Nov 4 2012 - 30-inch displays are still considered the realm of professional displays. As a result, the number of options is very limited and the prices are generally very high. Of course, they still offers some outstanding image quality and high resolution that is hard to beat especially for series graphics work. Find out which I think are currently the best available.
Best Value - HP ZR30w 30-inch
©HP Inc.
Value is very much a relative term when it comes to 30-inch displays. Pretty much every model currently available is priced over $1000 which is far beyond what most people want to spend on a display. The HP ZR30w is currently the most affordable with pricing starting around $1150. The 30-inch display uses an IPS panel for a nice wide color gamut that covers 99% of the sRGB and 96% of AdobeRGB. Response times are good at 7ms and brightness can go as high as 370 nits. The stand covers height, swivel and tilt. Connectors include DisplayPort and DVI-D. A four port USB 2.0 hub is also built into the monitor.
Best Overall - Dell UltraSharp U3011 30-inch
©Dell
Dell's UltraSharp series is well known for their solid performance and excellent range of connectors and the U3011 is no different. The 30-inch display offers some excellent color capabilities with 100% coverage of sRGB and nearly 99% of the AdobeRGB gamuts. In addition, Dell color calibrates each display at the factory for both of these color profiles for excellent out of the box color. What really sets the Dell apart from the others is the sheer number of connectors including two HDMI, two DVI-D, DisplayPort, VGA and component video. In addition to this, it also includes a four port USB 2.0 hub and 7-in-1 card reader. The stand supports height, swivel and tilt adjustments. An optional soundbar is also available for those that want to have speakers attached to the display. Prices start around $1250.
Best Graphics - NEC PA301W-BK-SV 30-inch
©NEC Display Solutions
This monitor is designed for the serious graphics professional in mind. Both of the screens above do an excellent job with color but they fall somewhat short of what the NEC PA301W-BK-SV can do but they are far more affordable. Color gamut support is very wide with nearly 100% coverage of the AdobeRGB and full coverage of sRGB. The big difference though is the inclusion of the SpectraView color calibration tool and software to keep having the best color over time. It isn't as bright as the others topping out at 350 nits but most of the time you won't be running at full brightness anyways to prevent the colors from washing out. Connectors include two DisplayPort and two DVI-D. It does feature a built-in USB 2.0 hub as well. The best part is that the stand fully supports height, swivel, tilt and pivot adjustments. Pricing is quite high at $2500.
