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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're a competitive gamer or want the best HDR gaming and media consumption experience, the Dell Alienware with its QD-OLED panel offers superior contrast, color performance, and responsiveness, which justifies its higher price. However, if you need a monitor for productivity, digital photo editing, and casual gaming with good image quality at a more affordable price, the MSI with its IPS panel is a solid choice. It also supports a wider color gamut for print photo editing. Keep in mind that for intense competitive gaming and HDR content, the MSI won't perform as well as the Dell. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Best in class for competitive gaming
- Best in class for media consumption
- Best in class refresh rate
- Best in class contrast
- Best in class color volume
- Best in class response time
Advantages of the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS)
- Good text clarity
Key differences
Casual Gaming
9.7
6.1
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
235 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
445 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
99.6 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
96.7 %
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Competitive Gaming
9.7
5.8
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
0.6 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
9.1 ms
20 - 360 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
Yes
235 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) is best in class for competitive gaming, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is poor.
Media Consumption
9.5
6.0
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
235 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
445 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) is best in class for media consumption, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Cost
$900
$436
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) has a price of $900 and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) costs $436.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
Yes
No
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
No
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) is suitable for digital photo editing while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is not suitable for digital photo editing.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) is not suitable for print photo editing while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Productivity
5.8
6.2
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
111 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Glossy
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) to be only fair for productivity, while the Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) is poor.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware AW2725DF (QD-OLED) | MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$900 | $436 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | OLED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | QD-OLED | IPS | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 360Hz | 165Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | Inf:1 | 1195:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 235 nits | 372 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 445 nits | 390 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | Yes | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 100 % | 96.8 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 0.6 ms | 9.1 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 20 - 360 Hz | 20 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | Yes | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 9.5/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 9.8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 111 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Glossy | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 6.7/10 | 7/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7.2/10 | 7/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 1 | 2 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 1 | |
Shopping
MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Christian Eberle | April 2021
"The MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD has the largest color gamut we’ve ever seen and near-perfect out-of-box accuracy. sRGB content will be oversaturated though, and HDR doesn’t do anything for image quality."
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We're constantly perfecting our model
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec monitors team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest monitor information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the monitor team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Monitors Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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