MSI MPG271QRX QHD gaming monitor review: Another speedy OLED to consider

27-inch QHD QD-OLED panel with 360 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR400 and wide gamut color.

MSI MPG271QRX
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

I have observed that QD-OLED panels give up some peak brightness to their non-QD counterparts. But the MPG271QRX’s 248 nits is still plenty of output for an office or media room. The variations seen in the above chart indicate different approaches to engineering. Any OLED is capable of 400 nits in SDR mode, but that choice increases power consumption and shortens panel life. It also increases the possibility of burn-in. Running at a lower level is more practical for the long term. Black levels are, as usual, unmeasurable, as is contrast. All OLED panels are equal in this regard.

After Calibration to 200 nits

The MPG271QRX doesn’t appear to vary brightness with content, so I was able to set 200 nits using a full-field pattern. This makes no difference to black level or contrast measurements. ANSI or intra-image contrast is also unmeasurable.

Test Takeaway: I can’t overstate how much better OLED image quality is over LCD. The MPG271QRX’s true 0% black levels mean the image appears three-dimensional. It’s as if one sees into the monitor rather than looking at an image rendered on a flat surface.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

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MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

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.

  • dimar
    No DisplayPort 2.1a?
    Reply
  • UnforcedERROR
    dimar said:
    No DisplayPort 2.1a?
    It's a 1440p monitor, it doesn't need more than 1.4 to support 360hz.
    Reply
  • oofdragon
    Why aren't smartphones 360hz already as well?
    Reply
  • UnforcedERROR
    oofdragon said:
    Why aren't smartphones 360hz already as well?
    Why would you want a 360hz phone display? Appreciably worse battery life and practically 0 discernable difference in viewing quality. Ultra high refresh is great for low latency, first-person gaming, but is overwise unimportant.
    Reply
  • mahanddeem
    A question to the reviewer, were the test for absolute input lag done with VRR on or off?
    Thanks
    Reply
  • plshelpmeimunderthewater
    hi bro i recently just bought this and i was looking for the best settings for this or best configuration can you help me please
    Reply