Some decisions are more about “when” than “if.” For instance, if you’re a video editor and occasionally work with 4K, you have options. The standard resolution is 1080p now, but that’s shifting. Since 4K monitors are becoming more affordable, you could argue you should have one, or two, for the occasional 4K project. These are your non-negotiables. If you work in Photoshop or other Adobe Creative Cloud applications, 4K lets you access your creative superpowers. You can work with super high-resolution images and view them in full detail. Photoshop’s scalability also lets you work with images at 100%, saving you endless scrolling and zooming.
Photographers and photo editors can definitely benefit from 4K. Working with full resolution RAW images in a one-to-one ratio on screen enables you to see minute details – especially important when doing fine touch up work. Lightroom, Affinity Photo, and Capture One thrive on sharper screens.
Graphic designers, 3D modelers, CAD designers, and other creatives who work with hi-res vector images and precise specs thrive in the 4K space, too.
Video editors working on Final Cut Pro X or Premiere Pro timelines with 4K video in full UHD resolution (3840x2160) will clearly benefit from a 4K monitor. Many projects, from Hollywood features down to corporate videos, are shot in 4K. Maintaining that native resolution from capture to edit to export is crucial.
Gamers will enjoy the experience of 4K at 60Hz. Packing four times as many pixels as 1080p displays, UHD monitors can make gaming breathtakingly immersive.
To sum it up, if you need a great monitor for video editing, photo editing, other graphically-intensive work, or gaming, you’ll probably give three cheers for 4K.
Keep in mind, you’ll sit closer to your computer monitor than you would to a 4K TV. At that close distance, the improved image will be noticeable. Whether you make the switch now or later, a 4K monitor sets you up for success when they become the standard.