Ultrawide monitors have most certainly opened new horizons for many fields. From gaming to designing, everything has benefited from the capabilities of these displays.
There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that over years the trend of photo editing monitors has seemed to gain pace particularly because of their unparalleled colors.
Therefore, in this article, we will have a look at the best Ultrawide monitors for Photo Editing.
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Comparison of Selected Ultrawide Monitors for Photo Editing
| Model | Size | Resolution | Panel Type | Total Colors | Color Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ViewSonic VP3881 | 38 | 3840 × 1600 | IPS | 1.07 Billion (10 Bit) | 300 nits, 100% sRGB, EBU, SMPTE-C, REC. 709, 14 Bit LUT, Delta E < 2 | See details |
| Dell U3818DW | 38 | 3840 × 1600 | IPS | 1.07 Billion (10 Bit) | 350 nits, 99% sRGB, 99% Rec 709, 78.1% DCI-P3 | See details |
| Samsung C34J791 | 34 | 3440 x 1440 | VA | 16.7 Million (8 Bit) | 300 nits, Quantum Dot Display, 125% sRGB, 90% Adobe RGB | See details |
| LG 34UC80-B | 34 | 3440x1440 | IPS | 1.07 Billion (10 Bit) | 300 nits, 99% sRGB | See details |
| LG 29WK600 -W | 29 | 2560 x 1080 | IPS | 16.7 Million (8 Bit) | 300 nits, 99% sRGB, HDR10 | See details |
TL;DR
We recommend the View Sonic VP3881 as the best all rounder ultrawide monitor for photo editing.
However, if you are on a budget you can consider LG 34UC80-B in the 34 inch category or LG 29WK600-W in the 29 inch category.
Continuing On…
Be it a graphic designer, a photo editor or just a student, in photo editing what matters the most is an effective display that helps in giving a practical depiction to the creative ideas one has.
Photo editing monitors are much needed when it comes to providing a professional touch to your pictures.
First and foremost, the accuracy of colors is one big important feature. The monitor should be such that it enables the display of images with regard to catering to the requirements of globally recognized specifications.
The fact that whether or not the respective picture will end up looking same no matter the device, holds great importance in the eyes of a professional photo editor.
You may also be interest: Photo editing monitors under $300
List of Ultrawide Monitors for Photo Editing
Here is a quick and short list of the selected ultrawide monitors for photo editing.
- View Sonic VP3881 – 38″- All Rounder
- Dell U-Series U3818DW – 38” – Highly Reviewed
- Samsung C34J791 – 34 Inch – Quantum Dot Display With ThunderBolt 3
- LG 34UC80-B – 34-Inch – Affordable Option for This Screen Size
- LG 29WK600-W – 29 Inch – Cheapest 29 Inch Ultrawide
Short Reviews of the Selected
1. View Sonic VP3881 – 38″- All Rounder
This is by far the most all encompassing monitor in this list.
From a large display and a resolution to high end color perfection features, this monitor has them all.
Unfortunately, as you may have guessed it, this monitor is also the most expensive one in this list.
For starters this photo editing monitor provides its user with a chance to experience a complete view catering to a curve of a good 2300R.
The images that come out are vivid, panoramic and with some remarkable detailing. It boasts a high end IPS panel that provides coverage for sRGB, EBU, REC. 709 etc color gamuts.
This monitor offers an HDR10, which is generally the hallmark for almost all photo editing monitors these days. As we have mentioned in the FAQ Section, this feature enhances the color space thus this monitor offers a lot more colors to display.
It also has delta E<2 which helps in color accuracy and is the measure of error in color reproduction. Therefore, you won’t have to spend time calibrating this monitor.
Speaking of calibration, this monitor offers the user to take advantage of hardware calibration so you can set the color profile as you like.
Whatever colors are being used, it does not fall short in creating a match with real life.
If you are looking for a monitor that contains a 14-bit 3D LUT then this might just be the one for you, since it does carry one. The palette available for use in this monitor carries an astounding 4.39 trillion colors.
You can compare this to the mere 16.7 million colors carried by conventional 8 bit monitors.
As far as performance and value for money goes, this is one of the best Ultrawide monitors for Photo Editing.
