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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 22, 2024·
If budget is a concern and you primarily engage in competitive gaming or productivity, the Dell S2721DGF offers a good balance at a lower cost with a high refresh rate, which is excellent for fast-paced games, and reasonable color accuracy for tasks like digital photo editing. However, if you're willing to invest more for an immersive experience in HDR gaming and media consumption, the MSI MPG 491CQP, with its wider screen and superior color performance, will provide a significantly better experience. The MSI's OLED technology delivers exceptional contrast and color depth, which is beneficial for HDR video editing and tasks requiring accurate color reproduction. Keep in mind, though, that for text clarity and tasks involving a lot of reading or fine detail, the Dell might be more suitable due to its higher pixels per inch. 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 refresh rate
- Good text clarity
- Good image clarity
Advantages of the MSI MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Best in class for media consumption
- 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
5120 x 1440
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
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 MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Media Consumption
5.9
9.8
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
5120 x 1440
882:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
368 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1000 nits
485 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
Matte
COATING
Matte
The MSI MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) is best in class for media consumption, while the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is poor.
Cost
$300
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell S2721DGF (IPS) has a price of $300 and the MSI MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) costs $1,100.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DGF (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the MSI MPG 491CQP (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 MPG 491CQP (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 MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Competitive Gaming
5.8
5.5
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
6.3 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
0.0 ms
20 - 165 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
48 - 144 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
368 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1000 nits
The Dell S2721DGF (IPS) and MSI MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) are both poor for competitive gaming.
Productivity
6.2
5.8
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
5120 x 1440
109 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
108 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell S2721DGF (IPS) to be only fair for productivity, while the MSI MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) is poor.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) and MSI MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) are suitable for digital photo editing.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell S2721DGF (IPS) and the MSI MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell S2721DGF (IPS) | MSI MPG 491CQP (QD-OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $1,100 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 49" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 5120 x 1440 | |
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 % | 146 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 6.3 ms | 0.03 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 20 - 165 Hz | 48 - 144 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 7.1/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 109 PPI | 108 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Matte | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 7/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
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)
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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."
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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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