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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 23, 2024·
If you prioritize high-resolution gaming and media consumption with superior contrast and vivid colors, the MSI MAG 321UPX with its larger screen and QD-OLED panel excels, especially in HDR content. It has a higher price tag but offers top-notch visuals. Alternatively, if you're looking for a cost-effective option that still provides good gaming performance and color accuracy for digital photo editing, the Dell S2721DGF would be a solid choice with its lower price and respectable refresh rate, although it won't match the MSI's peak brightness and contrast. The Dell's performance in competitive gaming is commendable but it falls short in HDR gaming and media viewing experiences compared to the MSI. 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 S2721DGF (IPS)
- Good text clarity
Advantages of the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Good for productivity
- Best in class for media consumption
- Very good refresh rate
- Best in class contrast
- Best in class brightness
- Best in class color volume
- Best in class response time
Key differences
Casual Gaming
5.9
9.9
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
882:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
368 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1000 nits
485 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
97.2 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
99.0 %
Matte
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Competitive Gaming
5.8
6.8
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
6.3 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
0.0 ms
20 - 165 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
48 - 240 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
368 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1000 nits
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is only fair for competitive gaming, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Productivity
6.2
7.6
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
109 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
139 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is good for productivity, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is only fair.
Media Consumption
5.9
10.0
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
882:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
368 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1000 nits
485 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
Matte
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is best in class for media consumption, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Cost
$300
$800
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell S2721DGF (IPS) has a price of $300 and the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) costs $800.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading while the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing while the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) and MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) are suitable for digital photo editing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) and the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell S2721DGF (IPS) | MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $800 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 32" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | OLED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | QD-OLED | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | 8 | N/A | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 882:1 | Inf:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 368 nits | 1000 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 485 nits | Unknown | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | Yes | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 137.7 % | 138.2 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 6.3 ms | 0.03 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 20 - 165 Hz | 48 - 240 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 7.1/10 | 8/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 109 PPI | 139 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Matte | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 7/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7.9/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 2 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 0 | 2 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell S2721DGF (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Christian Eberle | January 2021
"The Dell S2721DGF checks all the boxes for an upper-mid priced display that can take on the best gaming monitors, and you might even be able to find it for under $500 (it's $450-$500 as of writing). The monitor's 1440p, runs at 165 Hz without overclock, has AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatibility, covers a large portion of the DCI-P3 color gamut and includes a lighting effect on the back."
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
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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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