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People who do creative work, such as photo and video editors, as well as graphical designers, often require high end monitors. If you’re one of those people, you’ll be happy to know that below, we have reviewed some of the top 4K monitors for video editing, photo editing, designers, and creators alike.
These 4K monitors are all excellent in their own regard and come at various price points. They also have different specifications, so you can pick and choose exactly what you need. Without wasting any more of your time, let’s take a look at some 4K monitors for creatives.
Read Related Article: 4K Smart OLED TVs
4K Monitors for Video Editing and Photo Editing
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LG 27UK650-W
LG is somewhat on a roll with their monitors lately. Even though they don’t have too many gaming options, when it comes to great 4K monitors for designers, they’ve hit the nail on the head. The 27UK650-W is an excellent example, as it checks all the necessities, and then some.
To begin with, you’re getting an excellent 27” 4K panel. And while some may consider 27” to be a bit small for 4K, it’s actually just the right size. The panel isn’t just “good”, it’s an IPS display which has 178 degrees viewing angles, both vertically and horizontally. It is also HDR10 compatible and comes with 99% coverage of the sRGB color gamut. If you’re looking for a color accurate monitor, this is a great option. If, however, you use it for gaming, you’ll be happy to know that it also has AMD’s FreeSync technology.
On the outside, you get a very sleek and modern design. The bezels are slim on all sides, and the stand looks minimal and smooth. It also doesn’t take up much desk space either. The stand is tilt and pivot adjustable, so you can get it just right for your setup.
If you need a 4K monitor for video editing, this one by LG is a great choice, as it’s an excellent blend between performance and looks, and doesn’t cost too much either.
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Acer Predator X27 bmiphzx
While Acer’s Predator series is well known for gaming monitors, you’d be surprised at how good they are in the competition for the best 4K monitors for video editing, photo editing, and designers. The X27 demonstrates that very well, so let’s check it out.
The 27” panel comes with a 4K resolution on the IPS panel. This ensures that the image is very sharp, and the viewing angles are perfect, regardless of where you’re looking from. A great thing for creatives is that this is a 10-bit panel with Quantum Dot technology. Colors will be excellent, and it covers 99% of the Adobe RGB color gamut. To add to that, it’s compatible with the DCI-P3 color space, which only makes things better for creatives. Oh, and lest we forget, the peak brightness is up to 1000 nits.
Now, this is primarily a gaming monitor, so you’ll find a 144Hz refresh rate (with overclocking via DisplayPort), as well as Nvidia’s G-Sync Ultimate adaptive sync. The response time is 4ms, but this is very respectable considering the high-quality panel you’re getting.
On the outside, the stand does have a flashy design, but none of the red accents we’re used to with gaming monitors. Instead, it’s a much more sleek looking black and silver design. The bezels are fairly slim, and you’ll also get two 4W speakers as well.
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Philips 276E8VJSB
Not everyone who’s looking for the a great monitor can spring out and get one that costs thousands of dollars, and Philips recognizes that. That’s why their 276E8VJSB comes in at a very wallet-friendly price tag, yet doesn’t compromise on any of the required things for a great monitor.
Kicking things off with the panel, this is a 10-bit (8-bit + FRC) IPS 27” panel, which produces 1,074 billion colors. Color gradations and detail are truly excellent, and the in-plane switching technology ensures the colors are excellent regardless of what angle you’re looking at the monitor from. The monitor works with the Adobe sRGB color space as well.
On the outside, the Philips is just as good. The bezels are extremely slim, which makes this a great option for people who want to buy two or three and have them run from one PC as a multi-monitor setup. The stand is minimal and looks very elegant. In terms of connectivity, there is a DisplayPort 1.2 port, as well as two HDMI 2.0s, and an HDMI audio out.
People who need 4K monitor for photo editing, or video editing, seldom use them for gaming, and since Philips wanted this monitor to be affordable, there aren’t things such as a high refresh rate or adaptive sync. But if you can look past this, it’s certainly a great option.
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Dell U2718Q
If you’re looking at excellent monitors for work, chances are you’ll come across Dell’s Ultrasharp lineup. They’ve been around for a good while, and they’re loved by creatives all over the place. The U2718Q is one of their newer models, and it incorporates the subtle design change that the line underwent, making it a stunning option.
The panel is a 27” 4K IPS one, so sharpness and viewing angles shouldn’t be an issue at all. You’ll also get Dell HDR which gets you better color depth and adds a bit of clarity. Being a part of the Ultrasharp series, you’re getting a factory calibration at 99.9% sRGB coverage, with a Delta-E accuracy of less than 2. Out of the box, you have a very accurate monitor, and you’ll get a report in the box that backs that up.
The other great thing with these monitors is the design. Slim bezels all around the place allow you to use this as part of a multi-monitor setup. The stand is also excellent. You can not only adjust the height, tilt, and rotation, but you can pivot the entire panel 90 degrees if you want to use it in vertical mode. All things considered, this is surely one of the best 4K monitors for all creatives alike.
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BenQ SW271 PhotoVue
People who’ve checked out BenQ’s lineup of monitors know that there are two main types – their Zowie gaming monitors, and their high end, color accurate monitors. The SW271 PhotoVue is of the second type and is a great monitor all around with plenty of features that creatives will love.
For starters, this is a 27” 4K panel with HDR support. You have sharp details and excellent brightness, as well as great viewing angles. The AQColor technology gives you 99% Adobe RGB coverage. One of the best things about the monitor is the support for hardware calibration. If you have a monitor calibration device, you can easily keep the colors extremely accurate, which is a welcome addition for any monitor meant for creative work. With a 14-bit 3D LUT and a Delta-E of less than two, color reproduction is impeccable and the RGB color blending accuracy is excellent.
