Photo and Video Editing Monitors

Author: Adam Simmons
Last updated: October 20th 2026

 

Our key up to date recommendations are given in the table below, grouped by size.

 

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~27 inches~32 inches34 inches~38 inches

ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM (26.5″ 240Hz+ WOLED, 3840 x 2160)

 
ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM

ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM

 
Key aspects:

  • 26.5″ OLED panel (LG Display Tandem RGB WOLED)
  • 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
  • True 10-bit colour support (12-bit via HDMI 2.1 scaler dithering)
  • PWM-free (‘flicker-free’) WOLED
  • ~97% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 250 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
  • ‘TrueBlack Glossy’ anti-reflective screen surface


Additional points:

  • VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400
  • 240Hz (480Hz FHD)
  • 0.3ms grey to grey response time
  • 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 2.1 (UHBR 20), USB-C (90W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 3 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports (plus Type-B upstream), 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Fully adjustable stand with 100 x 100mm VESA mounting supported


Why choose this monitor:

The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM provides a 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) resolution, for a very tight pixel density on its 26.5″ screen. This affords excellent detail levels and clarity potential, alongside exceptional levels of contrast and colour consistency. Strong DCI-P3 coverage is provided alongside effective and fully flexible emulation modes for sRGB and DCI-P3. Meanwhile, true 10-bit colour is supported – alongside 12-bit support using HDMI 2.1 scaler dithering. The ‘TrueBlack Glossy’ screen surface further enhances clarity – it’s more reflective than QD-OLED alternatives, but avoids the same lightening up of dark shades in brighter ambient conditions. ‘DSE’ (‘Dirty Screen Effect’) or striations or patchiness on certain dark shades (including greys) can vary between units, but from what we’ve observed and feedback we’ve received it appears significantly lower on this model compared to on WOLED models with an unfiltered white subpixel.

Owing to its per-pixel illumination, strong DCI-P3 coverage, 10-bit colour and bursts of brightness up to 1000 cd/m² the monitor coffers strong HDR10 output. It also includes high peak brightness HDR options which maintain excellent bright-shade dominant EOTF accuracy (within the luminance limits of the panel), though these also lighten up dark-shade dominant scenes or images. An accurate and consistent ‘VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400’ compliant mode with lower brightness peaks is also included. Unlike competing WOLED technology with an unfiltered white subpixel, the screen can provide strong saturation to very bright elements. The monitor offers solid built quality and good ergonomics, with a feature-rich OSD offering plenty of image adjustment options and various ‘OLED Care*’ options. The monitor also includes DP 2.1, HDMI 2.1 and USB-C connectivity complete with KVM support.

*Various mitigation measures are included, designed to reduce likelihood of problematic image retention or burn-in. These are covered in our ‘Best Settings’ video. Basic ‘OLED hygiene’ practices such as using dark themes in applications where possible, moving window positions or switching applications occasionally and allowing the screen to shut off when not in use for extended periods (which also allows the pixel cleaning cycle to run, if required) can also help maximise panel longevity. The 3-year warranty includes burn-in cover, for extra peace of mind.

Further reading:

Our video review

Manufacturer product page

BenQ PD2706U (27″ 60Hz IPS, 3840 x 2160)

 
BenQ PD2706U

BenQ PD2706U

 
Key aspects:

  • 27″ IPS panel
  • 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
  • 10-bit colour support
  • Flicker-free WLED backlight
  • 95% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 350 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
  • Light to very light matte anti-glare screen surface


Additional points:

  • 60Hz
  • 5ms grey to grey response time
  • HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, USB-C (90W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), USB-C downstream, 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (plus Type-B upstream), 3.5mm headphone jack
  • 2 x 2.5W speakers
  • Screen is fully adjustable with 100 x 100mm VESA support


Why choose this monitor:

The BenQ PD2706U provides a 95% DCI-P3 colour gamut with Pantone Validated and Calman Verified calibration (specified DeltaE ≤ 3). Uniformity Compensation (UC) is also included to even out brightness and colour temperature at various points of the screen. This model is a strong performer within the sRGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces, but as with any model accuracy can be further tightened via calibration using your own colorimeter or alternative device. A range of well-tuned Low Blue Light (LBL) settings focusing on viewing comfort are also included, with ‘Hotkey Puck G2’ allowing intuitive OSD navigation.

