Photoshop rewards a screen that shows color the way the file holds it, because a narrow panel hides shifted skin tones until print or a client screen reveals them. The best monitors for editing photos with photoshop in this guide are seven IPS screens with published gamut figures, factory calibration, and clear limits for print and web work.
Quick verdict on the best monitors for editing photos with photoshop
Start with the BenQ SW270C if print work comes first, because its 27 inch IPS panel covers 99 percent Adobe RGB with a Delta E of 2 or less and a shading hood in the box. The ASUS ProArt PA279CRV is the strongest 4K all rounder, with 99 percent DCI-P3, 99 percent Adobe RGB, a Delta E under 2, and USB-C power delivery of 96W.
The Dell UltraSharp U2723QE suits a laptop desk best, with IPS Black contrast of 2000 to 1, 98 percent DCI-P3, a Delta E under 2, and a USB-C hub with 90W power delivery. The LG 27UP850-W is the value 4K pick, with 95 percent DCI-P3, a 5 ms GtG figure, and hardware calibration support, while the BenQ PD2705U covers 99 percent sRGB for web and screen work.
The ViewSonic VP2756-4K gives Pantone Validated 100 percent sRGB color with a Delta E under 2, and the ASUS ProArt PA278QV is the lowest cost entry here, with 100 percent sRGB, a Delta E under 2, and a 75Hz refresh rate. Every model here is a 27 inch IPS screen, and no current street figure was confirmed for any model, so confirm the exact model suffix and the current listing before you order.
Quick comparison table
Use this table to narrow the list before you read the detailed sections. It compares panel size and resolution, color gamut and Delta E, and response time type, because those three points decide how faithfully a Photoshop file appears on screen and how the panel fits print or web work.
| Model | Panel and size | Resolution and refresh | Color gamut and Delta E | Response time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ SW270C | 27 inch IPS | 2560 x 1440, 60Hz | 99% Adobe RGB, 97% DCI-P3, Delta E 2 or less | 5 ms GtG |
| ASUS ProArt PA279CRV | 27 inch IPS | 3840 x 2160, 60Hz | 99% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB, Delta E under 2 | 5 ms GtG |
| Dell UltraSharp U2723QE | 27 inch IPS Black | 3840 x 2160, 60Hz | 98% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB, Delta E under 2 | 5 ms GtG Fast, 8 ms GtG Normal |
| LG 27UP850-W | 27 inch IPS | 3840 x 2160, 60Hz | 95% DCI-P3, no Delta E figure published | 5 ms GtG at Faster |
| BenQ PD2705U | 27 inch IPS | 3840 x 2160, 60Hz | 99% sRGB, 99% Rec.709, Delta E 3 or less | 5 ms GtG |
| ViewSonic VP2756-4K | 27 inch IPS | 3840 x 2160, 60Hz | 100% sRGB, Delta E under 2 | 5 ms GtG |
| ASUS ProArt PA278QV | 27 inch IPS | 2560 x 1440, 75Hz | 100% sRGB, 100% Rec.709, Delta E under 2 | 5 ms GtG |
How we selected these screens
Every model here is a real photo editing monitor with a published maker spec, and every gamut and Delta E figure in this guide comes from the maker or a reliable spec listing. Models were kept only if the maker spec listed an IPS panel, a factory calibration claim, and a wide gamut that fits Photoshop work in sRGB, Adobe RGB, or DCI-P3.
Why the best monitors for editing photos with photoshop start with gamut
Gamut decides which colors a screen can show, and a narrow panel clips the greens and blues that matter in landscape and product photos. The BenQ SW270C and the ASUS PA279CRV cover 99 percent Adobe RGB, so print files keep their full range, while the sRGB models here suit web delivery, where a wider gamut can look oversaturated on other screens.
The right choice follows the output, because a photographer who prints needs Adobe RGB coverage, while a photographer who publishes only online needs accurate sRGB first. A 95 percent DCI-P3 panel like the LG 27UP850-W sits between the two, so read the gamut column in the table above before you pick a screen.
Why factory calibration and Delta E matter in Photoshop
Factory calibration matters because a Delta E under 2 means color errors stay near the limit of what the eye can notice, so skin tones stay honest while you edit. Five models here publish a Delta E under 2 or a Delta E of 2 or less, the BenQ PD2705U publishes a Delta E of 3 or less, and the LG 27UP850-W publishes no Delta E figure at all.
