The 5 Best Monitors For Video Editing - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best monitor for video editing that we've tested is the Dell U2723QE. It's an excellent monitor for video editors and has many features to improve your workflow. Its 4k resolution helps deliver sharp images, meaning you can see tons of details in your videos; this is also important if you need to edit videos in 4k. It has a dedicated sRGB mode that results in excellent accuracy in SDR, and it also displays a wide range of colors if you edit videos in HDR. Its 27-inch screen size lets you multitask with different windows open, but if you want something even bigger, the Dell U3223QE is another option. However, it costs more and undersaturates colors in HDR, which isn't ideal for HDR video editing.

As this is a high-end monitor, it also has premium features, like its massive USB hub. It has five USB-A and three USB-C ports, so it's very easy to connect to other devices. One of its USB-C inputs supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power delivery, which is ideal if you want to connect your laptop. It also has a KVM switch that makes it easier to multitask with different devices.

If you work with a long video timeline and find a 27-inch screen too small, consider an ultrawide monitor like the LG 40WP95C-W. You'll have to pay a price premium for the size upgrade, and it isn't as good as the Dell U2723QE to use in well-lit rooms because it doesn't get as bright, but it's still great for video editing. The large 40-inch screen and 21:9 aspect ratio allow you to see more of your video timeline at once. Its 5120x2160 resolution results in a similar pixel density to a 4k, 32-inch monitor, which helps deliver sharp images and text. It also offers great connectivity thanks to its two Thunderbolt 4 ports that support 96W of power.

Like the Dell, it has a dedicated sRGB mode that results in excellent image accuracy without any oversaturated colors in SDR. Even in HDR, it displays a wide range of colors accurately in the commonly-used DCI-P3 color space. It also has decent viewing angles, so the image remains fairly consistent when viewing from the sides. This is important if you need to share the screen with a coworker or client.

If you aren't a fan of ultrawide displays or prefer saving money, check out the Dell S2722QC, which often goes on sale for cheaper too. With a smaller screen than the LG 40WP95C-W, you can't see as much of your video timeline at once, but that's normal if you want to save some money anyways. It has a 27-inch, 4k screen, and it's a step-down model from the Dell U2723QE, so it has fewer features as it lacks a dedicated sRGB mode. This means that most colors are oversaturated in the sRGB color space, and you may need to calibrate it for perfect accuracy. However, the image accuracy is still decent enough for casual editors.

Another difference between this monitor and the U2723QE is that it has a smaller USB hub with only two USB-A ports and a USB-C port. However, you can still easily connect to its via USB-C thanks to its DisplayPort Alt Mode with 65W of power delivery, but it doesn't have extra perks like a KVM switch. If you don't need any USB ports, you can also get the Dell S2721QS for much cheaper, and its picture quality is similar to the S2722QC.

While the Dell S2722QC sometimes goes on sale for budget-friendly prices, if you see it available at its regular price and prefer a true budget monitor, there are some options. One is the Gigabyte M27Q, which has a lower 1440p resolution than the Dell S2722QC. This means images aren't as sharp, but this is the trade-off for getting something cheaper. It also uses a BGR subpixel layout, as opposed to the RGB subpixel layout found on most monitors. This negatively impacts the text clarity, like the elements of your video editing software, but it doesn't affect the overall picture quality. Speaking of which, one advantage it has over the Dell monitor is that it displays a wider range of colors in SDR and HDR, which helps improve your video editing experience. It also has a dedicated sRGB picture mode with excellent accuracy before calibration.

Despite being a low-cost monitor, it has a few productivity features, like a USB-C input that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. This lets you display an image from a compatible laptop. However, because it's limited to only 10W of power delivery, you may need to connect an external power source to the laptop to keep the battery going.

If you're getting into video editing for the first time and don't want to spend much on a monitor, a cheap option like the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx is a good alternative to the Gigabyte M27Q. As expected for something in this price range, it has a smaller 24-inch screen than the Gigabyte and has a lower 1080p resolution. This means that images aren't as sharp; however, the image clarity is still decent, and it's fine if you want to use it as your secondary monitor in a multi-display setup. It also has remarkable ergonomics that make it easy to adjust and has wide viewing angles if you need to share your screen with someone else.

It's good for video editing because it has great accuracy before calibration thanks to its sRGB mode, but you still may need to calibrate it for the most accurate colors. It displays a wide range of colors in SDR, but unfortunately, its HDR performance is limited as it doesn't display a wide range of colors. However, that's normal for simple monitors like this one, and you'll need to spend more to get better HDR performance.