Photo editing demands a monitor that displays accurate color out of the box, holds calibration over time, and shows consistent brightness across the panel. The wrong photo monitor has visible Delta-E above 3 in factory state, narrow gamut coverage of only sRGB, or uniformity issues that make the same photo look different in different screen zones. After evaluating 24 inch monitors specifically for photo editing use, these seven delivered the color accuracy and calibration support photographers need.
Quick comparison
| Monitor | Resolution | Adobe RGB | P3 | Delta-E | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eizo ColorEdge CS2400S | 1920x1200 | 99% | 95% | <1 | Best overall pro |
| BenQ SW242Q | 2560x1440 | 99% | 95% | <1.5 | Print photographer |
| ASUS ProArt PA248QV | 1920x1200 | 100% sRGB | 95% | <2 | Budget pick |
| Dell UltraSharp U2424H | 1920x1080 | - | 98% | <2 | Web photographer |
| NEC PA243W | 1920x1200 | 100% | - | <1 | Color-critical print |
| BenQ PD2506Q | 2560x1440 | 78% | 95% | <1.5 | Mac photo editor |
| ViewSonic VP2468a | 1920x1080 | 80% | - | <2 | Entry pro pick |
Eizo ColorEdge CS2400S, Best Overall Pro
Eizo's ColorEdge CS2400S is the professional photo editing standard at 24 inches. The IPS panel runs 1920x1200 (16:10 with extra vertical for toolbars) at 60Hz with 99 percent Adobe RGB, 95 percent DCI-P3, 100 percent sRGB coverage, and factory Delta-E under 1. The panel has built-in uniformity compensation that adjusts each zone of the backlight individually.
Hardware calibration via Eizo ColorNavigator software supports X-Rite, Calibrite, and Eizo's own EX4 sensor. 16-bit lookup table preserves color in extreme tonal ranges. USB-C input with 70W power, plus DisplayPort and HDMI.
Trade-off: Eizo premium pricing. 60Hz refresh, no gaming use. 70W USB-C is below MacBook Pro 16 inch needs.
Best for: professional photographers, print production, color-critical retouching.
BenQ SW242Q, Print Photographer
BenQ's SW242Q is the print-focused photo editing pick at 24 inches. The IPS panel runs 2560x1440 at 60Hz with 99 percent Adobe RGB, 95 percent DCI-P3, and Delta-E under 1.5 factory calibrated. AQCOLOR technology with Pantone Validated and CalMAN Verified color matching for client-facing studios.
Hardware calibration via Palette Master Element software and X-Rite or Calibrite colorimeters. Hood accessory included in the box for ambient light control. USB-C with 90W power delivery.
Trade-off: 60Hz refresh only. Hood adds desk footprint.
Best for: print photographers, photographers selling prints, wedding and portrait professionals.
ASUS ProArt PA248QV, Budget Pick
ASUS ProArt PA248QV is the budget photo editing pick at 24 inches. The IPS panel runs 1920x1200 at 75Hz with 100 percent sRGB, 100 percent Rec.709, and 95 percent DCI-P3. Delta-E less than 2 factory calibrated, Calman Verified.
USB hub and DisplayPort, plus HDMI inputs. No USB-C with power delivery at this price tier. Stand has full ergonomic adjustment including pivot. The 16:10 aspect adds vertical height for editor toolbars.
Trade-off: no Adobe RGB coverage specified, so print work suffers compared to wider-gamut alternatives. No USB-C charging.
Best for: amateur photographers, social media creators, photographers learning the craft.
Dell UltraSharp U2424H, Web Photographer
Dell's UltraSharp U2424H is the web photographer pick at 24 inches. The IPS Black panel runs 1920x1080 at 120Hz with 98 percent DCI-P3 and Delta-E less than 2 factory. Higher contrast (2000:1) than standard IPS improves dark scene detail in moody photos.
USB-C with 90W power delivery for laptop docking. KVM switching across two computers built in. Full ergonomic stand with pivot to portrait.
Trade-off: 1080p resolution at 24 inches is lower density than the BenQ SW242Q or Eizo CS2400S. No Adobe RGB coverage specified.
Best for: photographers working primarily for web and social media output.
NEC PA243W, Color-Critical Print
NEC's PA243W is the deepest print-focused pick at 24 inches. The IPS panel runs 1920x1200 at 60Hz with 100 percent Adobe RGB, 100 percent sRGB, and 99 percent DCI-P3. Factory Delta-E under 1 with 14-bit lookup table and digital uniformity compensation.
Hardware calibration via NEC SpectraView software and X-Rite or Calibrite sensors. Multiple color space emulations including Adobe RGB, sRGB, DCI-P3, and PAL/NTSC video. USB hub plus DisplayPort, HDMI, and DVI.
Trade-off: NEC professional pricing. No USB-C. Older connectivity (DVI included for legacy workstations).
Best for: print production pros, magazine photographers, color management for high-end printing.
BenQ PD2506Q, Mac Photo Editor
BenQ's PD2506Q is the Mac photo editor pick at 24 inches. The IPS panel runs 2560x1440 at 60Hz with 95 percent DCI-P3 and Delta-E less than 1.5. M-Book mode replicates the MacBook Pro color profile exactly so designers see identical colors on laptop and external screen.
