Best Monitors of 2021
- Screen Size: 38 inches
- Resolution: 4K UHD 1600p
- Display Type: IPS LCD
- Screen Type: UltraWide Curved
- Price: $999.99 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 34 inches
- Resolution: QHD 1440p
- Display Type: MVA
- Screen Type: Wide Curved
- Price: $699.99 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 4K UHD
- Display Type: IPS
- Screen Type: Flat
- Price: $399.00
- Screen Size: 49 inches
- Resolution: 5K UHD 2160p
- Display Type: IPS LED
- Screen Type: UltraWide Curved
- Price: $1,599.99 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: Full 1080p HD
- Display Type: IPS LCD
- Screen Type: Flat
- Price: $256.04 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 34 inches
- Resolution: QHD 1440p
- Display Type: IPS LED
- Screen Type: Wide Curved
- Price: $974.00 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 27 inches
- Resolution: QHD 1440p
- Display Type: IPS LED
- Screen Type: Flat
- Price: $409.99 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 32 inches
- Resolution: QHD 1440p
- Display Type: LED
- Screen Type: Curved
- Price: $699.99 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 32 inches
- Resolution: 6K Retina
- Display Type: IPS LCD display with oxide TFT technology
- Screen Type: Flat
- Price: $4,849.00 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 27 inches
- Resolution: 4K UHD 2160p
- Display Type: IPS LCD
- Screen Type: Flat
- Price: $610.00 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 32 inches
- Resolution: 4K UHD 2160p
- Display Type: IPS LED
- Screen Type: Flat
- Price: $699.00 at Amazon
- Screen Size: 32 inches
- Resolution: 4K UHD 2160p
- Display Type: IPS LCD
- Screen Type: Flat
- Price: $1,999.99 at Amazon
Photo by RossHelen via iStock
Choosing the best monitors of 2021 was no small task. After all, there are tons of excellent options out there for photographers of all kinds with budgets of all kinds.
Ultimately, though, we can't list every good monitor, so we've listed ten great choices for you to consider.
Whether you're a new photographer that wants to upgrade your monitor to something more capable, a professional photographer with needs for a high-end monitor with supreme color accuracy, or somewhere in between, you'll be able to find a monitor to fit your needs.
Without further ado, let's get started!
ViewSonic VP3881 38-Inch UltraWide Curved Monitor
I can personally attest to the quality of this monitor because it is my primary "daily driver" in my home office (shown above, mounted below the ViewSonic VP3481 34-Inch Widescreen Curved Monitor).
With a 38-inch ultrawide curved screen, you get an immersive viewing experience, to say the least.
Aside from the impressive view, this monitor also offers a color palette with 4.39-trillion colors. What's that mean? Well, you get ultra-precise colors and lifelike imagery that makes editing photos and videos a lot of fun.
This monitor also sports ViewSonic's ViewSplit technology, which allows you to view multiple windows at once. I can have my email open, Photoshop, a web browser, and more, all on one screen. It's awesome for multitasking!
I won't drone on and on about it because you can get all the details you need in my ViewSonic VP3881 review in the video above.
ViewSonic VP3881 Quick Specs:
ViewSonic VP3481 34-Inch Widescreen Curved Monitor
As I noted earlier, I have this monitor mounted above my VP3881 to give me loads of monitor real estate for getting my work done.
If a 38-inch monitor is a little too big for your needs (or your desk), this 34-inch monitor is a great alternative.
You get the same ViewSplit technology and incredible 4.39-trillion color palette to work with. Likewise, you still get a nice, immersive viewing experience with a 34-inch curved display.
Like the larger VP3881, the VP3481 offers easy hardware calibration, HDR10 support, tons of connectivity options, and 6-axis color enhancement.
Not sure if the VP3881 or VP3481 is better-suited for your needs? Check out my comparison of these two top monitors!
Or, if you're like me and you need a lot of screen space, you can always invest in both monitors and stack them as I've done in the images above. It makes for an awesome workspace, I can tell you that!
ViewSonic VP3481 Quick Specs:
Desklab Ultralight Portable 4K Touchscreen Monitor
When you think "portable monitor," you probably don't think of something that's an all-in-one solution. Yet, the Desklab 4K touchscreen monitor is exactly that.
Not only is this an ultralight monitor, but it's a 4K screen with speakers, charging ports for your accessories, and dongles, too.
Let's talk about the size and weight first...
