If you prioritize exceptional contrast and are interested in high-quality HDR gaming and media consumption, the LG monitor with W-OLED technology offers superior image clarity and is suitable for print photo editing, making it a strong choice despite its higher price. However, if you are looking for a balance between performance and cost, especially for competitive gaming due to its faster refresh rate and response time, the MSI monitor provides good value and is also capable of digital photo editing, all at a typically less expensive price than the LG monitor. Additionally, with a broader variable refresh rate range, the MSI may offer a smoother gaming experience for fast-paced games. 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 LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED)
Best in class for casual gaming
Good for media consumption
Very good image clarity
Best in class contrast
Best in class response time
Advantages of the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS)
Good refresh rate
Good text clarity
Key differences
Casual Gaming
9.5/10
6.1/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
200 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
99.0 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
96.7 %
Matte
COATING
Matte
The LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Media Consumption
7.8/10
6.0/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
200 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
Matte
COATING
Matte
The LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) is good for media consumption, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Cost
$1,997
$436
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) has a price of $1,997 and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) costs $436.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
Yes
No
The LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Key similarities
Competitive Gaming
5.4/10
5.8/10
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
1.0 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
9.1 ms
N/A
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
Yes
200 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
The MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) and LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) are both poor for competitive gaming.
Productivity
6.6/10
6.2/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
163 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
The LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are both only fair for productivity.
Digital Photo Editing
No
No
Both the LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are suitable for print photo editing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the LG 27EQ850 (W-OLED) and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) compare to other monitors
"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."
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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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
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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.