A calibration report in the box adds trust, because it records the result for that exact panel rather than a model average, and ASUS ships one with the ProArt models here. Recalibration still matters over time, because panels drift, so a screen with hardware calibration support, like the BenQ SW270C and the LG 27UP850-W, keeps its accuracy longer than a screen that relies on software profiles alone.
How to read response time types without being misled
Response time type matters because GtG, MPRT, and VRB measure different things, and a 1 ms figure means little without its label. Every model here publishes a 5 ms GtG figure, except the Dell U2723QE, which publishes 5 ms GtG in Fast mode and 8 ms GtG in Normal mode, and the LG 27UP850-W, which publishes 5 ms GtG at the Faster setting.
A 5 ms GtG figure is normal for a 60Hz photo editing panel, because the screen redraws every 16.7 ms at 60Hz, so a 5 ms transition fits inside one frame with room to spare. Do not chase a gaming response time for Photoshop work, because the panel traits that matter here are color stability, uniformity, and viewing angle, and a fast gaming panel with a narrow gamut is the wrong trade for photo editing.
The seven monitors in detail
Each section below follows the same pattern, so you can compare the models side by side. It starts with who the screen fits best, then covers the panel, the resolution, the color gamut, the Delta E figure, and the response time type. Each profile also notes when to buy it and when to skip it.
BenQ SW270C
This monitor fits photographers who print, with a 27 inch IPS panel, a 2560 x 1440 resolution, and 99 percent Adobe RGB coverage. The BenQ SW270C is a 27 inch IPS monitor with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a published 5 ms GtG response time in the BenQ datasheet.
BenQ lists 300 nits of brightness, a 1000 to 1 contrast ratio, 99 percent Adobe RGB, 97 percent DCI-P3, 100 percent sRGB, and a Delta E of 2 or less in Adobe RGB and sRGB, with a 16 bit look up table and 10 bit color for 1.07 billion colors. The monitor supports hardware calibration through Palette Master Element software, ships with a shading hood and a Hotkey Puck G2, and connects over USB-C with 60W power delivery.
The 1440p resolution is the trade-off, because it shows less fine detail than the 4K models here, so heavy retouching at 100 percent zoom shows fewer pixels at once. The panel is Calman Verified and Pantone Validated, uniformity technology evens color across the screen, and the 178 degree viewing angles in both directions keep color steady when a client looks over your shoulder.
Pros: 27 inch IPS with 99% Adobe RGB and Delta E 2 or less, 16 bit look up table, hardware calibration support, shading hood and Hotkey Puck G2 included, USB-C with 60W power delivery, 5 ms GtG.
Cons: 1440p only, no 4K detail for fine retouching, 60Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness is lower than the 400 nit models here, and the hood adds bulk on a small desk.
Buy it for print work where Adobe RGB coverage and hardware calibration matter most. Skip it if you need 4K detail for fine retouching, a brighter panel for a sunlit room, or a screen with no hood on the desk.
ASUS ProArt PA279CRV
This monitor fits editors who want one 4K screen for print and video, with 99 percent DCI-P3 and 99 percent Adobe RGB on the same panel. The ASUS ProArt PA279CRV is a 27 inch IPS monitor with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a published 5 ms GtG response time in the ASUS spec.
ASUS lists 99 percent DCI-P3, 99 percent Adobe RGB, 100 percent sRGB, a Delta E under 2, Calman Verified factory calibration, 10 bit color for 1.07 billion colors, and 400 nits peak brightness with DisplayHDR 400 support. The monitor connects over USB-C with 96W power delivery, so a laptop charges over the same cable that carries video, and the ergonomic stand adjusts height, tilt, pivot, and swivel.
The wide gamut is a strength and a risk, because a DCI-P3 panel can make sRGB web images look oversaturated unless you switch to the sRGB preset in the ProArt menu. ASUS ships a calibration report with each unit, the ProArt presets cover sRGB, Adobe RGB, DCI-P3, Rec.709, and DICOM, and the 163 pixels per inch density keeps fine retouching sharp at normal desk distance.
Pros: 27 inch IPS 4K with 99% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RGB, Delta E under 2, Calman Verified, 400 nits peak brightness, USB-C with 96W power delivery, 5 ms GtG, ergonomic stand.
Cons: Wide gamut needs the sRGB preset for web work, 60Hz refresh rate, no high refresh option for casual gaming, and the 4K resolution needs display scaling on some systems.