USB-C with 90W power, DesignVue features (CAD mode, Darkroom mode for low-light editing, dual-view side-by-side color comparison), and Hotkey Puck for one-touch color mode switching.
Trade-off: lower Adobe RGB coverage (78 percent) than dedicated print monitors. P3-focused rather than Adobe RGB.
Best for: photographers working on Mac who output primarily to digital and social media.
ViewSonic VP2468a, Entry Pro Pick
ViewSonic VP2468a is the entry-level professional pick at 24 inches. The IPS panel runs 1920x1080 at 60Hz with 100 percent sRGB, 80 percent Adobe RGB, and factory Delta-E less than 2.
Hardware calibration supported via X-Rite colorimeters and ViewSonic's Colorbration+ software. 14-bit lookup table preserves color fidelity. Stand has full ergonomic adjustment and includes a hood accessory for ambient light control.
Trade-off: 80 percent Adobe RGB is below the 99 to 100 percent at the pro tier. 1080p resolution is below 1440p competitors.
Best for: photographers stepping up from consumer monitors, hobbyists, photography students.
How to choose a 24 inch monitor for photo editing
Color gamut matches your output. sRGB only for web work. Adobe RGB for print. DCI-P3 if you also work in video. Wide-gamut monitors can emulate sRGB for web work, so wider gamut is more versatile.
Delta-E under 2 factory, ideally under 1. This determines how accurate colors are out of the box without calibration. Sub-1 is professional standard.
Hardware calibration support extends the monitor's life. A monitor without hardware calibration support drifts in color over 12 to 18 months and cannot be brought back precisely. Hardware calibration via X-Rite or Calibrite costs 150 to 250 dollars in tooling and pays back in calibration consistency.
Uniformity compensation matters for serious print work. Panels without uniformity compensation show brightness and tint variation across zones. For thumbnail viewing this is fine. For final output review on full-screen images, uniformity compensation prevents color errors that survive to print.
Where each pick fits
The Eizo ColorEdge CS2400S is the no-compromise pro pick. The BenQ SW242Q is the print-photographer value with most pro features at lower Eizo price. The NEC PA243W matches Eizo for color depth at slightly lower cost.
For related guidance, see our best 24 inch monitor for Mac guide and our best 24 inch monitor for cameras article. Our full evaluation approach is documented in our methodology.
A photo editing monitor is a 5 to 7 year purchase that determines how accurately you see your work. Prioritize color gamut, factory Delta-E, and hardware calibration support. The Eizo CS2400S is the safe pro pick, the BenQ SW242Q is the print-photographer value, and the ASUS ProArt PA248QV is the budget entry.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Adobe RGB or is sRGB enough for photo editing?+
Depends on your output. If you publish exclusively to web and social media, 100 percent sRGB coverage is sufficient because browsers and social platforms render in sRGB. If you print photos at home or for clients, Adobe RGB coverage (or wide DCI-P3) matters because print uses CMYK derived from wide-gamut color spaces. Photos edited in sRGB then converted for print can lose vibrancy in deep reds and blues. For mixed work, get a wide-gamut monitor and calibrate to sRGB for web, Adobe RGB for print.
What Delta-E is good enough for photo editing?+
Delta-E less than 2 is the accepted standard for color-aware work. Below 1 is professional grade and matters for print production. The human eye starts to perceive color difference at Delta-E around 1, becomes obvious at 2 to 3, and is clearly noticeable above 3. Factory-calibrated monitors at this price tier ship with Delta-E less than 2. After 6 to 12 months, drift accumulates and a hardware calibrator (X-Rite or Calibrite) brings the monitor back into spec for around 150 to 250 dollars.
Is hardware calibration worth the investment for photo work?+
Yes, if photo editing is a regular activity or income source. A hardware calibrator like the Calibrite Display Pro HL or X-Rite i1Display Pro Plus costs 150 to 280 dollars and pays back through accurate prints and consistent color between monitor and final output. Calibrate every 4 to 6 weeks for color-critical work. For occasional photo editing on factory-calibrated monitors, software calibration via macOS or Windows is good enough for the first 12 months.
How important is panel uniformity for photo editing?+
Important for any image larger than thumbnail size. Panel uniformity measures whether brightness and color are consistent across the screen. Poor uniformity shows as one corner brighter than another, or a green tint in one zone and a magenta tint in another. Professional photo monitors include uniformity compensation that adjusts each zone of the backlight individually. Without compensation, a photo edited with the subject in the upper left looks different when moved to the lower right.
Should I get an IPS or OLED monitor for photo editing?+
IPS is the standard for photo editing because it offers wide color gamut, accurate factory calibration, and consistent brightness over time. OLED has perfect blacks and infinite contrast but suffers from automatic brightness limiting (ABL) that dims the screen when large areas are bright (which is most of photo editing). OLED can also have burn-in risk from static toolbars and color shift over time. For dedicated photo editing, IPS is the safer pick. For mixed media work with movies, OLED is appealing.
