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MSI MPG271QR X50 27-inch 500 Hz QHD QD-OLED gaming monitor review: Fast and colorful with premium cred

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The MSI MPG271QR X50 offers the same gorgeous image and phenomenal gameplay as other speedy OLEDs along with AI enhanced screen care, blur reduction options and room light adaptability. Depending on when you read this, it also offers the best value.

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It’s safe to say that 500 Hz QHD OLED gaming monitors are an emerging category, but as this is the third one I’ve reviewed in just a few weeks, it might be more accurate to say they have burst onto the scene. The same thing happened when 240 Hz QHD OLEDs appeared. The first couple were extraordinary, then they quickly became common among the best OLED gaming monitors.

However, there is nothing ordinary about MSI’s MPG271QR X50. Like its closest competition from Asus and Gigabyte, it is a top-shelf display with just about every bell and whistle (OK, no whistle since it doesn’t have internal speakers) you could possibly want. It’s a 27-inch Quantum Dot QHD panel with 500 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, MPRT, HDR 500, and wide gamut color. Let’s take a look.

MSI MPG271QR X50 Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally Panel Type / Backlight Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diode (QD-OLED) Screen Size / Aspect Ratio 27 inches / 16:9 Max Resolution and Refresh Rate 2560x1440 @ 500 Hz Row 3 - Cell 0 FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible Native Color Depth and Gamut 10-bit / DCI-P3+ Row 5 - Cell 0 HDR10, DisplayHDR True Black 500 Response Time (GTG) 0.03ms Brightness (mfr) 300 nits SDR Row 8 - Cell 0 1,000 nits HDR (3% window) Contrast Unmeasurable Speakers None Video Inputs 1x DisplayPort 2.1 w/DSC Row 12 - Cell 0 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C Audio 3.5mm headphone output USB 3.2 1x up, 2x down Power Consumption 39.5w, brightness @ 200 nits Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base 23.9 x 16.3-20.7 x 9.5 inches (607 x 414-526 x 240mm) Panel Thickness 2.8 inches (71mm) Bezel Width Top: 0.27 inch (7mm) Row 19 - Cell 0 Sides: 0.47 inch (12mm) Row 20 - Cell 0 Bottom: 0.78 inch (20mm) Weight 18.5 pounds (8.4kg) Warranty 3 years

Comparisons to the Asus XG27AQDPG and Aorus FO27Q5P are inevitable, so you’ll see them in the charts later, where I look at every aspect of video processing and imaging performance. Spoiler alert: the MPG271QR is right up there with the best OLED gaming monitors currently available. The picture is stunning thanks to a 500-nit HDR peak, Quantum Dot color that covers 108% of DCI-P3, and QHD resolution with 109ppi pixel density.

For video processing, you get Adaptive-Sync, of course, with G-Sync compatibility and FreeSync Premium Pro. You also get MPRT, which is a black frame insertion option for blur reduction. It’s great for systems that run below 200 fps, and it works with no artifacts to spoil the fun.

The MPG271QR’s standout feature is its AI menu. There are dynamic crosshairs, auto dimming and color compensation. Those last two work with a light sensor on the front that detects ambient light and user presence. It links with OLED Care to dim the screen when you walk away. It also shifts brightness and color saturation to balance with changes in room lighting. And speaking of OLED care, there is a large suite of options like pixel shift, refresh, logo and corner dimming and perimeter detection for things like status bars and menus. MSI backs the MPG271QR with a three-year warranty that includes burn-in.

A handy desktop app is available that not only mimics the OSD but also handles firmware updates and provides settings memories for quick recall. Peripheral management is included too with USB ports, types A, B and C, and KVM to bind them to any of the four video inputs. You get two HDMI 2.1, a DisplayPort 2.1 rated for 80Gbps, and a USB-C that mimics DisplayPort and provides 98 watts of power for charging.

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