Dec 16, 2021
As any seasoned pro can tell you, while there is certainly artistry involved in film and video editing, you also need the right tools to do the job well. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to throw your laptop or gaming monitor in the trash and immediately go out and buy the most expensive video editing monitor possible.
However, if you are serious about video editing, you should at least be using gear that can handle the latest video editing software and programs.
Today we’re going to look into the world of video editing monitors. And, more specifically, we’re going to outline not just what makes the best video monitor for editing, but also highlight some of our top picks for the best video editing monitors currently on the market.
We’ll get into each of these selections a bit more below, but here’s our list as a preview:
Before we get into the technical details and image quality though, we should take a step back first and ask the question: What makes a good monitor for video editing?
When looking into high-end monitors for video editing, the technical specs and details become much more important than when you’re just shopping for a gaming monitor or a laptop for work Slack and emails.
Serious video editors look for a myriad of features when trying to select the right monitor for their personal video editing workstation.
Some of these key elements include:
Size and resolution: It’s an obvious one, but important nonetheless. We’ll explore different sizes, but most professional video editors are usually looking at different price points. Resolution on the other hand is far more important — especially when video editing with modern 4K video footage (or higher).
Supported video resolutions: Similarly, it’s also important to look for a video editing monitor that supports the right video resolutions you need for your projects. As the video editing industry changes, you might need either a legacy monitor or a next-gen one to keep up with the image quality of different project files.
Color accuracy and support: Also called color range or color gamut support, this element is a key metric for working with deeper color depths to provide more detail in your post-production process.
High dynamic range (HDR) support: HDR is another key metric that calculates a monitor’s brightness level in relation to the color intensity and contrast of the images displayed on screen.
Calibration: Finally, you should be sure to check and see if your monitor’s calibration program will work with your monitor and editing workflow (and if it is up to standard for the looks you’re trying to edit and create).
Of course, there are several more video editing factors that you might want to consider like display tools, dual-monitor support, and plenty of connectivity concerns — like USB ports. But those will all ultimately depend on your specific video editing workflows and needs.
Now that we’ve covered the key elements that most filmmakers look for, , here are our top picks for the best video editing monitors currently on the market.
1. EIZO ColorEdge CG319X 31.1" 17:9 Hardware Calibration IPS Monitor
Let’s start off our list at perhaps the highest price tier that we’re going to cover. Here we have one of the best monitor options (and objectively the most powerful video editing displays) out there: the EIZO ColorEdge CG319X.
Designed for HLG and PQ curves for some true high-dynamic range editing, this 31.1-inch ultrawide monitor is the peak of calibration and performance.
You’re looking at 4096x2160 resolution, 10-bit support, and 24-bit LUT; it's an ideal monitor for the highest end of video editing and VFX work.
Price: $5,739.00
Next we have BenQ’s new SW321C 32", a 16:9 4K HDR IPS video editing monitor perfectly tailored for those working in video editing (and photo editing) professions. This SW321C 32" truly offers some of the best color accuracy and support across a myriad of video editing profiles and LUTs.
As a 3840x2160 resolution monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate, the SW321C includes 10-bit support for 1.07 billion colors and some improved RGB color blending to offer some of the truest representative viewing of your original image and final output previews.
Simply put, this is one of the best monitors on the market for a middle-tier price point that would be great for any serious studio or setup.
Price: $1,999.00
Moving down a bit in price (but without sacrificing much in terms of video editing accuracy or specs), the LG 32UL950-W 32" is one of the brand’s most vivid and immersive monitors that video editors (specifically those looking to work more with color space and correction) might enjoy.
With a 3840x2160 4K UHD resolution, 1300:1 static contrast ratio, and a brightness rating of 450 cd/m², the 32UL950-W is fully equipped for just about any video editing project under the sun.
The LG 32UL950-W is another solid video editing monitor option for those with a bit of a budget, but it won’t break the bank too badly.
Price: $1,296.99
Our first option from Dell is one of the most solid and reliable video editing monitor options that you can find right now.
While not quite a true example of a best budget monitor perhaps, the U2720Q UltraSharp 27" 16:9 is still an affordable and very powerful monitor that should be a good fit for the majority of video editors with different video editing needs.
With a 27-inch in-plane switching panel, a native resolution of 3840x2160 and support for 1.97 billion colors, this 16:9 monitor should be great for all your video editing endeavors.
Price: $779.99
BenQ is a familiar name for anyone who’s been in the market for a video editing monitor in the past, and the PD3200U 32" has proven to be one of the better and more reliable monitors for video editors of any skill set.
This 16:9 4K monitor supports 100% of the sRGB and Rec. 709 color spaces and can be used with CAD/CAM or other animation display modes. The PD3200U features a 3840x2160 native resolution with a great 1000:1 contrast ratio, plus plenty of support for color accuracy and all the built-in connectivity features that your workflow should desire.
Price: $699.99
The LG 27BN88U-B UltraFine Ergo 27" is another popular choice for the best budget monitor for video editors not looking to break the bank. It’s both innovative and ergonomic in its nimble design, and can also attach to your desk with a single clamp.
The monitor itself features a native resolution of 3840x2160 and supports HDR10 for 1.07 billion colors and plenty of brightness and response time.
Price: $624.00
Moving along, we have to highlight a smaller option from the manufacturer NEC. While maybe not the biggest name on our list, the EA271U-BK 27" is a quality 4K IPS monitor that’s really designed for a multiple monitor setup for any video editors looking to handle large projects with many components and deliverables.
With a 3840x2160 4K UHD resolution and support for 1.07 billion colors, this monitor's specs should all be on par with its competition at its price point. However, it should also offer a bit more in terms of connectivity and viewing preferences.
Price: $599.00
A slightly cheaper and more affordable companion monitor to Dell’s uber-popular U2720Q UltraSharp 27", the U2419H UltraSharp 24" is still a great option for any video editors that are on a tighter budget and open to a smaller screen size.
Still, make no mistake: The U2419H UltraSharp 24" is very capable itself with a native resolution of 1920x1080 with a 60Hz refresh rate, not to mention plenty of color support, calibration accuracy, and some slick anti-glare coating to get you plenty of viewability and dynamic range to work with.
Price: $399.99
Moving further down in price points — but without sacrificing too much in terms of accuracy or support — the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27" is a quality adaptive-sync IPS monitor tailored for those who hone their skills in the color-side of video editing work.
With its factory calibrated (and Calman-certified) color accuracy, this 2560x1440 QHD resolution monitor boasts plenty of vivid colors and a wide 178-degrees of viewing angles. It also has plenty of connectivity options and hubs for quick plug-in and access.
Price: $319.00
As you can tell from our selections, video editing monitors these days really run the gamut in terms of function and pricing. However, at the end of the day, the best monitor for video editing is the right monitor for you, not necessarily a be-all, end-all tool for video editors.
The rest of your PC buildout — as well as what software, apps, and plugins that you use — is obviously just as important as these monitors for video editing.
That being said, each of these monitors should give you all of the color accuracy, range, and functionality that you might need to be competitive in today’s video editing industry. So do your research, take inventory of your own budget and needs, and make the selection for the best monitor for video editing for you.
In the meantime, be sure to check out these additional video editing round-ups and resources here on the Soundstripe blog:
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