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Top 5 HP Monitors for Creative Professionals
Harry Stewart
|
December 20, 2023
A top-notch monitor is an essential accessory for every creative professional, especially those in the visual design field.
Whether you’re a 3D modeller, graphic designer, video editor, or illustrator, you’ll need a crisp, colour-accurate display to fine-tune your workflows. A high-quality monitor also proves pivotal when showcasing your creations to clients and colleagues. But what constitutes a good monitor for creative work?
In this post, we’ll guide you through the top considerations so you can pinpoint the perfect display. Then, to streamline the shopping process, we’ll present five of the best monitors for creatives on the HP UK Store.
What to consider when buying a monitor for creative work
Most home users and office workers aren’t too fussy when shopping for a monitor. But creatives have unique needs when it comes to computer screens. While gamers crave lightning-fast refresh rates, creatives concern themselves with colour accuracy, resolution, and screen size.
Wondering what to look out for? We’ve whipped up a shortlist of the top monitor-shopping considerations and how they relate to creative fields.
Screen size
Size matters in the monitor world, especially for creatives pumping out high-resolution images. A larger display lets you clearly see your creations, multi-task more efficiently, and fit extra content onto the screen. But big screens invariably cost more; a massive display may bust your budget.
Most modern monitors range from 24 to 32 inches, though some stretch into the mid-40s. The rule of thumb is to purchase as large a monitor as you can comfortably cram on your desk.
Allow some leeway to avoid precariously placing the monitor against the desk edges. You’ll also need sufficient leftover space for your keyboard, mouse, and other accessories. If you opt for a dual monitor set-up, a Wide Quad High-Definition (WQHD) display can come in handy.
Resolution
Pixels are pivotal to most creative professionals. While affordable High-Definition (HD) and Full High-Definition (FHD) displays suit most users, they don’t offer enough clarity for visual design pros.
Professionals producing detailed images need as many pixels as they can muster. Aim for a Quad High-Definition (QHD) 2,560 x 1,440-pixel display at a minimum. For optimal clarity, Ultra High-Definition (UHD), also known as 4K, monitors offer a whopping 3,840 x 2,160 pixels.
Wide-screen variations, such as Double Quad High Definition (DQHD) and Wide Quad High Definition (WQHD), have extra stretchy aspect ratios. The additional horizontal on-screen real estate helps creatives multi-task and compare content side-by-side.
However, like screen size, a higher resolution increases the retail price. Buy the best resolution you can afford.
Colour accuracy
Some creatives put colour accuracy at the top of their monitor-shopping wish list. Also known as colour fidelity, the term refers to how on-screen colours compare to the final product, whether digital or printed on paper.
The best monitors boast 98% to 100% sRGB, a common colour gamut for digital products, and 90% to 98% P3, which is more important for printouts. Digital creatives - think animators, editors, graphic designers, etc - should focus on a high sRGB. Conversely, photographers and other professionals printing onto paper need a high P3 percentage. In either case, look for a monitor with factory colour calibration.
Another consideration is Delta E, a metric used to assess how humans differentiate colour. The best computer monitors for creatives have a Delta E of less than 2, making any colour inconsistencies unperceivable to the untrained eye.
Ergonomics
Creatives must protect their health through effective ergonomics. All HP monitors include adjustable height, tilt, and swivel settings to optimise your posture during those extended work sessions.
Another fantastic feature is HP Eye Ease, an always-on blue light filter that safeguards your circadian rhythms without compromising colour accuracy. The top HP monitors also include anti-glare treatments for better clarity in challenging light conditions.
Panel type
Monitors come in three primary panel types: in-plane switching (IPS), twisted nematic (TN), and vertical alignment (VA).
IPS is the go-to panel type for most creatives as it offers a vibrant colour gamut, wide viewing angles, and accurate grey shades. VA panels may appeal to video editors for their high contrast ratios - they’re popular among TV manufacturers.
TN panels are famed for their ultra-quick response times. While this fast-flowing motion makes them a hit among competitive gamers, they’re not ideal for creative work.
Brightness
Although it’s not the most critical consideration, it’s worth factoring brightness into your screen-shopping process. Monitor manufacturers measure brightness in nits, a unit of luminosity equivalent to one candela per square meter (1cd/m2).
The higher the nits, the brighter the screen, and the easier it will be to work in varying light conditions. You’ll need a high-nit monitor if you clock hours next to a curtainless window or beneath a blazing overhead light. Otherwise, fewer nits will do the trick. The best displays for creatives usually have between 350 and 400 nits.