Buy it for the widest single panel choice here, covering print, web, and video on one screen. Skip it if you work only in sRGB and want a simpler panel, or if you need a faster refresh rate for gaming after work.
Dell UltraSharp U2723QE
This monitor fits laptop users who want a 4K hub screen, with IPS Black contrast and a USB-C hub built into the stand base. The Dell UltraSharp U2723QE is a 27 inch IPS Black monitor with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a published 5 ms GtG response time in Fast mode and 8 ms GtG in Normal mode.
Dell lists 100 percent sRGB, 100 percent Rec.709, 98 percent DCI-P3, a Delta E under 2, a 2000 to 1 contrast ratio from the IPS Black panel, and 400 nits peak brightness with DisplayHDR 400 support. The USB-C port carries video and 90W power delivery, the hub adds USB ports and Ethernet, and the built in KVM lets one keyboard and mouse serve two computers.
The IPS Black panel is the real win here, because its 2000 to 1 contrast shows deeper blacks than the 1000 to 1 panels in this guide, so shadow detail in dark photos stays visible instead of washing out to gray. Dell lists no hardware calibration look up table for this model, so long term accuracy relies on software profiles, and the 80 percent Adobe RGB range in some listings is narrower than the BenQ and ASUS print panels.
Pros: 27 inch IPS Black 4K with 2000 to 1 contrast, 98% DCI-P3 and Delta E under 2, USB-C hub with 90W power delivery, KVM and Ethernet, 400 nits peak brightness, 5 ms GtG Fast.
Cons: No hardware calibration look up table listed, Adobe RGB coverage is narrower than the print panels here, 60Hz refresh rate, and the hub features add cost for a desktop-only desk.
Buy it for a laptop desk where the hub, KVM, and deep IPS Black contrast earn their keep. Skip it if you print in Adobe RGB every week, need hardware calibration, or want a plain screen with no hub features.
LG 27UP850-W
This monitor fits buyers who want 4K color at a lower tier, with 95 percent DCI-P3 and hardware calibration support on a 27 inch IPS panel. The LG 27UP850-W is a 27 inch IPS monitor with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a published 5 ms GtG response time at the Faster setting in the LG spec sheet.
LG lists 95 percent DCI-P3, 400 nits typical brightness, a 1200 to 1 typical contrast ratio, 10 bit color for 1.07 billion colors, and DisplayHDR 400 support, with two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, and a USB-C port. The monitor supports hardware calibration through LG Calibration Studio software, and the stand adjusts height, pivot, and tilt for long editing sessions.
LG publishes no Delta E figure for this model, so its out of box accuracy rests on its factory calibration claim rather than a stated Delta E limit, and that gap matters for paid color work. The 95 percent DCI-P3 gamut is wide enough for video and modern screens, the 400 nit brightness suits a bright room, and FreeSync support adds smooth motion for casual play after work.
Pros: 27 inch IPS 4K with 95% DCI-P3, 400 nits brightness, hardware calibration support, two HDMI 2.0 ports plus DisplayPort and USB-C, 5 ms GtG at Faster, height adjustable stand.
Cons: No Delta E figure published, 95% DCI-P3 is narrower than the 99% models here, 60Hz refresh rate, and some listings mark this model as discontinued, so confirm availability first.
Buy it for 4K editing on a tighter tier where hardware calibration support matters. Skip it if paid color work needs a published Delta E figure, or if you need the widest Adobe RGB range for print.
BenQ PD2705U
This monitor fits designers who publish to screens, with 99 percent sRGB and 99 percent Rec.709 on a 27 inch 4K IPS panel. The BenQ PD2705U is a 27 inch IPS monitor with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a published 5 ms GtG response time in the BenQ spec.
BenQ lists 99 percent sRGB, 99 percent Rec.709, a Delta E of 3 or less, 10 bit color for 1.07 billion colors, a 1200 to 1 contrast ratio, and 250 nits typical brightness with 350 nits peak brightness in HDR. The monitor is Calman Verified and Pantone Validated, includes a Hotkey Puck G2 for fast mode switching, and connects over USB-C with 65W power delivery.
The Delta E of 3 or less is the honest limit here, because it is looser than the Delta E under 2 figures on five other models in this guide, so critical print matching needs a fresh calibration before delivery. The sRGB focus is a strength for web and app work, where the panel matches the audience screen, and the Darkroom, Animation, and CAD modes add useful presets beyond Photoshop alone.
