Digital Product Analysis & Reviews
by Remington May
If you are a professional photographer, you have probably looked into a lot of monitors by now. It is essential when it comes to editing photos, hence you need to spend some time figuring out the specifications before finally buying one.
Now, most monitors today do come equipped with a lot of attractive features that you might think will help you in your work, and they do to some extent. But often, you'll find that fancy monitors don't help much in professional grade photo editing.
However, there are properly calibrated monitors today made specifically to cater to your editing job. They are good at displaying images and reproducing colors on screen and will not decline in performance with time either. At the same time, you also probably want one that won't break the bank.
So here is our list of some of the more affordable models from the market. If you want to buy the best monitor for photo editing under 200 , keep on reading.
Note: Not all monitors discussed here are under 200$, but they're around the price and still a great option for affordable price.
Contents
The ASUS VP249QGR is mainly a monitor dedicated to gamers. They need the latest technology to keep up with their games. This makes it just as good for photographers as well.
Even though this is a gaming monitor, you get to use all the great specifications for your work. First of all there is the 144Hz refresh rate with the Adaptive Sync technology along with 1ms MPRT.
These let you have a stutter free experience with the monitor. You will experience no lag or motion blur and can react instantly to whatever is onscreen. As a photo editor this will let you work smoothly without having to wait out on any lags.
The Shadow Boost technology is designed to let you see enemies hiding in the dark. Think of this as errors in your photos you would like to edit out. The monitor does this by clarifying the dark areas without overexposing brighter ones.
Overall viewing is better, and you can spot even the tiniest mistake or blur you want to fix. Ultra-low blue light technology ensures that you feel comfortable staring at a screen for prolonged periods.
With four different filter settings you can reduce the intensity of blue light as you like. Last of all the flicker free technology speaks for itself as it minimizes flickers which can cause eye strain if looked at for too long.
Highlighted Features
The HP 24Fwa is one of the stylish budget monitors out there. With its ultra-thin design and colors like white and silver, this does not look like a budget monitor, we'll tell you that.
You get super-thin bezels giving you a widescreen that you can easily put to use when editing. The base extends to the back instead of the front, a thoughtful feature that lets you keep other accessories on the front while working.
Coming to the features, you get a full HD display paired with anti-glare. This is a requirement for photo editing since you can see your work without having to tilt now and then.
Sunlight will not be a bother anymore and you can work from any angle you want thanks to the wide viewing angles. You can tilt the screen 5 degrees to the front, and 25 degrees back, adjust it as you like according to your comfort.
AMD Free Sync lets you experience blur-free gaming and the sharpest pictures. Besides gaming, you get the same quality when editing photos as well, making this product worthwhile.
The monitor also sports a built-in speaker allowing you to enjoy your favorite tunes as you work, all without the mess of wires. Also ideal for entertainment when you want to use the monitor to watch movies or play video games.
Another gaming monitor perfectly suited to your photo editing needs. The Acer SB230 Bbix is a full HD widescreen IPS monitor. Being ultra-thin, this can fit into numerous places, not to mention looks pretty great too.
It comes with a zero frame design, so you get to use the maximum amount of screen you can for your work. The AMD RADEON FREESYNC Technology lets the monitor's frames be in sync with the graphic card's frames.
With this you experience absolutely no tearing or breaking on the screen, and can work smoothly without interruptions. Sometimes while working you tend to lean.
But changing angles with this monitor won't be an issue due to the IPS technology. It can display colors just right up to 178 degrees. Now you can lean or watch movies with the family sitting around it, and yet experience true color.
Response time on this monitor is an impressive 1ms. Although this was made catering to gamers, you will love this great feature for your work too. On top of this you also get a 75Hz rapid refresh rate which speeds the frames per second to give you smooth 2D motion scenes.
Last of all, all the hours of staring at a screen is hard on the eyes, and that is where the AcerVisionCare comes in. It reduces blue light and flickering so your eyes do not get tired after work.
This 27-inch monitor from BenQ is designed to be a minimalistic yet productive addition to your workspace.
Starting off with the display, you get the Brightness Intelligence Technology that adjusts your screen's brightness for comfortable viewing. The 178 degrees of viewing ensures you can view your work from a wide-angle.
It also serves your entertainment purposes as you can entertain a family with this during movie time. On top of this you have an ultra-thin bezel, giving you a wide space to properly do you editing, and very suitable for multitasking too might we add.
Low blue light technology is one we all look out for today. All the hours of staring into a screen can be hard, and this simply makes it easier. Your eyes won't feel the strain as the harmful blue lights are toned down.
The ZeroFlicker Technology adds to this as it allows for smooth viewing which is comfortable to the eyes, as opposed to flickers which can be straining.
Other mentionable features of this monitor include the Invisible cable management, put in so you can smartly tug away all your cables without it being an eyesore.
You also get a textured design made from carbon fiber, made to resist scratches and easy dents. If you have kids, this will prove to be useful.
If you want a curved monitor for your work, that delivers a bunch of great features too, this is the right choice for you. This monitor from Samsung is a stylish device with its glossy back and ultra-thin design.
The curved design is created to let you take in all the details of the screen at once. Now you can enjoy movies, play games or edit your photos and view it ever so comfortably thanks to the curve.
The eye saver mode is provided to prevent strain on your eyes from working overtime.
As a photo editor you will appreciate this highly! This works to reduce blue light emissions and reduces screen flickering to provide a comfortable viewing experience.