Input/output ports
Ports are an important consideration for graphic designers, animators, and all sorts of other creatives. At a minimum, aim for a monitor with HDMI, DisplayPort™, and USB Type-C. Don’t bother looking for DVI or VGA, as these old-school ports have become obsolete.
HDMI is handy for plugging in externals like TVs, monitors, laptops, and mobile devices. This ubiquitous port comes standard on virtually any modern display.
DisplayPort lets you link multiple displays (up to 63) to a single connection. The most up-to-date version is DisplayPort 1.4, which can handle a 4K resolution with a 120 Hz refresh rate.
Thunderbolt uses the same plug-in as the ubiquitous USB Type-C, and the two ports are now entirely interchangeable. The difference is the transfer rate. Thunderbolt can move up to 40 Gbps, compared to 20 Gbps with USB Type-C. Those fast-paced file transfers are crucial for video editors but less critical for illustrators and similar, less data-intensive fields.
Planning on daisy-chaining multiple monitors together? You’ll need an input and output port for either DisplayPort or Thunderbolt.
The best HP monitors for creative professionals
You know what to look for when purchasing a display. Let’s briefly examine the five best monitors for creatives on the HP UK Store.
HP Z24q G3
Creatives seeking a small screen should check out the HP Z24q G3, a compact little monitor with a crisp QHD display. A plethora of ports lets you hook up your favourite peripherals with ease. Digital designers will adore its impressive 99% sRGB colour accuracy.
- Screen size: 60.5 cm (23.8”)
- Resolution: QHD (2560 x 1440)
- Colour accuracy: 99%sRGB, 90% P3, BT.709
- Panel type: IPS
- Brightness: 400 nits
- Ports: HDMI, USB port, USB hub, DisplayPort
HP Z27u G3
If you have extra desk space, consider the HP Z27u G3 instead. This 27-inch IPS monitor sports a crystal-clear QHD and a superb 99% sRBG colour fidelity. Easily connect multiple monitors without cord clutter by daisy chaining with a single DisplayPort cable. Four-way ergonomic adjustability lets you remain comfortable throughout even the most gruelling workday.
- Screen size: 68.6 cm (27”)
- Resolution: QHD (2560 x 1440)
- Colour accuracy: 99% sRBG
- Panel type: IPS
- Brightness: 350 nits
- Ports: HDMI; USB-C; USB hub; DisplayPort
HP U28
Need more pixels? The HP U28 has an industry-leading 4K UHD display to view super-detailed creations with crystal-clear clarity. The always-on low blue light filter of HP Eye Ease doesn’t affect its top-tier colour accuracy. If you’re working on an HP Desktop Mini, mount the box behind the monitor for a clutter-free workplace.
- Screen size: 71.12 cm (28”)
- Resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Panel type: IPS
- Brightness: 400 nits
- Ports: HDMI, USB-C, audio, USB hub, DisplayPort
HP Z32k G3
If you’ve got the desk space and budget, the HP Z32k G3 is the best 4K monitor for creatives. This spacious 32-inch beauty boasts 100% sRGB/98% P3 colour accuracy on its gorgeous IPS display. Thunderbolt 4 lets you run 4K images at 60 Hz on a single cable while charging the device at 100W.
- Screen size: 80 cm (31.5”)
- Resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Colour accuracy: 100% sRGB, 98% P3
- Panel type: IPS black
- Brightness: 400 nits
- Ports: HDMI, USB-C, USB hub, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt
HP E45c G5
Ultra-widescreen lovers can’t pass up the HP E45c G5, a DQHD stretching a whopping 45 inches. That extra-wide 32:9 aspect ratio is equivalent to sticking two 1440p monitors side-by-side. A 1500R curvature and HP Eye Ease reduce eye strain, while a galaxy of ports lets you connect every peripheral under the sun.
- Screen size: 113 cm (44.5”)
- Resolution: DQHD (5120 x 1440)
- Colour accuracy: 99% sRGB
- Panel type: VA
- Brightness: 400 nits
- Ports: HDMI, USB-C, DisplayPort
Summary
Although regular office workers don’t put too much thought into their screens, creatives are a different breed. Size, resolution, and colour accuracy are the cornerstones of video editing, animation, and graphic design. Other crucial considerations span ergonomics to brightness and panel types to ports.
No matter your budget and personal preference, there’s an HP monitor to suit your creative endeavours. Revisit our top recommendations or see what else is available in the HP UK Store.
