Do I Need a 4k Monitor For Video Editing? What To Look For & What To Buy In 2022
There are plenty of reasons to make the switch to a 4k monitor for video editing. Even though it may seem like an unnecessary expense, the benefits are worth the cost.
4K displays cannot display content in 1080p, which is the most common resolution among video editors. If you want to edit videos in 1080p or lower, a 4k monitor is unnecessary.
Do I Need a 4k Monitor for Video Editing?
If you’re serious about editing, more advanced monitors are advisable. But if you’re trying to decide whether 4K is worth the price, the answer is an unequivocal no.
A 4K monitor does not increase productivity in the editing process. It doesn’t make much sense to purchase one unless you are going for that next level video that needs a touch of realism.

On the other hand, you want to create content with effects like chroma-keying or film grain.
Speaking of which, it’s important to also keep in mind that many video editors need high-quality monitors.
The main reason is that they need them at pixel-level detail to colour-correct and control their frame rates.
But if you’re editing just for the web or capturing GoPro footage on the fly, then a high-resolution monitor won’t do much good. It’s unnecessary and would probably be more of a hindrance than a help.
If you are an aspiring editor and have the money to invest, there is no harm in buying a 4K monitor. Just don’t expect any miraculous results. And don’t expect to save any time by bypassing Full HD either because it won’t help.
Editors who want to save time should invest in a fast computer or better workflow instead.
In the end, for most editors, an upgrade to a 4K resolution is a luxury and not a necessity.
And thankfully, if you are on a budget, you can still get your hands on one of the best monitors in the industry right now. You have to do your research beforehand and think it through carefully.
Curved or Flat Monitor for Video Editing
As the video editing industry rapidly expands, more and more people turn to monitor screens that monitor a wider range of colours.
- Flat monitors are increasingly being seen as obsolete for this purpose because they create more problems with colour reproduction.
- On the other hand, Curved Monitors are more effective at displaying the wide range of colours that are necessary for editing purposes because they have a better viewing angle.

While you may be familiar with seeing a flat computer monitor that displays only straight lines, there are a few monitors on the market these days that have curved sides.
Some people even prefer this Type Of Monitor for editing. The curved edges allow for better visibility and focus on the screen for Photo Or Video Editing.
However, there are also monitors with flat screens (also known as standard monitors). If you’re looking to purchase one of these types of displays, they should be easy to find with plenty of different display size options available.
So Which Type Is Right For You?
It all depends on personal preference and what tasks you’ll be doing while using your monitor during editing sessions.
Displays & Color

One of the first differences between curved monitors and flat screens is the display colour.
Flat monitors are made using LCD technology, meaning that they utilize liquid crystals to form images on the screen.
The Curved Monitors only come in LEDs. At the same time, this isn’t a big deal when editing photos and videos.
It might be something you want to consider if you’ll be editing graphics or videos that require deep colours, like nature and landscape shots where deep greens are important or dramatic scenes in your video where bright reds are necessary.
While the flat monitor has more options for displaying colours, the curved monitors offer better viewing angles, making them a better choice for video editing. The image on a curved monitor is lopsided compared to an image on a flat monitor.
But the differences are not as significant as you might think. Images on flat monitors can appear darker than they would if viewed on other monitors with better angles. But this doesn’t happen often enough to make much of a difference in video editing.
Curved Screens Shine
The real benefit of a curved monitor is seen when editing bits that move. Curved screens are great for editing video, where it’s hard to keep all of the moving bits in focus at the same time.

Images on curved monitors are more visible as they’re not limited by edges like those displayed on flat displays.
Since there’s more space between the image and the edge of the screen, it’s easier to see everything that’s happening in your video.
When you’re watching a movie on a flat-screen, you might not be able to tell whether something is happening offscreen or if something is just out of focus because the images with curves don’t have such limitations.
Another benefit of curved screens is that they have a wider viewing angle than flat displays. While both monitors can have the same diagonal screen size, curved displays offer a wider viewing angle.
It means that you can watch the monitor from a wider range without worrying about distortions to the image. This feature is especially helpful if you’re working with more than one person on editing projects.
Bottom Line
A 4k monitor may be a good investment for a video editor, as it can provide a clearer and more accurate picture.
It is important to note that this investment will not perform as well if the computer’s hardware cannot keep up with the demands.
A 4K monitor can provide a clearer and more accurate picture, as is necessary for editing videos. Although it is an expensive investment, the benefits are worth it if your computer meets minimum GPU requirements.

Ehtesham Shehzad is a 24-year-old Blogger. He is a Tech-Enthusiast & Software Engineer and currently doing Masters in Computer Science & Networking from the University Of Pisa Italy.