Not just that, the quality of this is also unmatched. The 3000:1 contrast ratio lets you see the deepest blacks and the brightest whites thanks to Samsung's Active Crystal Color technology. Pictures come out vivid and bold making your editing work easier.
Since you are buying the monitor for photo editing needs, it should be a spacious one. This will let you see and judge your work clearly so you can make the necessary changes required.
A size of 24-inch is most suitable for this sort of work that will provide a lot of editing space while holding color enhancing features. This is comfortable to the eyes, and allows you to multi-task as well.
Of course, size is not everything if your resolution is not on point. For under 200, you can easily snatch a full HD resolution which is perfect for your editing work.
If you can get more, all the better for you! This 1920x1080 should be your minimum benchmark for top quality visuals on screen.
Pixel density can also be used as a measure of how good your monitor's crispness is. This is found as pixels per inch (PPI), where the higher it is, the better.
The best photo editing monitor under 200 will only live up to its name when it has adequate ports. HDMI, Display Port, VGA, and much more are found on monitor backs today. The more you get, the more versatile your monitor becomes for work.
For photo editing you should opt for a 16:9 aspect ratio, or a widescreen aspect ratio.
This is suitable for your work because it lets you have some space on the side to keep your virtual editing tools. It is pretty common in most modern monitors, so it is fairly easy to find. This simply makes your job a bit easier.
If you are upgrading to a new and improved monitor, you should make sure your computer's graphics card is compatible with it.
If it is a new PC, you need not worry, but if it is very old, it might not display 4k resolution as well. Think about upgrading graphics card in that case.
Color Gamut is the range of colors your monitor can reproduce. Here sRGB is the standard for displays and devices, and is supported by all.
However, if yours is a professional work where you have a higher demand you need to use the Adobe RGB color spacewhich has a higher range of colors.
In-plane switching or IPS technology screens have some of the top color and contrast consistency that you want.
Older models usually have a TN or twisted nematic panel which will not give you the same results as an IPS.
An IPS monitor is the ideal option for photographers and graphic designers. That's because this type of monitor accurately reproduces colors and offers better viewing angles compared to TN monitors.
Although IPS monitors are expensive, it is worth investing in one when you compare the technical benefits with TN monitors.
Whichever monitor you choose, you need to ensure it comes with the features that will help you work comfortably.
The features you will want to look for are IPS technology, higher screen resolution, and higher refresh rates. Such notable features will enable you to flawlessly edit photos or play games.
If you're on a budget, you can choose Dell 27 LED IPS Monitor (SE2719H). No doubt it is one of the finest monitors you can find for under $200!
Yes, they are typically used by photographers and graphic designers around the world.
These monitors are capable of accurately reproducing a wide color gamut and offering better viewing angles. They also have higher refresh rates, which makes the frame motion smoother.
Although you will find IPS monitors having a high price tag, the benefits it offers will make your investment worthwhile.
Unlike LED displays, OLED or Organic LED displays do not require a backlight for their pixels can emit their own light. They have a thinner screen and can offer an excellent viewing angle of about 84 degrees. Also, they deliver better image colors than LED displays, which makes them a good option for photo editing.
However, the drawbacks of using such a display are that it has less brightness than LED, and it may experience burn-in issues after it is used for long periods of time.When you are looking for the best monitor for photo editing under 200 , you have to carefully consider every factor. Since these are budget monitors, there will some specifications you might not get.
That being said, there are still lots you will and should get for your money. Things like color gamut, color reproduction, brightness, viewing angles and much more are common features in such monitors.
To be sure that you are buying the right model for your work that does not compromise in quality, take a few minutes to skim through our article. We expect you will find the right monitor for your job!
ASUS ProArt Display PA248QV 24.1” WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 Monitor, 100% sRGB/Rec.709 ΔE - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Philips 246E9QDSB 24" Frameless Monitor, Full HD IPS, 129% sRGB, 75Hz, FreeSync, VESA, - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
BenQ 24 Inch IPS Monitor | 1080P | Proprietary Eye-Care Tech | Ultra-Slim Bezel | - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
HP VH240a 23.8-Inch Full HD 1080p IPS LED Monitor with Built-In Speakers and VESA - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Computer Monitor - 2021 AUZAI 27 Inch 144Hz 1ms IPS Gaming Monitors, FHD 1080P Frameless - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Acer R240HY bidx 23.8-Inch IPS HDMI DVI VGA (1920 x 1080) Widescreen Monitor, Black - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Sceptre 24" Professional Thin 75Hz 1080p LED Monitor 2x HDMI VGA Build-in Speakers, - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
Dell 27 LED Backlit LCD Monitor SE2719H IPS Full HD 1080p, 1920x1080 at 60 Hz HDMI VGA, - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
ViewSonic VA2759-SMH 27 Inch IPS 1080p LED Monitor with HDMI and VGA Inputs - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Samsung T40F Series 24-Inch FHD 1080p Computer Monitor, IPS Panel, HDMI, VGA (D-Sub), - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
3. Acer SB230 Bbix - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
4. BenQ IPS Monitor - Walmart, Etsy, eBay
10. Sceptre 4K UHD - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
Dell 27 LED IPS Monitor (SE2719H) - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay
About Remington May
Remington May is a digital product blogger who loves to write about the latest and greatest in the tech world. She's always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to make her life easier, and she loves to share her findings with her readers. When she's not blogging or spending time with her family, Remington enjoys hiking and exploring new places.
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