Basic HDR10 support is included at the VESA DisplayHDR 400 level, facilitating work with HDR10 content and allowing 10-bit colour support to be leveraged with a slight brightness boost to ~400 cd/m². The monitor lacks local dimming to enhance contrast, so it’s very limited in this role. The 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) resolution and 27″ screen size provides a tight pixel density for excellent detail and clarity. This is complemented by a light to very light matte anti-glare screen surface, allowing relatively direct emission of light compared to some matte surfaces. The stand includes a solid-feeling coated metal base, with full ergonomic flexibility provided. USB-C connectivity with 90W PD, additional USB ports and KVM integration are also included, for convenience.


Further reading:

Manufacturer product page

ASUS ProArt PA278QGV (27″ 120Hz IPS, 2560 x 1440)

 
ASUS ProArt PA278QGV

ASUS ProArt PA278QGV

 
Key aspects:

  • 27″ IPS panel
  • 2560 x 1440 (QHD or 1440p)
  • True 8-bit colour support
  • Flicker-free WLED backlight
  • 95% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 350 cd/m² peak luminance
  • Light to very light matte anti-glare screen surface


Additional points:

  • 120Hz (48 – 120Hz VRR, FreeSync + G-SYNC Compatible)
  • 5ms grey to grey response time
  • HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, 3.5mm headphone jack, 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (2 at bottom of monitor for easy access) plus Type-B upstream.
  • 2 x 2W speakers
  • Tilt (5° forwards, 23° backwards), height (130mm or 5.12 inches), swivel (30° left, 30° right) and pivot


Why choose this monitor:

The ASUS ProArt PA278QGV provides a 95% DCI-P3 colour gamut and complete sRGB coverage, offering good support for both the sRGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces. Preset modes for multiple colour spaces are included such as sRGB, DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB (although gamut coverage for the latter is far from complete). The monitor is Calman Verified with DeltaE <2 colour accuracy, but as usual we'd recommend calibration with your own equipment for the best results. Contrast is relatively strong for the panel type, with 1500:1 specified. An ambient light sensor is also included which allows the screen to adjust its image automatically according to ambient lighting.

The monitor also features a 2560 x 1440 (QHD or 1440p) resolution with a light to very light matte screen surface and relatively smooth finish. This provides respectable clarity and detail for a variety of content and keeps lighter shades free from obvious graininess. Basic HDR10 support is offered, whilst the monitor includes 120Hz refresh rate to significantly boost fluidity over 60Hz. Some will find this welcome even on the desktop. Pixel responses are sufficiently rapid for a good experience at this refresh rate, whilst Adaptive-Sync VRR support is included. The screen offers excellent ergonomics, alongside a flexible OSD system including multiple gamma and colour temperature settings (alongside the aforementioned colour space emulation modes).

Further reading:

Our review of the first generation (75Hz) model.

Manufacturer product page

Gigabyte MO32U24 (31.5″ 240Hz QD-OLED, 3840 x 2160)

 
Gigabyte MO32U24

Gigabyte MO32U24

 
Key aspects:

  • 31.5″ OLED panel (Samsung Display QD-OLED Penta Tandem)
  • 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
  • True 10-bit colour support (12-bit via HDMI 2.1 scaler dithering)
  • PWM-free (‘flicker-free’) QD-OLED
  • ~99% DCI-P3 (~95% Adobe RGB) colour gamut and 300 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
  • Glossy anti-reflective screen surface


Additional points:

  • VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500
  • 240Hz
  • 0.3ms grey to grey response time
  • 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4, USB-C (18W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (plus type-B upstream), 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Screen is fully adjustable with 100 x 100mm VESA support
  • 2 x 5W speakers


Why choose this monitor:

The Gigabyte MO32U24 provides a 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) resolution for excellent detail levels, whilst providing exceptional levels of contrast and colour consistency. The panel’s generous gamut offers strong coverage of the sRGB, DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB colour spaces, alongside emulation modes for all three colour spaces. True 10-bit colour is supported, alongside 12-bit support using HDMI 2.1 scaler dithering. The glossy anti-reflective screen surface further enhances clarity, with ‘ObsidianShield’ film treatment improving durability, making it easier to clean and enhancing dark shade depth in brighter conditions compared to earlier QD-OLEDs. This is a difference we found significant and noticeable when using the monitor in a range of lighting conditions.

The monitor provides strong HDR10 capability – with per-pixel illumination, excellent DCI-P3 coverage, 10-bit colour and bursts of brightness up to 1000 cd/m². It offers a broad range of high brightness HDR configurations, alongside an accurate and consistent ‘VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500’ compliant mode with lower brightness peaks. Unlike competing WOLED technology with an unfiltered white subpixel, the screen can provide strong saturation to very bright elements. The monitor provides a solid-feeling coated metal stand with good flexibility. Other attractive attributes include; a comprehensive OSD with plenty of image adjustment options, USB-C with KVM support and a range of ‘AI OLED Care*’ options.

