Top 10 Monitors for Graphic Designers in 2021

8 min readMay 25, 2021

Are you looking for the best monitor for your graphic design needs? We’ve got you covered.

In order to provide your clients, the best possible work that you can produce, making sure that the technology you are using meets those standards as well is important. Especially the monitor you’re using in your design work.

What the best monitor for graphic design to buy in 2021?

Professional graphic designers should look for monitors that can give them the best combination of extreme performance, the highest resolution available, and has the latest options available when it comes to connectivity with the other equipment you use — plus be within your budget.

Let’s take a look at our list of the best graphic design monitors in 2021! And while you’re here, don’t forget a monitor calibrator so your screen performs at its best.

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Top 10 Graphic Design Monitors in 2021

Prices are approximate. More information on each is below.

LG Ultrafine 5K 27MD5KA-B — $1400 (Best 5k)
Asus ROG Swift PG279Q — $1320 (Best overall)
BenQ PD3200U — $684 (Best value)
Samsung Odyssey G9 — $1399 (Best ultra-wide)
LG 27UL850 — $485 (Best budget monitor)
AOC Agon AG352UCG6 — $681 (Best mid-range ultra-wide)
Acer Predator X34 — $729 (Best for design & gaming)
Asus Designo Curve MX38VC — $999 (Best large ultra-wide)
Dell UltraSharp UP3218K — $5941 (Best 8K)
BenQ EX3203R — $394 (Best affordable)
Dell UltraSharp (U4919DW) — $1999 (Best 5k with professional design)
Alienware 25 — $319 (Cheapest)
MSI Optix MPG341CQR — $674 (Best VA panel)

The top 5K & 8K monitors

LG Ultrafine 5K 27MD5KA-B — $1400 (Best 5k monitor)
Dell Ultrasharp 8K PremierColor — $4250 (Best 8K monitor)
Apple iMac with 5K Display– $1700 — (Computer+monitor)
Apple 32" 6K Pro Display — $5899 (Best high-end professional monitor)

Related Post: Top 10 Best 5K & 8K Monitors of 2021

The best 5K & 8K Monitors for Professional Graphic Designers in 2021

Although there is very little video content out there that is 5K or 8K (maybe in about 5 years), having a 5K or 8K monitor means you can fit more pixels on your screen, meaning you get more desktop space and higher resolution content. A graphic designer designer should aim for at least a 4k monitor.

Due to the price tag of 5K and 8K monitors and the limited usage of 5K+ at this time, most consumers & designers stick with 4K monitors but if interested, here are the best 5K and 8k monitors available today. But first…

How to choose the right monitor for graphic design

Before purchasing a monitor for your graphic design needs, you must consider:

The type of monitor,
the features,
resolution,
size,
resolution,
screen size,
color accuracy,
connections,
ergonomics and
your budget.

Type of Monitor

If you’ve ever searched for a new monitor online, you know that the different types out there are seemingly endless. Everything from a basic business monitor to a high-end gaming monitor is out there and picking the right one can be arduous at best. Picking the right one for your needs entails making sure it comes with the features you’re looking for. Working in graphic design, having a display with a high resolution and enough connectivity options is important.

Features

While enough connectivity options and the right resolution are great features to look out for, what we’re talking about here is the additional features that will make one monitor stand apart from another. Although things such as an adjustable base or a gloss or matte finish on a screen can be the thing that pushes someone over the edge into buying a monitor.

Resolution

If you work in graphic design, the resolution that you choose can be one of, if not the biggest factors when it comes to the monitor you choose. Monitors have come a long way from using cathode ray tubes and having the right resolution can make your work look it’s absolute best. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common resolutions available

4K resolution is becoming the standard resolution for new monitors. The term 4K means that the image that you are seeing on your screen is about 4,000 pixels wide. In general, this means that the image you’re looking at would appear sharper which can make editing your image or project much more intuitive.