Pros: 27 inch IPS 4K with 99% sRGB and 99% Rec.709, Calman Verified and Pantone Validated, Hotkey Puck G2 included, USB-C with 65W power delivery, 5 ms GtG, 1200 to 1 contrast.
Cons: Delta E 3 or less is looser than the Delta E under 2 models here, no wide Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 range listed, 250 nits typical brightness, and 60Hz refresh rate.
Buy it for screen-first design work where accurate sRGB matters more than print gamut. Skip it if you print in Adobe RGB, need a Delta E under 2 out of the box, or work in a bright room all day.
ViewSonic VP2756-4K
This monitor fits editors who want Pantone Validated sRGB color, with 100 percent sRGB and a Delta E under 2 on a 27 inch 4K panel. The ViewSonic VP2756-4K is a 27 inch IPS monitor with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a published 5 ms GtG response time in the ViewSonic spec.
ViewSonic lists 100 percent sRGB coverage, a Delta E under 2, Pantone Validation, 350 nits brightness, a 1000 to 1 contrast ratio, and 10 bit color with 8 bit plus frame rate control for 1.07 billion colors. The monitor connects over USB-C with 60W power delivery, includes HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, and the stand adjusts height, tilt, pivot, and swivel for a shared desk.
The narrow wide gamut range is the limit, because ViewSonic lists 78 percent Adobe RGB and 80 percent DCI-P3 coverage, so print and video work outside sRGB will clip colors this panel cannot show. The sRGB accuracy is the strength, with factory calibration and a ColorPro Verified claim, and the dual 2W speakers keep a simple desk free of extra audio hardware.
Pros: 27 inch IPS 4K with 100% sRGB and Delta E under 2, Pantone Validated, 350 nits brightness, USB-C with 60W power delivery, 5 ms GtG, full ergonomic stand, built in speakers.
Cons: 78% Adobe RGB and 80% DCI-P3 are narrow for print and video, 60Hz refresh rate, some listings show a 75Hz figure that conflicts with the 60Hz maker spec, and no wide gamut mode for DCI-P3 work.
Buy it for sRGB photo work where Pantone Validated color and a Delta E under 2 matter most. Skip it if you print in Adobe RGB, grade in DCI-P3, or need a wide gamut panel for video.
ASUS ProArt PA278QV
This monitor fits buyers who want Calman Verified color at the lowest tier here, with 100 percent sRGB on a 27 inch 1440p IPS panel. The ASUS ProArt PA278QV is a 27 inch IPS monitor with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 75Hz refresh rate, and a published 5 ms GtG response time in the ASUS spec.
ASUS lists 100 percent sRGB, 100 percent Rec.709, a Delta E under 2, Calman Verified factory calibration, 350 nits brightness, and a 1000 to 1 contrast ratio, with ProArt presets for sRGB and Rec.709 and 6 axis color adjustment. The monitor has HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, Adaptive-Sync from 48Hz to 75Hz, and an ergonomic stand that adjusts height, tilt, pivot, and swivel.
The missing USB-C port is the main gap, because a laptop needs a separate adapter or dock for video, while every other model here carries USB-C video. The 1440p resolution shows less detail than the 4K models, the panel shows 16.7 million colors from 8 bit color rather than 1.07 billion, and there is no HDR certification, so HDR preview work needs a different screen.
Pros: 27 inch IPS with 100% sRGB and Delta E under 2, Calman Verified, 350 nits brightness, 75Hz refresh rate with Adaptive-Sync, 5 ms GtG, ergonomic stand, ProArt presets.
Cons: No USB-C port, 1440p only, 8 bit color with 16.7 million colors, no HDR certification, and the 75Hz rate still trails a true high refresh gaming panel.
Buy it for the lowest cost Calman Verified entry into accurate Photoshop color. Skip it if you need USB-C video, 4K detail for fine retouching, or HDR preview work.
Buying guide for Photoshop photo editing monitors
Start with the output, because print work needs Adobe RGB, web work needs sRGB, and video work needs DCI-P3, then match the resolution to your retouching style, and finish with the connection and the stand. A screen at this tier is a set of trade-offs, so the winner is the model whose limits you notice least in daily editing work.
