Best Monitor for Graphic Design, Photo Editing and Video Editing in 2026: ASUS ProArt, BenQ PD or Dell UltraSharp?

Whether you retouch photos, edit video or do desktop publishing, the monitor matters as much as the processor: if it shows colors inaccurately, everything else in your workflow becomes guesswork. In 2026, three families dominate creator setups: ASUS ProArt, BenQ PD (Creative Pro) and Dell UltraSharp. All of them offer factory-calibrated IPS panels, but they don’t target the same uses.

In short: the ASUS ProArt PA279CRV is the most complete pick for photo editing (99% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3), the Dell UltraSharp U3225QE is the best 32-inch 4K monitor for video editing and single-cable laptop setups, and the BenQ PD3226G is the most versatile if you also want to game at 144 Hz. On a budget, go for the ProArt PA278CGV or the UltraSharp U2724D in QHD.

This monitor completes the machine you already built: see also our guides to the best CPU for video editing and the best SSD for video editing so you don’t create a bottleneck elsewhere.

• sRGB: the baseline for the web, interfaces and social media. Every monitor in this guide covers 99 to 100% of sRGB.
• DCI-P3: the color space of video and cinema, and of Apple displays. Aim for at least 95% for video editing.
• Adobe RGB: mainly useful if you prepare photo prints. Among our picks, only the PA279CRV claims 99% Adobe RGB.

Delta E measures the difference between the requested color and the displayed color. Below 2, the difference is generally hard to see with the naked eye. Manufacturers quote an average Delta E after factory calibration: below 2 for ASUS and the UltraSharp U2724D, below 1.5 for the U3225QE, ≤ 2 for the BenQ PD3226G and ≤ 3 for the BenQ PD2706U and PD3205U. These are claimed values, not independent measurements, which is why a calibration probe is worth considering (see below).

• 27-inch QHD (2,560 × 1,440): about 109 pixels per inch, comfortable and affordable, perfect for desktop publishing and everyday retouching. Our WQHD guide covers this format in detail.
• 27-inch 4K: about 163 pixels per inch, very sharp for photos and text. See also our selection of 27-inch 4K monitors.
• 32-inch 4K: about 140 pixels per inch, more room for the video timeline and tool palettes. Our guide to 32-inch monitors compares the format for office use.

A monitor with USB-C and Power Delivery charges your laptop and carries the picture over a single cable. Power varies: 90 W on the PA278CGV and the BenQ PD2706U, PD3205U and PD3226G, 96 W on the PA279CRV, up to 140 W on the U3225QE. Watch out: on the UltraSharp U2724D, Dell states that the upstream USB-C port is data only, with no laptop charging. For a MacBook or a laptop, our USB-C monitor guide covers cables and power levels.

The ProArt PA279CRV is a 27-inch 4K IPS monitor (3,840 × 2,160, about 163 pixels per inch) covering 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB and 99% DCI-P3, in 10-bit (1.07 billion colors). ASUS claims a Delta E below 2 and Calman Verified status with a pre-calibration report (ASUS spec sheet).

• 99% Adobe RGB: the monitor to favor if you print your photos.
• USB-C with 96 W Power Delivery, a USB hub and two daisy-chainable DisplayPort connections.
• sRGB, Rec. 709, DCI-P3, Adobe RGB and DICOM presets.

The panel is limited to 60 Hz and DisplayHDR 400: enough for retouching, less so for gaming or demanding HDR content.

Photographers and graphic designers who want a 27-inch 4K color reference, with a laptop connected over USB-C.

The U3225QE is a 31.5-inch 4K IPS Black monitor at 120 Hz, rated at 3,000:1 contrast, 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3, with an average Delta E below 1.5 and DisplayHDR 600 certification (Dell spec sheet). Its strength: a real Thunderbolt 4 hub with up to 140 W of Power Delivery, a 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet port and a KVM.

• The lowest claimed Delta E in our selection, with 99% DCI-P3.
• 120 Hz makes the interface smoother, even though video usually stays at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second.
• A single Thunderbolt 4 cable handles picture, data and laptop charging.

No claimed Adobe RGB coverage: for photos destined for print, the ProArt PA279CRV is a better fit.

Video editors and creators who want a 32-inch 4K screen and a one-cable desk.