It weighs around one pound, which is less than an iPad. It's just 6mm thick and has a 15.6-inch screen. In other words, this is a monitor you can slide into your briefcase and easily take with you without sacrificing a nice, big screen for getting your work done.
In terms of features, this thing is fully loaded. You get an ultra-responsive touchscreen that is twice as bright as competing monitors. The screen offers low flicker, low blue light, and anti-glare technologies to help keep eye strain at bay. There's a magnetic stand, dual hi-fi speakers, a portable charger, and universal compatibility with all cables and operating systems as well.
Heck, you can even plug your phone into it and scale up your phone's screen to a brilliant 15.6-inch 4K display.
When you're on the go and need to get work done, this is an ideal monitor choice. There's no worry about compatibility and no concern about the quality of the images shown on screen. As I've discovered over the last few weeks of testing this monitor, it is a rock star when it comes to color rendition, flexibility, portability, and ease of use.
Desklab Ultralight Portable 4K Touchscreen Quick Specs:
LG 49WL95C-W 49-Inch UltraWide Curved Monitor
Go big or go home, right?
If you're after a really big screen, it's hard not to consider this LG 49WL95C-W as a top option.
With a 49-inch diagonal screen, you can get your eyes on a lot of different tasks all at the same time.
Like the ViewSonic VP3881 and VP3481 discussed above, this monitor has HDR10 support to give you a more full viewing experience.
With LG's DualController 2.0, you can more easily manage the devices you have connected to the monitor. Likewise, you get easy on-screen control over display settings with just a few clicks of the mouse. That's handy for making on-the-fly customizations based on the tasks at hand.
This monitor comes with a USB-C type connection, built-in speakers, and an ambient light sensor to adjust the screen brightness automatically.
It's a pricey option, but you get what you pay for! That's why this is one of the best monitors of 2021.
LG 49WL95C-W Quick Specs:
ViewSonic TD1655 15.6-Inch Portable Touchscreen Monitor
For those of you that need a monitor for on-the-go needs, the ViewSonic TD1655 should be at the top of your list.
With a 15.6-inch screen, you get a nice-sized display for daily tasks, photo editing, or whatever tasks you might have at hand. And since this is a touchscreen monitor, you get the ease of use of simply tapping the screen to get your work done.
Speaking of the touch screen, it offers a 10-point projected capacitive FHD display that makes writing, tapping, and swiping a smooth and natural process.
From a connectivity standpoint, this monitor has a 2-way powered USB C and dual USB-C ports. You can use this monitor with laptops and PCs, as well as machines with Apple OS that have a Mini-HDMI 1.4 and USB-C input.
The monitor has a cover with an integrated stand for ease of use, as well as flicker-free technology and a blue light filter to offer you a more comfortable viewing experience.
ViewSonic TD1655 Quick Specs:
If you don't need a touchscreen but still want the portability of the ViewSonic TD1655, you can opt for the non-touch version, the ViewSonic VG1655. You get the same size screen, the same specs and features, the same connectivity, and so forth. But you'll pay $149.99 instead of $256.04.
LG 34GP83A-B 34-Inch UltraGear Widescreen Curved Monitor
Though this monitor was built for gaming, it certainly has its usefulness for photographers.
Like the other curved monitors on this list, this monitor offers a widescreen, immersive experience for viewing your images, videos, and other tasks.
The monitor has virtually no bezel, so all that space is dedicated to displaying your work in beautiful, crisp detail. And from an ergonomic standpoint, the monitor is tiltable and height adjustable to give you a more comfortable viewing experience.
This monitor also offers superb colors that are pure, vibrant, and color accurate. That's thanks in part to the fact that this is a 1ms Nano IPS display with QHD resolution.
And if you're into gaming, you can rest assured that the ultra-fast 1ms response rate, 144Hz refresh rate, and NVIDIA G-Sync and Radeon FreeSync compatibility will help give you a visual experience with minimal tearing and stuttering.
LG 34GP83A-B Quick Specs:
Asus TUF VG27AQ 27-Inch Monitor
This 27-inch monitor from ASUS represents good value without skimping on the features.
The 2560x1440 IPS display with a 165Hz refresh rate and G-SYNC compatibility is perfect for gaming, though it'll get the job done for daily tasks in the office as well.
You'll enjoy Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync technology with a 1ms response time that helps eliminate ghosting and tearing.
This monitor also has eye care technology that will help minimize eye strain on those long days of work. Additionally, there's a height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjusting-stand that allows you to position the monitor precisely how you need it.
