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If you are short on time and want to know what is the best monitor for photo editing on a budget, then it is the LG 27UL500 27-Inch IPS Monitor.
There’s a lot of choice out there when looking for the best affordable monitor for photo editing, and this means that it can be difficult to know which monitor is best for photo editing, and which are less good, just from looking at the specs.
I know the importance of a good monitor for photo editing from my own work, and know how many articles there are out there stuffed full of bad choices that don’t help you understand why a monitor might be good or bad.
I don’t want to waste your time, so therefore in this article, I will cover only the absolute best budget monitors for photo editing, that meet my rigorous requirements, which are:
- IPS panels only, not VA or TN
- At least Full HD (1080p) resolution, if not 4K
- Color reproduction of around 100% of the sRGB gamut, at a minimum
- Preferably a 27 inch screen, although smaller screens are acceptable if they meet other requirements and offer a budget price
- Available at less than $350 at a maximum, but preferably at under $200
Any monitors that don’t meet these requirements have been excluded. You can read full explanations of why I consider these criteria to be key for the best photo editing monitors, as well as reviews detailing what makes each monitor worthy of a place on this list below.
Best Monitor for Photo Editing on a Budget
LG 27UL500 27-Inch Monitor
Best Monitor for Photo Editing on a Budget - 27 inch, 4K Display
- 98% of the sRGB color gamut in an IPS panel
- Fantastic color accuracy and reproduction
- Clear and sharp display
- Pretty much the perfect specs and price for a budget photo editing monitor
Best Monitor for Photo Editing on a Budget – 2021 Comparison Table
Take a look below to compare and decide on the best budget monitor for photo editing.
Monitor | Screen Size | Resolution | Color Space | Price | |
LG 27UL500 [Best Buy] | 27" | 4K (3840×2160) | 98% sRGB | ||
27" | 4K (3840×2160) | 109% sRGB | |||
27" | 1440p (2560×1440) | 100% sRGB | |||
27" | 4K (3840×2160) | 99% sRGB | |||
27" | 1440p (2560×1440) | 100% sRGB | |||
24" | 1080p (1920×1080) | 99% sRGB | |||
27" | 1080p (1920×1080) | 99% sRGB | |||
21.5" | 1080p (1920×1080) | 93% sRGB |
The Most Important Requirements of the Best Monitor for Photo Editing
There are two requirements that I would consider are absolute when looking for the best screen for photo editing: Panel Type and Color Space.
Although screen size and resolution tend to get the top billing by marketers, these should not be the primary deciders of the screen you ultimately get, if you are particularly interested in a monitor for photo editing (although they are obviously also important).
The reason that panel type and color space are not given as much importance is that cheaper screens tend to not do as well with these characteristics, but they are both the primary indicators of a high quality monitor, so are always worth searching out.
Panel type (or display technology) refers to the internal architecture of the screen (which you can read more about below). It is sufficient to know that IPS panels are the highest quality panels you can get for photo editing. If you see VA, or TN, then know that the display will be markedly worse in viewing angles and colors.
Color space refers to the amount of, and gradations within, colors that a monitor can display. Obviously you want a screen that can show you the most colors possible so that you can more accurately edit your photos.
Home computers and most websites tend to work on the sRGB color space, so this is most relevant for hobbyist users, with the full sRGB color space containing about 35% of the colors visible to the human eye (with the missing colors in subtle gradations that are otherwise difficult to notice).
Even cheap monitors for photo editing can get to around 100% of the sRGB color space, so this is a key criterion that you should look for.
Checklist of All Criteria for the Best Monitors for Photo Editing
This is the full list of all criteria that I considered when looking for the best computer monitors for photo editing. Every monitor reviewed below meets all of these requirements, and so any would make a good choice for you.
- Panel Type: The three types of panel are listed below. All can potentially suffer from the problem of backlight bleeding, an unevenness of brightness across the screen. This is detailed for each monitor in the full reviews further down this article.
- IPS panels offer the widest viewing angles with most consistent colors across the panel, and this is noticeable superior to all other display technologies. Color reproduction is also of the highest level when compared to the other panel types, and is the closest you will get to real-world levels. Don’t underestimate how important this is. Response times are typically slower than TN panels, but this is irrelevant for everything except gaming. All monitors reviewed here have IPS panels. One negative of IPS panels is IPS glow, a phenomenon where the edges of the monitor can appear brighter than the center. This is generally only noticeable when viewing a fully black screen though.
- VA (or SVA) panels are well known for having strong contrast responses, which can be better than IPS models (although this is unlikely to be the case with better IPS monitors). This means that gradations of black look particularly good, so this panel type may be more relevant if you are looking to edit black and white photos primarily. Bear in mind though that viewing angles tend to be poor (though not as bad as TN panels), with contrast and color changes visible as you move your viewing angle.
