Which monitor size and resolution?

QI want to replace my AOC i2757Fm Full HD 27in monitor for something with a higher resolution. The primary use is for photo editing. My options would appear to be to stick to the 27in form factor and go for 2560x1440 QHD, or a 28in Ultra HD or 4K resolution screen, or the same in a 32in screen. I really need some help in working out what would be best. Yannick Jones

AYour focus is on resolution and screen size but that should not be at the expense of the panel type, display refresh rate and connectivity options. The needs of a photographer are different from someone needing a monitor for gaming or watching TV and video. Although there are variations on each, there are three basic types of LCD panel.

To get the best viewing angles the most dependable panel type for colour and viewing angles is in-plane switching (IPS), also known as PLS. Twisted Nematic (TN) panels have poorer viewing angles and less dependable colour accuracy but are better for gaming as they can refresh at higher frequencies, avoiding issues with motion flicker. TNs are not so good for photographers. Vertical Alignment (VA) and Multidomain Vertical Alignment (MVA) are better than TNs for colour and have very good black levels but IPS remains the photographer’s choice.

QHD and UHD (4K) screens can mean HDMI cables won’t work, so make sure your graphics card can support higher bandwidth DisplayPort connectivity. You will probably want to aim for the best concentration of dots per inch on the screen, so UHD (4K) on a 27in or 28in panel would be the most desirable. However, a 32in 4K screen would still be very good for editing your photographs, as would a 27in QHD screen.