In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best budget monitors for photo and video editing that are currently available on the market. We shall be highlighting all the necessary aspects such as color accuracy, resolution, connectivity, and other features, to help you make an informed purchase decision. But first, you might want to check out the following:
Make use of the wider FOV with these ultrawide gaming monitors Game on without breaking the bank with these budget gaming monitors
1. BenQ PD2700Q
Screen Size: 27-inch | Panel: IPS Resolution: 2560×1440 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz sRGB Coverage: 100% Connectivity: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x MiniDisplayPort 1.2, 2x USB 2.0 Hub
For creative use cases, a monitor needs to hit the nail on the head in terms of color accuracy. The BenQ PD2700Q is factory calibrated to cover 100% of the sRGB and Rec. 709 color spaces, which makes it ideal for professionals who depend on accurate color representation in their line of work. Additionally, it also offers a 10-bit panel that can display over a billion colors, which provides excellent color depth and gradation. The panel itself is Calman Verified and Pantone Validated. What’s more, is that you also get one year of free Pantone Connect Premium with the monitor. Apart from that, it also comes with plenty of features that make it easy to customize the screen to your needs. It has a variety of viewing modes, including CAD/CAM and Animation modes, which optimize the monitor’s display settings for different types of work.
2. Acer B277U
Screen Size: 27-inch | Panel: IPS Resolution: 2560×1440 | Refresh Rate: 75Hz sRGB Coverage: 100% Connectivity: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x MiniDisplayPort 1.2, 2x USB 3.0 Hub
The display comes in a near bezel-less design which creates a more immersive experience. More to the point, the monitor comes with 100% sRGB coverage and supports HDR10 content as well. Speaking of color accuracy, the panel boasts a low Delta E of <1, which is great, especially given the monitor’s price point. More notably, the monitor allows users to adjust the exact hue and color of the monitor to their needs. You can fiddle between RGB and CMY ranges, which, by the way, can be tweaked via the company’s Acer Display Widget utility. As such, you can calibrate the panel easily without toying with awkwardly positioned buttons.
3. PHILIPS 278E1A
Screen Size: 27-inch | Panel: IPS Resolution: 3840×2160 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz sRGB Coverage: 109% Connectivity: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2
One of the standout features of the 278E1A is its wide color gamut. It covers 109% of the sRGB color space, which means that it can display a wider range of colors than many other monitors. Add to that, the monitor also boasts 91% NTSC coverage. This results in more accurate and vibrant colors that are closer to what you would see in real life. As far as the design is concerned, the Philips 278E1A has a sleek and modern design with a slim bezel. As such, the monitor provides an edge-to-edge display, and its stand can be adjusted for tilt and height. Additionally, the monitor features built-in speakers that deliver decent sound quality, eliminating the need for external speakers or headphones. That said, if you have a creative workflow, you can definitely benefit from investing in these low-impedance open-back headphones.
4. ASUS ProArt PA278QV
Screen Size: 27-inch | Panel: IPS Resolution: 2560×1440 | Refresh Rate: 75Hz sRGB Coverage: 100% Connectivity: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x MiniDisplayPort 1.2, 1x Dual-Link DVI, 4x USB 3.2 Hub
One of the standout features of the PA278QV is its color accuracy. It covers 100% of the sRGB and Rec. 709 color spaces, ensuring that colors are displayed accurately and consistently. Similar to the BenQ PD2700Q, the ProArt PA278QV is also Calman Verified. It also features ASUS ProArt Palette that paves the way for precise color calibration and ensures that colors are displayed exactly as intended. As far as connectivity is concerned, this monitor has it all. You also get a handful of creator-centric features with the device to boost your productivity. To that end, the monitor comes with an on-screen overlay via the ASUS QuickFit Virtual Scale. The utility allows users to align and preview documents in their actual sizes prior to printing too. Other than that, the 75Hz refresh rate coupled with Adaptive-Sync technology should come in handy for casual gamers too.
5. ViewSonic VP2468a
Screen Size: 24-inch | Panel: IPS Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz sRGB Coverage: 100% Connectivity: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x RJ45, 2x USB 3.2 Hub
For its price, the ViewSonic VP2468a is the only budget monitor that comes with support for USB-C connectivity with 65W power delivery. As such, you can easily charge your laptop or MacBook while using it with the monitor. It also comes with an RJ45 port as well to provide ethernet connectivity while cleverly hiding the cables behind the monitor. Speaking about the monitor, the panel here covers 100% sRGB and Rec.709 wide color gamut. ViewSonic also ensures precise and uniform color by factory calibrating its monitors. As such, you get an amazing Delta E<2 value for superior color accuracy. The monitor also has an integrated color uniformity function that ensures consistent chromaticity across the screen. Additionally, a 14-bit 3D look-up table generates a stunningly smooth palette of 4.39 trillion colors.
6. ViewSonic VX3211
Screen Size: 32-inch | Panel: VA Resolution: 3840x2160p | Refresh Rate: 60Hz sRGB Coverage: 99% Connectivity: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2
Contrary to other monitors on this list, the ViewSonic VX3211 comes with a VA panel. But, thanks to its factory calibration, you get a 99% sRGB coverage, 95% NTSC size, and Delta E<2 value. However, you do miss out on the comfort of great viewing angles brought about by an IPS panel. On the upside, the VX3211’s screen is HDR10 certified. Though it is worth highlighting that this isn’t a native 10-bit screen. Instead, you get a combination of an 8-bit panel with Hi-FRC. Of course, there are compromises, but as reviews highlight, it still comes out as one of the best budget 32-inch 4K monitors for photo and video editing.
Unleash Your Creativity with Maximum Productivity
Finding a budget monitor that is good for photo and video editing can be a daunting task. That said, once you factor in appropriate parameters including color accuracy, resolution, and screen size, you can somewhat narrow down the search results. And, with one of the aforementioned budget-friendly monitors in your arsenal, you’ll be able to take your photo and video editing game to the next level. 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.