Essential: 38″, 3840×1600, IPS panel, HDR10, Curved 2300R, 14 Bit 3D LUT,
Response Time: 7 ms
Connections: 2 x HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort, USB 3.1 Type C, USB 3.0 Hub
Speakers: 2 x 5 Watts
VESA Mount: Yes
- The curvature of the body makes it possible to have the complete view in one take.
- It covers the sRGB, EBU and Rec. 709 color space for various industries.
- The HDR10 offered with this monitor means more colors for display which goes well with photo editing.
- You won’t have to spend time calibrating the monitor since it already has calibration offering E < 2.
- A wide range of colors available to provide the detailing in the photos due to the 14 bit 3D LUT.
- It is one of the most expensive monitors.
- Despite its price it lacks support for Adobe RGB space.
- The sound quality is not as good as one expects from a monitor of this caliber.
2. Dell U-Series U3818DW – 38” – Highly Reviewed
This monitor is included in this list because it has been highly liked and reviewed by its customers.
Those of you who are aware of the Ultrasharp Series by Dell would know that these monitors are top of the class and tend to feature the most exquisite specifications. This particular display follows in suit.
In this photo editing monitor, you will be able to edit all your pictures with a visual experience worth trying.
The experience is quite immersive since the monitor comes with an infinity edge and curved screen in addition to the 38″ screen size and WQHD resolution.
Although this monitor does not offer 14 Bit 3D LUT like the ViewSonic monitor above, it does cover all of the professional color spaces like sRGB, REC 79 and DCI-P3.
Another great feature on this monitor is the PIP/PBP function. This allows the user to connect two input devices to the monitor and display them at the same time side by side.
The user is provided with a chance to connect this monitor to any Bluetooth device or even 6 compatible RF devices at one time.
Its KVM feature allows you to edit the pictures while making use of two separate PCs while only one set of mouse and keyboard
Unfortunately, this monitor lacks the HDR feature.
Read more about: Dell Editing Displays
Essential: 38″, 3840 x 1600, IPS, 99% sRGB, 99% Rec 709, 78.1% DCI-P3, Curved-2300R, KVM Switch
Response Time: 5 ms
Adjustments: Height, Swivel Tilt
Connections: 1 x DP 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0 Hub, Audio Line Out, USB Type-C
Speakers: 2x9W
VESA: Yes
- Due to the infinity edge and curved screen the viewing experience is quite interactive.
- Cover myriad of color spaces namely sRGB, REC 79 and DCI-P3.
- The side by side display of two devices is supported with the PIP/PBP feature.
- No HDR feature available on this monitor which means detailing is not its best feature.
- The contrast ratio is quite average when compared with the price.
3. Samsung C34J791 – 34 Inch – Quantum Dot Display With ThunderBolt 3
This photo editing monitor comes with a unique feature called Thunderbolt 3 USB Type C Port.
If you don’t know the difference between a normal USB Type C and a Thunderbolt 3 port, then have a read at the FAQ Section.
In short, Thunderbolt 3 carries the most amount of data per second and thus can be used as the primary source of video input.
Mac users would rejoice at hearing about the Thunderbolt 3 port. Since Thunderbolt 3 charges the connected device as well, you would not need to have power adapter connected to your Mac. Overall, this would make your desk look a lot cleaner.
As far as the screen is concerned, this monitor offers 34 inch screen with WQHD resolution and a VA panel.
There are few differences here when you compare this monitor with the 38 inch monitors listed above. The first is that it offers WQHD instead of WQHD+ resolution i.e 1440 vs 1600 (on the vertical scale). The second is that it does not offer an IPS panel.
Usually IPS is considered as the go to panel for photo editing and designing work, however, with the quantum dot display, the VA panel on this screen does wonders.
It offers the highest static contrast ratio of any panel i.e 3000:1, wide viewing angles for color uniformity and also covers 125% of sRGB color space.
Furthermore, this monitor offers a higher refresh rate of 100hz as compared to 60 Hz on conventional monitors, offers AMD FreeSync for gaming purposes and has speakers 2X7W.
The feature which helps the user to bring about life like originality to the pictures is its quantum dot technology with regard to the color coverage. Although this monitor does not carry a 14-bit 3D LUT but the display is incredible.
