connectivity have become much more reasonably priced.

How we test the best monitor for photo editing

We've tested hundreds of displays for creatives including the best monitors for video editing and the best monitors for the Mac mini

When testing which monitor for photo editing is best, we begin by looking at screen size and resolution. Screen size is measured diagonally in inches, while resolution measures the number of pixels that make up the display. But a bigger monitor doesn't necessarily mean greater resolution; the 24-inch Eizo has a higher resolution than the 27-inch NEC, for example.

Instead, a more useful measure of the 'crispness' of a display is pixel density, measured in pixels per inch (ppi). The NEC is 82ppi, the Eizo 94ppi, while Samsung and Dell weigh in at 109ppi.

Monitors increasingly offer more than just a simple display for your computer, and we've also looked at additional features including built-in speakers, USB hubs, card readers and multiple inputs, such as HDMI, for use with a variety of devices.

While true-to-life colour reproduction is very important in image editing, you may need to compromise to get all the features you want within budget. LED backlighting allows thinner displays, while IPS (or Samsung's PLS) allows for greater viewing angles.

We'd always recommend using a digital interface like DVI or HDMI, but it depends on what your computer has. Do you want to plug in multiple devices? Make sure your new monitor has the same input as your computer has output!

Several of these displays enable you to swivel the monitor from side to side and turn the screen 90 degrees into portrait mode. 

Most monitors are now capable of Full HD resolution (1920x1080) but more and more can achieve higher resolutions - many here are capable of 2560x1440, for example.

With so many devices plugged into our computers these days, a USB hub really is something you'll wonder how you lived without.

So many monitors - including several of these - are just plain ugly. Also see what people are saying about the button controls and menu system. Ensure it is usable.

You can learn more about our review process in our guide to how we test, review, and rate professional and business monitors on TechRadar Pro.

Steve Clark
B2B Editor - Creative & Hardware

Steve is TechRadar Pro’s B2B Editor for Creative & Hardware. He explores the apps and devices for individuals and organizations that thrive on design and innovation. A former journalist at Web User magazine, he's covered software and hardware news, reviews, features, and guides. He's previously worked on content for Microsoft, Sony, and countless SaaS & product design firms. Once upon a time, he wrote commercials and movie trailers. Relentless champion of the Oxford comma.

With contributions from