When it comes to editing and color grading your footage, having a professional-grade monitor is absolutely a must, especially if you want to view and deliver your content in the best way possible – colored seamlessly so that it can look perfect on virtually any screen.
Besides being color accurate across multiple color spaces, the unit you pick needs to have extensive connectivity options for various workflows as well as it should provide plenty of screen real estate to house comfortably the different editing panes of your NLE of choice. With that in mind, YouTube Channel 10BestOnes has recently ranked the five best monitors for creative professions in 2018.
Of course, while newer models from various companies have been released since the release of the video, the monitors listed above still hold their own with display technologies that will satisfy even the most demanding content creators. So, without further ado, let’s get down to business and take a closer look at each offering.
Dell UltraSharp U3417W 34″ 21:9 Curved IPS Monitor (B&H, Amazon)
With its ultra-wide aspect ratio, color-grade-ready panel, and the healthy inclusion of I/O, the Dell U3417W is definitely worthy of consideration for creative professionals. The monitor sports a black and grey bezel-free 10-bit curved IPS panel with a resolution of 3440×1440, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and 300 nits of brightness all while providing 90% coverage of the sRGB color space.
In addition to the color-accurate display, the monitor comes with some extra features such as the inclusion of an adjustable stand with swivel, tilt, and height adjust. Plus, there is an abundant array of I/O you can take advantage of, including HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, Full-Sized DisplayPort, Audio Out, and USB 3.0. As a bonus, Dell has also included integrated 18W speakers to the U3417W.
Dell UltraSharp U3417W 34″ 21:9 Curved IPS Monitor Highlights
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BenQ SW2700PT 27″ Widescreen LED Backlit QHD Monitor (B&H, Amazon)
While the BenQ SW2700PT doesn’t have a fancy curved display like some of the other rivals in this comparison, its professional-grade feature set has a lot to offer in return. Not only does the monitor boast a 2K QHD resolution, but the 10-bit IPS display itself provides 5ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, and 350 nits of brightness while covering whopping 99% of the Adobe RGB color space. To add to the SW2700PT’s value, BenQ has also included calibration software to ensure that the display is always producing accurate colors.
Furthermore, the rectangular stand that supports the monitor is adjustable in terms of height, tilt, swivel, and pivot, allowing you to setup the monitor for the most comfortable viewing experience. Speaking of comfort, the matte coating on the display eliminates glare for easier content-viewing, in addition to reducing eye strain and fatigue.
In terms of I/O, the BenQ SW2700PT pulls out all the stops by including DisplayPort, DVI Dual-Link, HDMI, USB 3.0, an SD Card Reader, and more. The OSD controller is another nice touch as it allows rapid preset switching and ease of navigation within the monitor’s menus.
BenQ SW2700PT 27″ Widescreen LED Backlit QHD Monitor Highlights
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ASUS PA328Q 32″ 16:9 4K/UHD IPS Monitor (B&H, Amazon)
From ASUS comes the PA328Q, another non-curved yet hard-hitting 4K monitor that will surely delight content creators. The unit comes equipped with a 10-bit IPS panel with a UHD resolution of 3840×1260 complete with support for 1,073.7 million colors and a 12-bit look-up table. The monitor is pre-calibrated right out fo the factory, contributing to the 100% coverage of both the sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces, in addition to supporting Rec. 709.
Other features include a height, tilt, and swivel adjustable stand, on-screen overlay for accurate sizing of documents before print, ASUS Eye Care Technology to reduce eye strain and fatigue, and TUF Certification, ensuring that the monitor is built to last. Users can choose from a variety of inputs including DisplayPort 1.2 and Mini DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI inputs, and one HDMI-1/MHL 3.0 port alongside a headphone jack.
ASUS PA328Q 32″ 16:9 4K/UHD IPS Monitor Highlights
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LG 34UC98-W 34″ 21:9 Curved IPS Monitor (B&H, Amazon)
The LG 34UC98-W is regarded as one of the most popular ultra-wide monitors available on the market these days. The 21:9 curved QHD IPS display comes with a resolution of 3440×1440, 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, 300 nits of brightness providing a decent amount of screen real estate for expanded timeline views and unparalleled multi-tasking performance. Creative professionals will rejoice in the fact that this display covers 99% of the sRGB color space, resulting in accurate color reproduction of their content.
With OnScreen Control (OSC) and Split Screen 2.0 technology, the display can be customized using Picture-in-Picture or Picture-by-Picture functionality to get a side by side view of your content. The ultra-wide curved monitor comes equipped with dual Thunderbolt 2.0 ports, two HDMI (ver. 2.0) ports, one DisplayPort, and a dedicated USB 3.0 hub. The dual Thunderbolt 2.0 ports offer a bi-directional data transfer rates of up to 10-gigabits per second, as well as the ability to daisy-chain devices.
LG 34UC98-W 34″ 21:9 Curved IPS Monitor Highlights
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Samsung C34F791 34″ 21:9 Curved LCD Monitor (B&H, Amazon)
Last but not least comes the Samsung S34E790C that sports a curved 21:9 display with a QHD resolution of 3440×1440. These screen dimensions with the razor-thin bezels provide you with ample workspace for editing your content. Plus, it’s the only monitor on the list that offers 100Hz refresh rate for a more dynamic picture with reduced ghosting.
In the meantime, the 3000:1 contrast ratio and 300 nits brightness ensure an excellent dynamic range, allowing users to view more details in the shadows and highlights. Samsung has also included a great amount of I/O in the monitor such as a single DisplayPort 1.2 input, two HDMI ports alongside five USB 3.0 ports. The monitor also features height and tilt adjustable stand, in addition to a flicker-free panel that makes your viewing experience more comfortable during the long hours spend in the editing suite.
Samsung C34F791 34″ 21:9 Curved LCD Monitor Highlights
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All these offerings seem to be reliable and consistently accurate professional video monitors for editing and color grading, but if you have other models in mind that you consider to be worthwhile, make sure to share those in the comment section below.
[source: 10BestOnes]
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