All in all, while this does not boast an IPS panel, its color space coverage and the Quantum Dot display can potentially make this one of the best Ultrawide monitors for Photo Editing.
Essential: 34″, 3440 x 1440 , VA, 125% sRGB, 92% Adobe RGB, PBP/PIP, 100Hz
Response Time: 4 ms
Adjustments: Height, Tilt
Connections: 2 x Thunderbolt 3.0, DP, HDMI, USB Hub
Speakers: 2x7W
VESA: Yes
- Thunderbolt 3 connectors which mean high data rate allowing it to be primary source of video input.
- Very powerful speakers, AMD FreeSync technology and a higher refresh rate makes it beneficial in terms of gaming too.
- Highest static contrast ratio and 125% coverage of sRGB color space means the picture quality achieved is crisp.
- No HDR support for gaming available.
- No support for gamut other than the sRGB.
- It doesn’t offer 4K resolution as many monitors of the same price range do.
- Doesn’t have the wider 38 inch rather is limited to 34 inch screen.
4. LG 34UC80-B – 34-Inch – Affordable Option for 34 Inch Screen Size
In the 34 inch Ultrawide category, this is the cheapest monitor that offers all the necessary color enhancing features.
There most certainly are even cheaper 34 inch monitors out there, but they either lack in resolution or do not cover the required color spaces.
This LG 34UC80-B, like the rest of monitor mentioned above, is a curved Ultra Wide display that has beautiful looks to complement it.
It offers a QHD resolution along with a high quality IPS panel for photo editing and designing.
It offers a native 10 bit color depth meaning it offers a billion colors and also cover 100% of the sRGB color space.
When it comes to ease of use and adjustability, this monitor is highly comfortable. Not only does this monitor have an adjustable stand that can tilt and elevate, it also has built in features like Screen Split 2.0 that can enhance your multitasking experience.
Just as an added bonus, it also has a USB 3.0 quick charge port so that you can charge your phone or other devices through it.
Essentials: IPS, Ultra WQHD, 34 Inch, 1 Billion Colors, Screen Split, 100% sRGB coverage
Response Time: 5 ms
Adjustments: Height, Tilt
Connections: 2 x HDMI, DisplayPort, USB Hub
Speakers:NO
VESA: Yes
- Offers QHD resolution with the IPS panel that is a go-to for the photo editing business.
- It covers the sRGB color space 100% and also supports 10 bit color depth offering lively colors.
- The screen split 2.0 allows a smooth multi-tasking experience.
- Due to a smaller screen in the world of ultra wide screens it doesn’t have great angles for viewing.
- There are no built-in speakers for this model.
- Adjustments don’t allow swivel.
5. LG 29WK600-W – 29 Inch – Cheapest 29 Inch Ultrawide Monitor for Photo Editing
If 34 inch and the 38 inch Ultrawide monitors in this list are out of your budget, then this should tickle your fancy.
This by far is the cheapest ultrawide monitor in the list. One reason is that it is the smallest, the other is that it is one of those rare gems in the market.
There are other 29 inch Ultrawide monitors out there but none compare to the value of this.
To give you an idea about how large this monitor would be: it would have the same height as a conventional 24 inch monitor but would have about 30% more width in comparison.
The best part about this monitor is that it costs only as much as a quality 24 inch monitor would.
Now this monitor is definitely a photo editing monitor. For starters it covers 99% of the sRGB color space and at the same time it is even compatible with HDR 10.
Even the more expensive monitors do not offer HDR 10 compatibility at the moment.
Like most LG ultrawide monitors, this also tends to increase your comfort with multitasking by offering Screen Split functionality
You can certainly call his monitor a jack of all trades since it covers all the bases including that off a great price tag.
Therefore, as far as the performance/dollar value is concerned this could well be the best ultrawide monitor for photo editing.
Essentials: IPS, 2560 x 1080, 29″. 99% sRGB coverage, AMD FreeSync. HDR10
Connections: 2xHDMI, DisplayPort
Speakers: 2×5 W
VESA: Yes
Response Time: 5 ms
- The width of this 29 inch monitor is 30% more than a conventional 24 inch monitor and the bigger the screen the better for photo editors.
