The 5 Best Monitors For Video Editing - Black Friday 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 and high pixel density help deliver sharp images, and you can see tons of details in your videos. It has a dedicated sRGB mode that results in excellent accuracy in SDR, and it also displays a wide range of colors 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 connecting different devices is very easy. 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 and charge it using a single cable. It also has a KVM switch that makes it easier to multitask with different devices, like if you need to edit videos with multiple computers connected to the monitor.

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 premium for the size upgrade, but the large 40-inch screen and 21:9 aspect ratio allow you to see more of your video timeline simultaneously. Its 5120x2160 resolution results in a slightly lower pixel density than the Dell U2723QE, but it delivers a ton of details and sharp images, and fantastic text clarity. While it doesn't have as many USB ports as the Dell, it still offers great connectivity thanks to its two Thunderbolt 4 ports, which are ideal if you have a Mac computer that supports Thunderbolt 4.

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 accurately displays a wide range of colors in the commonly used DCI-P3 color space. It also has decent viewing angles, so the image remains consistent when viewed from different angles. This is important if you need to share the screen with a coworker or client, or even when sitting in the center of the screen and looking at the edges.

If you aren't a fan of ultrawide displays or prefer getting something cheaper, check out the Dell S2722QC, which often goes on sale for a budget-friendly price. With a smaller screen than the LG 40WP95C-W, you can't see as much of your video timeline at once, but that's the trade-off if you want to save some money anyway. It has a 27-inch, 4k screen, and it's a step-down model from the Dell U2723QE, so it has fewer features and lacks a dedicated sRGB mode. Because of this, most colors are oversaturated in the sRGB color space, so you'll need to calibrate it for perfect accuracy, but it's 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 it 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 a bit cheaper, and its picture quality is similar to the S2722QC.

If you can't find the Dell S2722QC within your budget, there are some good budget monitors you can get as alternatives. One is the Gigabyte M27Q P, which has a lower 1440p resolution than the Dell, meaning images are less detailed, but this is the downside of getting a budget monitor. One advantage it has over the Dell model 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, so you may not need to calibrate it.

Despite being a low-cost monitor, it has a few productivity features, like a USB-C input that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, which lets you display an image from a compatible laptop and charge it using a single cable. However, because it's limited to only 18W of power delivery, you'll need to connect an external power source to your laptop to charge it. If you want something with higher power delivery, you can also consider the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV, which also delivers accurate colors but doesn't support HDR.

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 P. As expected for something in this price range, it has a smaller 24-inch screen than the Gigabyte and a lower 1080p resolution. Images aren't as detailed, but because the pixel density isn't significantly lower, it's good enough if you need a simple display for editing.

It's good for video editing because it has great accuracy before calibration thanks to its sRGB mode, but you still 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 support a wide color gamut. However, that's normal for simple monitors like this one, and you'll need to spend more to get better HDR performance. If you don't need HDR, you can also consider the cheaper ASUS VG246H, but it doesn't perform as well in a bright room as it's dimmer than the Acer.