Like other higher-priced options on this list, this monitor also supports HDR10 for improved color and brightness levels that will come in handy when viewing images and videos.
Asus TUF VG27AQ Quick Specs:
Samsung Odyssey G7 32-Inch Curved Monitor
At 32 inches, this Samsung monitor gives you a nice, wide screen without being so large that it takes up your entire desk.
This monitor is a 1000R curved panel, so it maximizes your immersion in what you're doing while matching the curvature of your eyes to minimize eye strain.
Whether you're editing images or playing games, you'll appreciate the WQHD resolution of this monitor, which features a higher pixel density than typical Full HD monitors. Needless to say, your images will be detailed and pin-sharp!
Like other gaming monitors on this list, this Samsung offers NVIDIA G-SYNC and FREESYNC support. This means that the monitor can match every frame from your graphics card. The 240Hz refresh rate isn't bad, either!
This monitor also features Infinity core lighting that will add a nice visual addition to your desktop.
Samsung Odyssey G7 Quick Specs:
Apple Pro XDR 6K Retina 32-Inch Display
All you Apple fans out there were probably wondering when we'd get to an Apple Pro display. Well, this 32-inch XDR 6K Retina monitor is definitely worth the wait!
This is the first 32-inch monitor to ever have 6K Retina resolution. If you've never seen a 6K Retina display before, it's nothing if not impressive.
Not only do you get extreme dynamic range with deep blacks and bright whites, but you also get 1000 nits sustained and 1600 nits peak. In other words, this display gives you a big, beautiful, bright show with a superb contrast ratio.
One of the best features of this monitor is its ultra-wide viewing angle. This is achieved by using polarizer technology that enables multiple people from multiple angles to view the screen in all its glory.
In fact, according to Apple, this screen offers off-axis contrast that's 25 times better than a normal LCD monitor.
For comfort, you can adjust the height, tilt, and rotation of the display with a Pro Stand. You can even turn the display from landscape to portrait mode if you need!
Now, this is a very expensive display. But for Apple users with professional-grade display needs, it could be worth the price.
Apple Pro XDR 6K Retina Quick Specs:
Dell U2720Q 27-Inch Monitor
This 27-inch backlit LED IPS monitor offers a sleek design for your desktop as well as consistent, vibrant colors for your photo and video editing needs.
You get easy connectivity with DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB options. There's also an audio line out.
The display is fully adjustable with tilt, swivel, and pivot options. It has anti-glare properties and LED backlighting to help minimize eye strain as well.
The thin profile of this monitor is great for small spaces, and you get some high-end features you might not find on other monitors of this size.
The 4K UHD IPS display is clear and vibrant. You also benefit from a wide viewing angle for those occasions when you need to bring a group together to view the screen.
This monitor has VESA compatible mounting holes on the back, too, so you can mount it to the wall if you wish.
Dell U2720Q Quick Specs:
BenQ PD3200U 32-Inch Monitor
BenQ's PD3200U monitor offers a variety of features you might not expect at this price point.
For starters, you get AQColor technology that covers sRGB, Adobe RGB, and Rec.709 color spaces. This gives you the brightest, most accurate colors possible.
You also benefit from DualView technology which allows you to display images or videos side-by-side. This functionality is pantone validated.
Ergonomically speaking, you can tilt, twist, or turn the screen as needed. It's height-adjustable and can also rotate to portrait mode if need be. Low Blue Light Technology, Brightness Intelligence, and ZeroFlicker filters help minimize eye strain as well.
You can even hook up two different computers to a single screen and use the Keyboard Video Mouse to display files from either machine.
BenQ PD3200U Quick Specs:
BenQ SW321C 32-Inch Monitor
Like the other BenQ monitor discussed above, this 32-inch option offers excellent color rendition. With AQColor technology, you get broad color spaces with excellent accuracy.
In fact, this monitor captures 99 percent of Adobe RGB, 100 percent of sRGB, 100 percent of Rec. 709, and 95 percent of P3 color spaces. BenQ offers factory calibration for colors as well.
On top of that, this monitor supports HDR 10 and HLG formats.
For those of you that edit videos, this monitor supports 24p and 25p frame rates. This enables the display to show videos at a native cadence without pulldown or distortion.
Other features include a USB-C port, Advanced Black & White Mode, 10-bit color depth, a detachable shading hood, and paper color sync for screen-to-print color matching.