This is a fairly new model by BenQ, so you’re also getting USB Type C, which lets you transmit both video and data with a single cable. If your computer or laptop has such a port, you can make use of the included SD card reader and USB ports and use it as a USB hub. Even though very expensive, this can very well be the best 4K monitor for designers.
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LG 27UK850-W
LG’s monitor lineup includes quite a lot of options that are strong contenders for the best 4K monitor for photo editing, but the 27UK850-W is what comes really close to taking the crown. It’s one of their newer models that checks all the boxes, and then some, and still manages to cost half than some of the competitors’ options.
For starters, you have a 27” IPS 4K panel. In-plane switching guarantees excellent viewing angles, as well as color reproduction. To add to that, there’s also HDR10 compatibility, as well as 99% coverage of the Adobe sRGB color gamut. Creatives will love this, as it allows them to see their photos, videos, and designs like they’d look when they come out of a professional printer. It’s not all work with the 27UK850-W though, as it also includes AMD’s FreeSync technology which should benefit those of you who game every once in a while.
On the outside, the design incorporates very slim bezels which should benefit users who want multi-monitor setups. The adjustable stand lets you set the tilt and swivel just right, but you can also adjust the height, too. There’s also USB Type C for single cable connectivity, making this excellent for people who use something like a MacBook.
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ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ
The first thing that springs to mind when you hear “ASUS Republic of Gamers” is gaming, not creative work. However, the ROG Swift PG27UQ isn’t just great for gaming, it’s also one of the best 4K monitors for video editing and other creative work. Let’s take a closer look at the details.
To begin with, it’s a 27” 4K panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. It’s a Quantum Dot IPS display, so aside from the gaming-oriented features, you can also expect 97% DCI-P3 coverage, as well as 99% Adobe RGB color gamut coverage. This is what makes it a great choice for creatives, and to add to that, you have HDR 1000 certification with a peak brightness of 1000 nits. Sure, there are gaming oriented features, such as the refresh rate, as well as the Nvidia G-Sync HDR adaptive sync.
On the outside, the monitor has a flashy design, but if you turn off the projecting light-up logo at the bottom, it does look excellent. The stand lets you adjust tilt, swivel, pivot, and height, so you can get it just right. The bezels aren’t all that thin, though, so if you’re looking at a multi-monitor setup, there may be better options. If, however, you want something that’s great for creative work, yet allows you to play games when you feel like it, it’s an amazing choice.
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Samsung LU32J59UQNXZA
If you’re on a budget, Samsung’s 31.5” monitor can be an excellent option. It may not be as color accurate as some of the competition, but it costs a fraction of the price of that same competition. It also manages to include quite a lot of useful features for creatives and enthusiasts alike, so it’s a good buy for both camps.
To begin with, at 31.5”, it hits the sweet spot for a 4K monitor. You won’t need to use scaling, as it’s just right, and everything will look sharp and clear. The image quality is excellent, and even though this isn’t an IPS panel, you’re still getting decent viewing angles. The display has features such as Picture-by-Picture, as well as Picture-in-Picture, so if you have multiple devices you can connect them to a single monitor. We also appreciate the addition of AMD’s FreeSync, and we’re sure casual gamers will, too. Game Mode makes an appearance, and you have an optimized contrast level for much better detail in darker areas.
On the outside, you have a minimal stand that takes up very little desk space, but if you don’t like it, the monitor is wall mountable as well. The bezels are minimal, which makes it good for multi-monitor setups, too. All in all, an interesting budget proposition.
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ViewSonic VP2785-4K
Granted, ViewSonic may not be the first name that springs to mind when you’re looking for the best 4K monitors for video editing, photo editing, and designers. But a look at their VP2785-4K should quickly change your mind. It does come with a high price tag, but it’s very well worth it.
For starters, the 27” 4K IPS panel gives you both lifelike colors and excellent viewing angles. But the main things are color accuracy and hardware calibration. There’s 99% coverage of Adobe RGB, as well as 100% coverage of Rec.709, along with support for EBU, smpte-c, and dicom-sim. The Delta-E is less than two, and you have 4.39 trillion colors. The 14-Bit 3D LUT hardware calibration lets you use a calibrating device to get extremely accurate colors, something you won’t get with many other options. Oh, and there’s HDR10 as well.
On the outside, you have a modern design with slim bezels, USB Type C and an adjustable stand. There are also things you won’t find on other monitors, like an ambient light sensor and a KVM switch to connect more devices to it.
As we mentioned earlier, this monitor is going to cost you a pretty penny. However, if you can invest in it, it’s very likely the best 4K monitor for designers and photo editing.
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AOC U2790VQ
AOC has been making great budget oriented monitors for a while now, and aside from their Agon gaming series, they also have some of the best 4K monitors for photo editing, video editing, and other creative work. The U2790VQ is a great example of that, so let’s take a closer look at it.
For starters, this is a 27” IPS panel, one that gives you vivid, lifelike colors and truly great viewing angles. You have over 1 billion colors, as well 99% coverage of the sRGB color space and 90% coverage of the NTSC color gamut. This is excellent for creators, as you’ll get the accurate colors you expect from such a monitor. The 20 million to 1 dynamic contrast ratio makes sure details are great.
On the outside, you have a very simple, yet modern design. The circular design of the small stand doesn’t take up a lot of space, and the minimal bezels make this a great option for multi-monitor setups. The stand does give you some adjustment, but it’s also quick-removable so you can mount it on a wall with a VESA mount.
Truth be told, this isn’t like other high-end options in terms of colors or design. However, it also manages to cost much less than high-end options, so if you’re on a budget, definitely check it out.
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