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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and mainly use your monitor for everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, or casual media consumption, the Dell S2721DS could serve you well. However, if you have a bit more to spend and are interested in gaming or photo editing, the MSI MAG274QRF-QD offers superior gaming features like a higher refresh rate and variable refresh rate support for smoother gameplay. The MSI also has better color depth which is important for more accurate photo editing. The Dell lacks these advanced gaming and editing capabilities, so the MSI is the better choice for those purposes, even at a higher price. 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 S2721DS (IPS)
- The Dell S2721DS (IPS) has no clear advantages over the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS).
Advantages of the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS)
- Good refresh rate
- Good response time
Key differences
Competitive Gaming
5.0
5.8
75Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
17.4 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
9.1 ms
48 - 75 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
Yes
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
The MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) and Dell S2721DS (IPS) are both poor for competitive gaming, though the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is somewhat better.
Cost
$309
$436
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Dell S2721DS (IPS) has a price of $309 and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) costs $436.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell S2721DS (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
5.8
6.1
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
75Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
1015:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
N/A
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
96.7 %
Matte
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) to be only fair for casual gaming, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Productivity
5.9
6.2
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
109 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
No
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) to be only fair for productivity, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
Media Consumption
5.9
6.0
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
1015:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
334 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
N/A
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
Matte
COATING
Matte
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) to be only fair for media consumption, while the Dell S2721DS (IPS) is poor.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Digital Photo Editing
No
No
Both the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell S2721DS (IPS) and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell S2721DS (IPS) | MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$309 | $436 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 75Hz | 165Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1015:1 | 1195:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 334 nits | 372 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | N/A | 390 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 98.6 % | 96.8 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 17.4 ms | 9.1 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 48 - 75 Hz | 20 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | Yes | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5.2/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 109 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Matte | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 1 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 0 | 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 | 1 | 1 | |
Shopping
Dell S2721DS (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tech Radar
Ural Garrett | November 2021
"General users or casual PC gamers in need of a solid and affordable QHD monitor with a few extras may walk away satisfied with the Dell S2721D."
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."
Give feedback
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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