Photo editing is a complicated and long process. The colors and hue need to be accurate; the saturation and the sharpness need to be perfect. In short, the image in front of you should match exactly with the one that you have on your mind. However, if you have a monitor that is not designed for editing photos or for graphics-related work, you might get drastically different results.
From over-saturated and over-blown images to darker than necessary images, the list is endless. Color-calibrated monitors help you out of this situation since they are designed to aid in your photo-editing journey.
Other than that, IPS monitors have decent contrast ratios around 1000:1 and the great viewing angles mean you will get a realistic reflection. Plus, the support for a wide gamut of colors ensures that the touch-ups you apply are accurate. And well, the 4k resolution is the cherry on top.
If you are looking for some good 4K IPS Monitors for photo editing, here are our recommendations. Let’s take a look.
1. AOC U2790VQ UHD Frameless Monitor (27-inch)
AOC U2790VQ is one of the best budget monitors for editing. Because for under $300, it displays ~99% sRGB and 90% NTSC, thus making it perfect for color-critical work. This monitor features a 10-bit 4K IPS-LED panel with a wide viewing angle. That means you can carry on your photo editing jobs without worrying about change in color even when you change positions.
What makes the AOC U2790VQ a good buy is its design. It boasts of a frameless design and a solid stand. Plus, there’s a neat nook at the back for cable management.
This 4K IPS monitor has plenty of reviews on Amazon where users are praising its excellent picture quality. Apart from that, the viewing angles and the wide frame is the cherry on top.
Do note that the AOC U2790VQ may not have accurate colors out-of-the-box. You have to do some minor tweaking to get the ball rolling.
Plus, it does not have HDR, and the build quality is not as solid as you’d have anticipated. But then, it’s a budget monitor.
2. Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q 4K IPS Monitor (27-inch)
One of the main highlights of the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q is that it offers great ergonomics. Should you buy it, you’ll be easily able to adjust this 27-inch 4K IPS LCD monitor as per your convenience. The thin borders complement that and add to its looks. Plus, the wide-viewing angle proves to be great for color-critical work.
It’s one of the best choices if you work in the Adobe RGB color space. This one gas displays 99.9% sRGB and has the support for HDR10. Win-win, right?
And typical of most Dell monitors, this one also sports a clean look. There is a single hole in the stand, which allows you to route cables and wires.
When it comes to picture quality, the results are good. People like it for its brightness and punchy colors. The default color celebration is almost on point. Out of some four hundred-odd user reviews, it has managed to rake in 63% positive reviews.
Unfortunately, the greys can turn out to be a little tinted. Plus, the absence of a USB-C port can prove to be a limitation of MacBook users.
3. LG 27UK850-W 4K UHD IPS Monitor (27-inch)
Another beautiful monitor perfect for photo-editing work is the LG 27UK850-W. It’s nearly bezel-less, and together with its beautiful (and sturdy) stand, it will only add to the beauty of your work desk.
Aside from that, this 27-inch IPS LCD monitor boasts of a bag of features such as low input lag, wide viewing angles, HDCP 2.2, and dual HDMI ports.
When it comes to color, this monitor displays 99% sRGB gamut, which brings more vibrant and better color accuracy to the table. And this has been backed by several reviews on Amazon.
So far, it has earned a total of 4.3 stars out of 5 on Amazon, primarily because of the picture quality and the sturdiness of the product.
4. ViewSonic VP3268-4K PRO 4K Monitor (32-inch)
If you know your way around monitors, you must already know that Viewsonic monitors are known for their good build quality and the, and the ViewSonic VP3268-4K is no different. This 4K UHD monitor sports a bunch of features such as a bezel-less display, HDMI 2.0 ports and HDCP 2.2. But the best part is that this monitor has the support for the major color gamuts such as sRGB, EBU, SMPTE-C, Rec. 709, and even the DICOM-SIM color spaces.
Furthermore, it has a very stylish and sturdy stand. For one, it looks great. You can tilt, swivel, and rotate it to the location of your choice. Secondly, the monitor has VESA holes in the back, should you want to ditch the stand and opt for a monitor arm.
That said, this Viewsonic monitor has an excellent display, and the best part is that there is a horde of options to tweak the display.
When it comes to user experience, they have had great things to say about this professional monitor. If we talk numbers, this 4K IPS monitor has 4.3-stars with over 63% positive ratings.
5. Dell UltraSharp UP3216Q UHD Monitor
The Dell Ultrasharp UP3216Q is the monitor for you. The IPS panel along with the support for various color gamuts like 100% sRGB gamut, 99.5% of Adobe RGB, and 100% REC709 promises one of the best color accuracies.
However, this photo-editing monitor comes at a price. It’s not one of the best-looking monitors out there. The edges are a bit on the thicker side, which tends to give the monitor a dated look.
Plus, there are several custom color mode which lets you make further adjustments to the color profiles.
Do note that this 4K monitor has a couple of limitations, such as hard-to-press buttons and USB ports.
6. Acer Predator X27
The Acer Predator X27 combines many good things. From wide viewing angles and 120Hz refresh rate to NVIDIA G-Sync support and Adobe color ranges, this professional editing monitor can also double as a gaming monitor. Plus, the widescreen resolution gives you ample space to play around.
The Predator X27 does pack some mean trendy (some may even call it quirky) look. The stand is unlike most monitor stands, and it also bundles two blinders on the sides to reduce glare. These two especially come in great use, especially if you work in bright surroundings.
Though it proves to be great monitor both for editing s well as for gaming, the ergonomic options are pretty limited. For one, the swivel range is limited, and you won’t be able to switch to the portrait position. On the plus side, you can adjust the height as per your convenience.
Before you buy this, make sure that you already have a compatible system to run it.
Note: We had to drop ASUS ProArt series model cause too many folks were complaining about the quality issues with its panel, at least on Amazon.
Tell a Unique Story
Photography helps you in telling your story, and with the right editing software and editing accessories by your side, you can rest assured that the story will come out as you want it to be.
However, before you hit the buy button, make sure that your current PC has the necessary ports (and versions) to support the new monitor.
Next up: Looking for affordable monÂiÂtors for phoÂto editÂing? Look at these monitors which cost less than $300.
Last updated on 02 February, 2022
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
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