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HDR Performance

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

Besides incredible motion processing, HDR is the other big reason to go OLED. Its deep blacks and infinite contrast are unmatched by any other technology. The MPG271QR supports HDR10 and is certified for DisplayHDR 500 True Black.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

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MSI MPG271QR X50 — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

I measured all three of the MPG271QR’s HDR modes and found True Black 500 to be the best. EOTF Boost is a little brighter in the mid-tones but with the same peaks of around 500 nits. Peak 1000 looked the same as True Black to my eye. Again, it is on par with the other two 500 Hz screens. The LG has the highest peak value at 763 nits, so that might appeal to some users. But in practice, the visual difference between all six screens is small thanks to their perfect black levels.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

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All three HDR modes deliver the same grayscale tracking with slightly warm tones visible throughout the brightness range. True Black 500 has the best EOTF tracking with near perfect adherence to the reference line. The tone map transition at 65% takes a softer curve, but this is not visible in content.

The HDR color tests show slight oversaturation in red, magenta, and blue with linear tracking and hues that are on-target. The MPG271QR makes full use of its wide gamut to deliver stunning HDR color that’s richly saturated and vivid. In the BT.2020 test, it runs out of color at 90% red, 75% green and 95% blue.

Test Takeaway: The MPG271QR is a stellar HDR monitor with tremendous contrast, peaks over 500 nits and gorgeous color. It uses its wide gamut to full potential and tracks accurately across the board. It is an HDR reference display on par with the best OLEDs I’ve reviewed.

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Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.