The PD3226G is a 31.5-inch 4K IPS monitor at 144 Hz, with 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709 and 95% P3, a claimed average Delta E ≤ 2, Calman and Pantone validation, and a Thunderbolt 4 port with 90 W Power Delivery (BenQ spec sheet). It is the only monitor in this selection that combines 4K, 144 Hz and Delta E ≤ 2.

• DCI-P3, Display P3, Rec. 709, sRGB, Animation, CAD/CAM and Darkroom modes.
• Thunderbolt 4 with daisy-chaining and the Hotkey Puck G3 remote included.
• 144 Hz is useful if your PC also games between projects.

95% P3, a notch below the 99% of the ProArt PA279CRV and UltraSharp U3225QE, and no claimed Adobe RGB coverage.

Creators who also game, or animators and motion designers who want on-screen smoothness.

If 4K isn’t essential, 27-inch QHD is the best entry point. Both models below claim 100% sRGB and a Delta E below 2:

• ASUS ProArt PA278CGV: 144 Hz, 95% DCI-P3, USB-C with 90 W Power Delivery, 4 USB-A ports, pre-calibration report included (ASUS spec sheet).
• Dell UltraSharp U2724D: 120 Hz, IPS Black panel with 2,000:1 contrast, 98% DCI-P3, calibration report included (Dell spec sheet).

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The catch: the U2724D does not charge a laptop through its upstream USB-C port, which is data only (Dell). The PA278CGV is therefore more practical with a laptop, while the U2724D offers more contrast.

The two BenQ models from the Creative Pro range target graphic designers and Mac users. They share USB-C with 90 W Power Delivery, a claimed average Delta E ≤ 3 and the included Hotkey Puck G2 remote:

• PD2706U: 27-inch 4K, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709 and 95% P3, with DCI-P3, Display P3 and M-book modes (BenQ spec sheet).
• PD3205U: 31.5-inch 4K, 99% sRGB and 99% Rec. 709, with no claimed P3 coverage, and Pantone validation (BenQ spec sheet, datasheet).

They are well suited to desktop publishing, web work and Rec. 709 video. For demanding DCI-P3 work, prefer the ProArt models or the UltraSharp U3225QE.

All these monitors ship with a factory calibration report, but panels drift over time and your room lighting matters. For work where color affects your reputation (photos you sell, client grading), a calibration probe remains the best investment after the monitor itself. ASUS, BenQ and Dell each offer their own calibration software, with Calman validation claimed on several of these models.

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• Recalibrate regularly (roughly every month or two) if you work for clients, less often for personal use.
• Work under stable lighting, with no direct glare on the screen.
• Pick the mode that matches your output: sRGB for the web, DCI-P3 or Rec. 709 for video, Adobe RGB for print.

• Your final output: web (sRGB), video (P3 or Rec. 709) or print (Adobe RGB)?
• Size and resolution: 27-inch QHD to save money, 4K for sharpness.
• USB-C: your machine’s power needs, data-only port or Power Delivery?
• The calibration report shipped with the monitor, and an optional probe.
• A second reference screen: see our dual-screen PC guide.

The ASUS ProArt PA279CRV, thanks to its 99% Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 coverage and its claimed Delta E below 2. If you don’t print, the Dell UltraSharp U3225QE is a very good alternative.

A 4K monitor covering at least 95% of DCI-P3: ProArt PA279CRV (27-inch), UltraSharp U3225QE or BenQ PD3226G (32-inch). The 32-inch size gives more room for the timeline.

No. A 27-inch QHD monitor like the ProArt PA278CGV or the UltraSharp U2724D is enough for desktop publishing and everyday retouching. 4K mainly adds sharpness and screen space.

It is the average color error claimed after factory calibration: below 2, it is generally hard to see. It is a manufacturer-stated value, best checked with a probe.

• Photo and print: ASUS ProArt PA279CRV.
• 4K video editing at 32 inches: Dell UltraSharp U3225QE.
• Creating and gaming: BenQ PD3226G.
• Budget QHD: ProArt PA278CGV or UltraSharp U2724D.
• Check the USB-C: the U2724D does not charge a laptop through its upstream port.

Stock and pricing change fast: compare live offers below before you buy.

Sources: ASUS PA278CGV, ASUS PA279CRV, BenQ PD2706U, BenQ PD3205U, BenQ PD3226G, Dell U2724D, Dell U3225QE.