Matching gamut and Delta E to your output
Adobe RGB is the gamut to look for if you print, because the BenQ SW270C and the ASUS PA279CRV cover 99 percent of it, while the Dell U2723QE and the ViewSonic VP2756-4K cover far less. A Delta E under 2 is the accuracy mark for paid work, because it keeps color errors near the limit of what the eye can notice, and five models here meet it.
For web-only work, accurate sRGB matters more than a wide gamut, because the audience sees the image on sRGB screens, and a wide gamut panel in the wrong mode can make the same file look oversaturated. Use the sRGB preset when you export for the web, keep the Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 preset for print and video, and recalibrate on a regular schedule so drift does not undo the factory calibration.
Matching resolution and panel size to retouching work
4K resolution suits fine retouching, because 3840 x 2160 at 27 inches gives 163 pixels per inch, so skin texture, hair, and fine masks stay sharp at 100 percent zoom. The 1440p models here give 109 pixels per inch, so the same image shows larger pixels and less detail at once, which suits culling and global edits better than pixel level retouching.
A 27 inch screen is the sweet spot for Photoshop, because it holds the tools, layers, and canvas without crowding, while a smaller screen forces constant panel shuffling. All seven models here are 27 inch IPS screens with 178 degree viewing angles, so the choice is about resolution and gamut rather than size, and a second screen for tools is a better upgrade than a larger single panel.
Connections, calibration, and the daily setup
USB-C decides how clean the desk stays, because six models here carry video over USB-C with power delivery from 60W to 96W, while the ASUS PA278QV has no USB-C port at all. Match the wattage to your laptop, because a laptop that needs more than the port delivers will drain slowly during a long edit.
Calibration decides how long the accuracy lasts, because factory calibration is a starting point and panels drift with age and use. A screen with hardware calibration support, like the BenQ SW270C and the LG 27UP850-W, stores the correction in the monitor, while the Dell U2723QE relies on software profiles, so plan for a colorimeter if paid color work is your living.
Frequently asked questions
The questions below cover the choices that cause the most confusion after buyers have read the product sections. They focus on gamut, Delta E, and 4K versus 1440p, because those three points decide most purchases in this group, so read them before you buy.
Do the best monitors for editing photos with photoshop need 4K
No, a 4K screen is not required for accurate Photoshop work, because the BenQ SW270C and the ASUS PA278QV deliver accurate color at 1440p with published Delta E figures and wide sRGB or Adobe RGB coverage. A 4K panel adds fine detail for retouching at 100 percent zoom, with 163 pixels per inch at 27 inches against 109 at 1440p.
Choose 4K if you retouch skin, hair, and fine masks every day, and choose 1440p if you cull, grade, and publish for the web, where the lower resolution still shows color faithfully. Either way, set the display scaling so Photoshop menus stay readable, and judge color by the gamut and Delta E figures, not by the pixel count alone.
What Delta E should I look for in a Photoshop monitor
Look for a Delta E under 2 for paid color work, because that limit keeps color errors near the threshold of what the eye can notice in normal viewing. Five models here publish a Delta E under 2 or a Delta E of 2 or less, the BenQ PD2705U publishes a Delta E of 3 or less, and the LG 27UP850-W publishes no Delta E figure.
A Delta E figure is only as good as the mode it was measured in, because a panel can score well in sRGB and worse in Adobe RGB, so read which color space the maker names with the figure. Recalibrate on a regular schedule, because a Delta E under 2 out of the box drifts over months, and a fresh calibration matters more than the launch figure after a year of use.
Is Adobe RGB coverage needed for Photoshop photo editing
It depends on the output, because Adobe RGB matters for print, where the wider greens and blues survive the printer, while sRGB is enough for web-only work, where the audience screen cannot show the extra range. The BenQ SW270C and the ASUS PA279CRV cover 99 percent Adobe RGB, so they suit print workflows.
If you print sometimes and publish online most days, a wide gamut panel with an sRGB preset covers both, because you edit in Adobe RGB and export in sRGB for the web. If you never print, spend the difference on resolution, USB-C power, or a colorimeter, because an Adobe RGB panel you never use is range you paid for and never see.
Conclusion
Choose the BenQ SW270C for print work in Adobe RGB, the ASUS PA279CRV for one wide gamut 4K screen, the Dell U2723QE for a laptop hub desk, the LG 27UP850-W for value 4K, the BenQ PD2705U for sRGB design work, the ViewSonic VP2756-4K for Pantone Validated sRGB, or the ASUS PA278QV for the lowest cost Calman Verified entry.
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