5K monitors are relatively new to the marketplace. The term 5K refers to the number of pixels being used, which in this case is around 5,000. 5K monitors are typically used by designers looking to achieve a higher pixel density, sharper images, as well as being able to see fine details that 4K monitors can’t see.

Right now, 8K is the king of the hill in terms of resolution. Monitors with 8K resolution present images with about 8,000 pixels. Like 5K resolution, there isn’t much content out there that displays in either resolution. However, as tech advances, the amount of content that will be available in 5K or 8K will only grow.

Size

The size of the monitor you choose goes hand in hand with the amount of room you have on your desk. Available in a wide range of sizes, some even as large as TV screens, the right monitor will give you enough room for all of your work without crowding you. While a large monitor might look incredibly appealing, be sure to look beyond the size.

Budget

No matter what we want to buy, it always seems to come down to how much you can afford. While there are a lot of monitors out there that can cause quite a bit of sticker shock, along with the other criteria we’ve discussed, you want to consider how you will use it daily. While having a high-priced, feature-heavy monitor might be nice, if you’re only using it for Skype and Zoom calls, you might want to save that money and find something more affordable.

The best Ultra-HD, 4k, 5K, 6k, and 8K Monitors for Professional Graphic Designers in 2021

Here is our list of best monitors for designers:

1. LG 27MD5K-B Ultrafine

The best 5K monitor (and for Macbook users)

It can be tough to find a good monitor that you can use to connect a MacBook and unless Apple seriously drops the price on their Pro Display XDR, the closest option you’re going to find is the Ultrafine from LG. The 27-inch monitor displays everything beautifully with its 5K resolution that is supported by color support of 99% DCI-P3 and a contrast ratio of 1200:1. With three USB-C downstream ports and a single USB-C port that allows you to transmit 5K video and date while also charging your MacBook.

Learn More

2. Asus ROG Swift PG279Q

The best monitor for graphic designers overall

No matter how many monitors you look at, at some point, you may just be fed up enough to give up and spend as much money as you can on a monitor. If that’s you, then you should take a closer look at the ROG Swift from Asus. With the combination of high-end features such as a 4K UHD display, plus Nvidia G-Sync and HDR, the Swift is quite simply on of the best monitors available even though it will cost you a decent amount of money.

3. BenQ PD3200U

The Best Value + Ultra HD display

With the adoption of 4K resolution by many monitor manufacturers, 4K monitors are a dime a dozen. This is why the PD3200U Ultra HD display from BenQ is such an amazing display. This display is a 3D designer’s best friend thanks in part to the CAD/CAM mode along with factory-calibrated color accuracy. Designed for professionals and creatives, the PD3200U from BenQ is one of the best all-around monitors available today for graphic designers — even the owner of this blog uses this monitor.

4. Samsung Odyssey G9

The best ultra-wide monitor for graphic design

Screen size: 49-inch | Resolution: 5120 x 1440 | Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Ports: DisplayPort, HDMI, 4x USB 3.0

There’s a saying — “Go big or go home.” If you’re not looking for a massive screen to sit on your desk, you can skip right over this monitor. The Odyssey G9 from Samsung sports a massive 49-inch screen but also provides a stunning 5K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate make it a stunning piece of technology. While it can be easy to get lost in the technical splendor of the G9, you have to be aware that it’s not lightweight at all. Weighing 31 pounds, it might weigh more than some televisions but for those with the room and the budget, you’ll be wowed at the monitor you’ve chosen.10 Best Graphic Design Monitors

5. LG 27UL850

The best budget monitor for graphic design

Screen size: 27-inch | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Ports: DisplayPort, 2x HDMI, USB Type-C, 2x USB 3.0

While finding a great 4K, 5K, or even 8K monitor can be what any graphic designer might want, many of the options out there, or even on our list, don’t come cheap. Enter in the 27UL850 from LG, one of the best budget monitors available for graphic design. With a beautiful 27-inch, 4K display, everything that you work on will look incredible. With excellent color quality, plus its incredible price tag, there are very few better options out there.

Continue reading this on our blog:

https://justcreative.com/best-monitors-for-graphic-design/

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