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sRGB vs Adobe RGB vs DCI-P3: Which Color Gamut Should You Choose?

2/3/2026 · Displays · 7 min

sRGB vs Adobe RGB vs DCI-P3: Which Color Gamut Should You Choose?

TL;DR

  • sRGB is the baseline for web and general content. Buy a monitor that fully covers sRGB for web-first workflows.
  • Adobe RGB has a wider green range useful for print and pro photography, but requires color-managed apps and a calibrated pipeline.
  • DCI-P3 is the standard for HDR and modern video; pick DCI-P3 if you work on streaming, video, or want richer colors on displays.

What is a color gamut?

  • A color gamut defines the range of colors a device can display or capture. Think of it as the paint set available to your screen or camera.
  • Common gamuts: sRGB (web), Adobe RGB (print/photo), DCI-P3 (digital cinema and many modern displays).

sRGB: The universal baseline

  • Coverage: ~100% sRGB on most budget to midrange monitors.
  • Use cases: web design, social media, general photo sharing, office work.
  • Why choose it: Ensures consistent color across browsers and devices that assume sRGB.
  • Caveat: It looks less saturated than wider gamuts on wide-gamut screens if not color managed.

Adobe RGB: For print and pro photography

  • Coverage: Wider greens and some cyans compared to sRGB.
  • Use cases: print workflows, high-end photo editing where printers and color-managed labs use Adobe RGB.
  • Why choose it: More headroom for saturated colors that will map well to print.
  • Caveat: If you do not use proper color management and conversion to sRGB for the web, colors can appear oversaturated.

DCI-P3: The modern wide gamut for video and displays

  • Coverage: Wider than sRGB, especially in reds and yellows; used in digital cinema and HDR content.
  • Use cases: Video editing, streaming content, creators targeting modern phones and TVs.
  • Why choose it: Many modern laptops, phones, and TVs target DCI-P3; picking a DCI-P3 monitor helps you preview final look.
  • Caveat: Not all web platforms handle DCI-P3 content consistently; exporting accurately requires conversion steps.

Bit depth and color accuracy

  • 8-bit vs 10-bit: 10-bit panels reduce banding in gradients, especially with wide gamuts and HDR workflows.
  • Delta E: Lower is better for accuracy. Aim for Delta E < 2 for professional work.

Calibration and color-managed workflow

  • A wide gamut monitor is only useful if you calibrate it and use color-managed apps (Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, modern browsers).
  • Use a hardware calibrator and create an ICC profile. Validate prints with soft-proofing if you print.

Which should you buy?

  • Choose sRGB if your work is mostly web, social, or general office use.
  • Choose Adobe RGB if you print professionally and use a color-managed pipeline for photography.
  • Choose DCI-P3 if you edit video or target modern displays and streaming services.

Buying checklist

  • Coverage: Look for listed coverage percentages for sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3.
  • Panel: IPS for color accuracy; VA for contrast when needed.
  • Bit depth: Prefer 10-bit for editing and HDR.
  • Calibration: Support for hardware calibration and included profiles is a plus.
  • Ports: USB-C, DisplayPort, and HDMI for flexible connections.
  • Certificate: Look for factory calibration numbers or Delta E data.

Bottom line

Pick the gamut that matches your output target. sRGB for web, Adobe RGB for print photography, DCI-P3 for modern video. If you need one monitor to do it all, an IPS panel with wide DCI-P3 coverage and accurate calibration is the most versatile choice.

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