- The HDR 10 capability at this price range with 99% coverage of sRGB space makes this monitor stand out.
- Offers Screen split letting you multitask.
- There is height adjustment support and the tilt it offers is also limited.
- The custom monitor presets can’t be saved on this.
FAQ
What is the Difference Between Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C
Many Ultrawide Monitors for Photo Editing come with USB Type C ports. You may have heard of USB Type C being featured in almost all devices these days ranging from smartphones to monitors. However, what you may not have realized that they are not all the same.
There is a big difference between USB Type C and Thunderbolt 3 port. In fact, there are various different version of USB Type C that are built for different purposes and carry different amount of data. Thunberbolt 3 just happens to be the epitome and carries the most amount of data.
Even though they all look the same, they serve different purposes. Some function at the rate of USB 2.0, some offer upto 10 Gb/s of data transfer and other offer display connectivity.
Thunderbolt 3, on the other hand, combines all of these functionalities into one. Thus, it is the ultimate USB Type C port in the market. It is also essential for interfacing with Apple Macbooks.
You can learn more about the difference between Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type C in the video below.
What is HDR in the Ultrawide Monitors for Photo Editing?
The term HDR stands for high dynamic range, which is a special type of imaging that plays a role of a helping hand in photography and photo editing.
HDR basically enhances the brightness, colors and luminosity of an image to give you more details in the brightest and darkest patches of an image that would otherwise be lost.
Therefore those who ask whether HDR is worth it or not, well for a photographer, it most definitely is.
What is 14-bit 3D LUT?
Look up Tables or LUT are basically color correction features. They can take a digital value and display them into corresponding colors. There are two types of LUTs, 1D and 3D. 1D LUTs are used by conventional monitors however, if you need the most precise color reproduction, then 3D LUT is used.
The 1D LUT come usually in two variants i.e 8 Bit and 10 Bit that produce 16.7 million to 1.07 billion colors respectively. Since 8 bit means that each RGB color only has 256 possibilities to work with, it will sooner or later phase out to make way for 10 bit as the standard.
Therefore, the higher the bit count, the higher the color pallete thus the more precise would the tonal transitions be. A 14 bit 3D LUT produces 4.39 trillion colors.
The basic idea here is that the higher the Bit count, the higher is the availability of colors. Logic dictates that the more the color a screen has, the more precise images it would produce. Think of a monitor as an artists that is constantly creating pictures. If you give it a lot of colors and different shades to work with, it’ll create masterpieces.
What are Color Spaces?
Understanding color spaces is important before you select from the best ultrawide monitors for photo editing. Color space is basically a range of colors. Think of an industry defined color space as a small chunk of the overall colors that are available in the visible spectrum.
As it turns out, our eyes can see a lot more colors than what any monitor can produce. In fact, each medium has a specific set of color. For example. sRGB is an industry name for a color space that are produced on a digital display device.
Similarly, when you print something out, the colors on the printed material resemble the color space defined by the Adobe RGB. Likewise, the colors that you see in cinemas or on projection devices resemble the industry color space called DCI-P3.
Knowing all the color space is extremely important for a photo editor. If you are working on physical magazine or a billboard, then you must have a monitor that covers Adobe RGB color space. On the other hand, if your final product will be limited to viewing on digital devices, like web or app designing, then sRGB will suffice.
Among other things, what separates a high performance monitor from the rest is the amount of color spaces that it covers.
Conclusion
The definition of the best ultrawide monitor for photo editing differs from person to person. The bottom line here is that there is a huge selection of monitors that you can find for this particular.
As a buyer, you need to decide on your budget first and your preferred screen. What we would suggest is that you look for a monitor that 100% sRGB color space at the minimum and has a true 8 bit IPS panel.
Another important consideration is resolution. If you plan to go for 34 inch ultrawide monitor we recommend you find a monitor that offers Ultra WQHD resolution if not 4k. Furthermore, we suggest a resolution of 3840 x 1600 for 38 inch monitors.
The bottom line is that you must have a parity between screen size and resolution. Just as a high resolution on a small sized monitor doesn’t make sense, low resolution on a large screen monitor is not recommended.