- TN panels are the simplest of the panels, and are fine for everyday use in browsing the internet or word processing, but are not up to the job of photo editing, with poor colors and viewing angles.
- Color Gamut (Color Space): The color space of a monitor refers to the range of colors and their gradations that a particular monitor can display. The greater the number of colors, the more lifelike your photos will appear on screen, and the less color banding you will see in the junctions between colors. There are many different color gamuts, and this means that it can be difficult to compare monitors. Most monitor specs show the colors that a monitor can display as a percentage of one of two main color spaces:
- sRGB is one of the smallest color spaces, approximately mimicking the color space of old CRT monitors, and is standard across the internet and home computing, so is the most common gamut. In the monitor reviews, I show the percentage of the sRGB space that each monitor can display. 100% of the sRGB spectrum is equal to approximately 35% of all colors visible to the human eye. This may seem quite small, but the missing colors are in small color gradations that are generally pretty difficult to notice, therefore this shouldn’t worry you.
- Adobe RGB (1998) is the standard color space for professional photography, as it contains the range of colors that CMYK printers are able to produce, and is about 50% of the colors visible to the human eye. I would recommend this color space for Photoshop use, as it has richer cyans and greens than sRGB.
- Screen Size: From personal use of many monitors of different sizes, I feel that the best size monitor for photo editing is 27 inches. Of course, the size you should go for will depend on your personal preference, and on the desk space available to you, but this is a good starting size. Bear in mind though that monitor companies use screen size as a primary selling point, and are therefore liable to reduce the color gamut and / or resolution on larger screens in order to reduce the selling price and make them a more attractive option. It can therefore be worthwhile buying a monitor with a smaller screen size if you are on a strict budget, as these often come with high resolution, highly color accurate displays.
- Resolution: The higher the resolution, the more pixels can be fit into the same area, meaning that the display will be sharper and there will be more screen real estate, even at the same screen size. Typically, budget photo editing monitors range from full HD 1080p (1920×1080 pixels), up to 4K (3840×2160 pixels). I would always prefer a higher resolution display over a larger screen size, as resolution is what really makes the difference in usability. As an example, a 1080p, 24 inch monitor will have much greater pixel density than a 1080p, 27 inch monitor, as they both have the same number of pixels, but these will be in a much smaller area within the 24 inch monitor. This gives the 24 inch monitor in this example a much sharper, clearer image.
- Other Concerns: In addition to the main criteria above, you should also consider:
- Brightness Range – the number of levels of adjustment possible from total black to total white.
- Black Levels – blacks are often shown as gray due to pixel illumination, but how black a monitor can get will be shown in its technical details
- Response Time & Refresh Rate – are not so relevant for photo editing, but a higher refresh rate (> 50 Hz) and quicker response time (< 10 ms) will give you a smoother experience when using your computer
- Ability to Rotate – most monitors are fixed into a landscape orientation, but it can be helpful to rotate a monitor 90 degrees for portrait photography. You can easily get round this by using a monitor arm.
How to Calibrate your Monitor for Photo Editing
Even if you get the best photo editing monitor, you will still need to know how to calibrate it properly for photo editing. Many monitors come with a factory set calibration documented on a date sheet in the box, but these are set for general use, not specifically for photography. Therefore, you will need to calibrate it yourself to be assured of accurate colors.
Before using your new monitor, you should calibrate it for color accuracy.
There are a couple of ways to do this:
- Least Effective: Use the Windows ‘Calibrate Display Color’ tool, or use a website that shows test images, then manually calibrate the colors and brightness on your monitor using the on-screen menu. Note that this is not a very good approach if you are serious about your photography.
- Most Effective: Get a hardware calibration device, like the Datacolor SpyderX Pro and either use the included software, or better yet use open source software like DisplayCAL. This will automatically calibrate your monitor, and save the results as a color profile that your computer will load on starting each time. Running this every month or so will ensure that you always get accurate colors. This needs to be repeated at regular intervals as the color response of the pixels in your monitor will degrade over time. As this degradation is not uniform, you will need to re-calibrate to keep colors accurate.
Although calibration doesn’t seem like it should matter – after all, most people viewing your photos will be using their own non-calibrated displays – I can tell you from personal experience that it makes a huge difference, particularly to printed photos, but also ensures consistency when you look at your photos across devices.
I never used to calibrate my displays, but with hindsight I can see that this is why my photos never seemed to have quite the correct colors, either printed or when I viewed them online. Of course, calibration doesn’t solve all problems, but it does give your photos their best chance to look good, and they will never seem slightly ‘off’ again.
Full Reviews of the Best Monitor for Editing Photos on a Budget
The monitors below could all be considered the best monitor for photo editing, depending on your budget. These range from under $100 to around $350, and all are an excellent choice, although I do feel that the top end models offer the best value for money and quality.