*Various mitigation measures are included, designed to reduce likelihood of problematic image retention or burn-in. These are covered in our ‘Best Settings’ video. Basic ‘OLED hygiene’ practices such as using dark themes in applications where possible, moving window positions or switching applications occasionally and allowing the screen to shut off when not in use for extended periods (which also allows the pixel cleaning cycle to run, if required) can also help maximise panel longevity. The 3-year warranty includes burn-in cover, for extra peace of mind.

Further reading:

Our video review

Quick comparison with the MSI MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 and AOC AG326UZD2

Manufacturer product page

BenQ PD3205U (31.5″ 60Hz IPS, 3840 x 2160)

 
BenQ PD3205U

BenQ PD3205U

 
Key aspects:

  • 31.5″ IPS panel
  • 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD)
  • 10-bit colour support
  • Flicker-free WLED backlight
  • ~sRGB colour gamut and 250 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
  • Light to very light matte anti-glare screen surface


Additional points:

  • 60Hz
  • 5ms grey to grey response time
  • HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4, USB-C (90W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (plus 2 Type-B upstream), 3.5mm headphone jack
  • 2 x 2.5W speakers
  • Screen is fully adjustable with 100 x 100mm VESA support


Why choose this monitor:

The BenQ PD3205U provides a 99% sRGB colour gamut with Pantone validated sRGB calibration and specified DeltaE ≤ 3. Uniformity Compensation (UC) is also included to even out brightness and colour temperature at various points of the screen. There’s no wide gamut support, but this model performs well within the sRGB colour space. As usual, the accuracy can be further improved by calibrating the monitor using your own colorimeter or alternative device. Various well-tuned Low Blue Light (LBL) settings are included to potentially improve viewing comfort are also included, whilst intuitive control of the OSD is afforded by the ‘Hotkey Puck G2’.

The monitor responds to HDR10 content in a basic way, allowing 10-bit colour support to be leveraged with a slight brightness boost to ~350 cd/m². There’s no local dimming to enhance contrast and the gamut is very limited by HDR standards, though – so its HDR capability is far from strong. The 3840 x 2160 (‘4K’ UHD) resolution and 31.5″ screen size provides an excellent pixel density for pleasing detail and clarity, with a nice amount of ‘desktop real-estate’. It’s a combination many find very practical for work purposes. This is complemented by a light to very light matte anti-glare screen surface, allowing relatively direct emission of light compared to some matte surfaces. The stand includes a solid-feeling coated metal base, with full ergonomic flexibility provided. For added convenience, USB-C connectivity with 90W PD and 2 additional Type-B upstream ports plus KVM integration are also included.


Further reading:

Manufacturer product page

MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 (34″ 360Hz curved QD-OLED, 3440 x 1440)

 
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36

MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36

 
Key aspects:

  • 34″ OLED panel (Samsung Display QD-OLED Penta Tandem)
  • 1800R curve
  • 3440 x 1440 (UWQHD – 21:9 ultrawide)
  • True 10-bit colour support
  • PWM-free (‘flicker-free’) QD-OLED
  • ~99% DCI-P3 (~95% Adobe RGB) colour gamut and 300 cd/m² (SDR) peak luminance
  • Glossy anti-reflective screen surface


Additional points:

  • VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500
  • 360Hz
  • 0.3ms grey to grey response time
  • 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 2.1 (UHBR 13.5), USB-C (96W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data), 2 USB 3.0 ports (plus Type-B upstream) and a 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Screen includes tilt, swivel and height adjustment with 100 x 100mm VESA support


Why choose this monitor:

The MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 combines a 3440 x 1440 (UWQHD) resolution with exceptional contrast, colour consistency and a generous gamut offering strong sRGB, DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB coverage. Emulation settings are also included for all three colour spaces, whilst true 10-bit colour is supported. The pixel density is very good (similar to a 27″ QHD model), whilst a true RGB stripe subpixel layout helps minimise fringing issues associated with the panel technology. The glossy anti-reflective screen surface further enhances clarity, with ‘DarkArmor Film’ treatment improving durability, making it easier to clean and enhancing dark shade depth in brighter conditions compared to earlier QD-OLEDs. A 1800R (moderate) curve is included to draw you in slightly and potentially aid viewing comfort.

The monitor is capable under HDR owing to its per-pixel illumination and ability to provide a brightness of up to ~1300 cd/m² for smaller bright elements. The generous gamut can be put to good use under HDR (for HDR10 content) with 10-bit colour support with a ‘VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500’ compliant setting offering these benefits with reduced brightness peaks and accurate, consistent calibration. Unlike competing WOLED technology with an unfiltered white subpixel, the screen can provide strong saturation to very bright elements. The monitor is solidly built with good flexibility. Other attractive aspects of note include; a highly comprehensive OSD, USB-C with 96W PD and KVM support as well as a comprehensive ‘OLED Care 3.0*’ suite, including an ‘AI Care Sensor’ which shuts the screen off when nobody is looking at it.

*Various mitigation measures are included, designed to reduce likelihood of problematic image retention or burn-in. These are covered in our ‘Best Settings’ video. Basic ‘OLED hygiene’ practices such as using dark themes in applications where possible, moving window positions or switching applications occasionally and allowing the screen to shut off when not in use for extended periods (which also allows the pixel cleaning cycle to run, if required) can also help maximise panel longevity. The 3-year warranty includes burn-in cover, for extra peace of mind.

Further reading:

Our video review

Manufacturer product page

ViewSonic VP3881a (37.5″ 60Hz curved IPS, 3840 x 1600)

 
ViewSonic VP3881a

ViewSonic VP3881a

 
Key aspects:

  • 37.5″ IPS panel (LG Display LM375QW1-SSB1 IPS)
  • 2300R curve
  • 3840 x 1600 (UWQHD+ – 21:9 ultrawide)
  • 10-bit (8-bit + FRC)
  • Flicker-free WLED backlight
  • ~95% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 300 cd/m² peak luminance
  • Light matte anti-glare screen surface


Additional points:

  • Basic HDR10 support
  • 60Hz
  • 5ms grey to grey response time
  • USB-C (90W PD, DP Alt Mode, upstream data) 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, DP 1.4, 3.5mm audio output, 3.5mm audio input, 3 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports (plus upstream)
  • 2 x 5W speakers
  • Screen includes tilt, swivel and height adjustment with 100 x 100mm VESA support


Why choose this monitor:

The ViewSonic VP3881a combines a 3840 x 1600 (UWQHD+) resolution with strong sRGB colour accuracy and ~95% DCI-P3 coverage for wider colour space work. The pixel density delivered is very good – similar to a 27″ QHD model, with extra horizontal real-estate. The monitor includes a ‘Pantone validated’ factory calibrated with a specified DeltaE <2 and includes a Uniformity Compensation (UC) feature which can be activated to enhance brightness and colour temperature uniformity across the screen. A 2300R (gentle) curve is included to draw you in just a little bit and potentially aid viewing comfort. 10-bit colour is supported via 8-bit + FRC with a 14-bit hardware addressable 3D LUT to enhance precision. Hardware calibration is supported using a compatible calibrator, including a range or X-Rite and Datacolor devices.

The screen surface is light matte anti-glare with a relatively smooth finish, keeping lighter content free from unwanted graininess and helping preserve clarity and vibrancy. Basic HDR10 support is provided, allowing the colour gamut and 10-bit colour capability to be put to use. The colour gamut and backlight capability is not appropriate for actual HDR output, however. USB-C connectivity is included with a generous 90W Power Delivery. Last but not least, the screen is solidly built with good ergonomic flexibility.

Further reading:

Manufacturer product page

This list is heavily condensed; look out for the recommended or approved badge in our reviews as well. You can sort our reviews by badge status and various other features there.

 

Accurate colour output is key when it comes to editing photos and videos, certain design work and other content creation. We’ll often refer to this as ‘colour-critical work’. Even for editing at the hobbyist level, we consider accurate colour output the key area to focus on. As such, our recommendations here focus on models with IPS-type panels. These are unmatched by other LCD panel types when it comes to accurate colour output, particularly with respect to colour consistency. You want accurate colour representation throughout the screen, not just in a small central area that may be calibrated to perfection. Non-LCD screens such as OLED are very strong in this area, whilst also offering exceptional contrast. Helping to bring out subtle dark details and distinctions. Penetration of OLED into the monitor market is a slow and ongoing process. For now, such models come at a significant premium and are restricted to a select few models. HDR capability is also increasing, with complex backlighting solutions helping IPS models overcome some of their traditional contrast limitations. There is again a premium attached to such ‘exotic’ technology.

 

Confused about the terminology? Check out our dedicated guide on the topic.