1. LG 27UL500-W 27-Inch UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS Monitor
Best Monitor for Photo Editing Under 500 Dollars- Panel Type: IPS
- Screen Size: 27″
- Resolution: 4K (3840×2160)
- Color Gamut: 98% sRGB
- Response Time: 5 ms
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 24.5 x 14.6 x 2.9″
- Pros:
- The best color accuracy of any monitor reviewed here
- Sharp, clear display that is a pleasure to use
- Flicker-free backlight
- In-depth on-screen menu with joystick control
- Can use Radeon FreeSync
- Excellent price for the features and high build quality
- Cons:
- No speakers unless you buy a more expensive model
2. Philips 278E1A 27″ Frameless Monitor
Best Monitor for Photo Editing Under $300- Panel Type: IPS
- Screen Size: 27″
- Resolution: 4K (3840×2160)
- Color Gamut: 109% sRGB
- Response Time: 5 ms
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 24.1 x 18.3 x 7.4″
- Pros:
- Lots of detail and clarity in images
- Flicker-free with a 10-bit panel for smooth color gradations
- Very thin and easy to fit on a desk or monitor arm
- Fantastic value for money
- Includes 4-year advanced replacement
- Cons:
- Minimal ports
- Larger VESA mounts can block the ports
3. Dell S2721Q 27 Inch 4K Ultra-Thin Monitor
Best Dell Monitor for Photo Editing- Panel Type: IPS
- Screen Size: 27″
- Resolution: 4K (3840×2160)
- Color Gamut: 99% sRGB
- Response Time: 4 ms
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 21.2 x 16.3 x 6.1″
- Pros:
- Fantastic color accuracy possible after calibration
- 10-bit color depth for beautiful color gradients and smooth gradations
- High pixel density for sharp, clear images
- Wide range of movements possible, including to vertical
- Can use Dell software to change settings without having to go into the menus
- Cons:
- Contrast is only ok, with blacks still fairly gray
- Sides are noticeably darker than the center when viewing dark images
4. BenQ PD2700Q 27 Inch Monitor
Budget Color Accurate Monitor- Panel Type: IPS
- Screen Size: 27″
- Resolution: 1440p (2560×1440)
- Color Gamut: 100% sRGB
- Response Time: 12 ms
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 25.3 x 16.5 x 9.5″
- Pros:
- Displays 100% of the sRGB spectrum
- Darkroom mode to improve brightness & contrast in darker parts of images
- High build quality
- Lots of ports giving easy connectivity
- Simple to use on-screen menu
- Cons:
- Sub-4K resolution
- Slow response time (though this is not as relevant for photo editing)
5. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27 Inch
One of the Best Monitors for Image Editing- Panel Type: IPS
- Screen Size: 27″
- Resolution: 1440p (2560×1440)
- Color Gamut: 100% sRGB
- Response Time: 5 ms
- Refresh Rate: 75 Hz
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 24.2 x 14.6 x 2″
- Pros:
- Fantastic price for such a high-quality 27″ monitor
- Excellent color reproduction
- Lots of adjustment options for the mount
- Plenty of ports
- Aimed at professional users on a budget
- Cons:
- Non-standard resolution
- Grainy anti-glare coating
- Potential flicker from the backlight
6. Dell Ultrasharp U2417H 24 inch Infinity Edge Monitor
Best 24 Monitor for Photo Editing- Panel Type: IPS
- Screen Size: 24″
- Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080)
- Color Gamut: 99% sRGB
- Response Time: 6 ms
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 25.2 x 18 x 9.25″
- Pros:
- Contrast is consistent across the panel
- Very good color accuracy and no backlight bleeding
- Well laid out and powerful on-screen menu
- Plenty of ports including USB 3.0
- Reasonable price
- Cons:
- Older model
- As with other cheaper monitors, darker colors are too bright
7. BenQ GW2780 27 Inch Frameless IPS Monitor
Best Monitor for Photo Editing Under $200- Panel Type: IPS
- Screen Size: 27″
- Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080)
- Color Gamut: 99% sRGB
- Response Time: 5 ms
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 24.1 x 18.2 x 7.2″
- Pros:
- Nearly the entire sRGB gamut is covered
- Minimal IPS glow and backlight bleeding
- Low price for a 27″ monitor
- Cons:
- Darker grays and blacks show some banding
- Basic on-screen menus
- No USB ports
8. Acer SB220Q bi 21.5 Inches Full HD
Best Monitor for Photo Editing under $100- Panel Type: IPS
- Screen Size: 21.5″
- Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080)
- Color Gamut: 93% sRGB
- Response Time: 4 ms
- Refresh Rate: 75 Hz
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 19.6 x 15.1 x 8.3″
- Pros:
- Very good color reproduction
- Ultra thin display – only 0.24 inches thick excluding the base
- Best Monitor Under $100
- Cons:
- Less stable stand
- Small screen
- Only 1 HDMI port and 1 VGA – no DisplayPort or USB
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