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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 23, 2024·
If image clarity and text quality are top priorities, particularly for productivity or digital photo editing, the LG UltraFine with its higher resolution and excellent color accuracy is a solid option despite its higher cost and lower refresh rate, which isn't ideal for competitive gaming. On the other hand, the MSI MAG, with its superior contrast, color volume, and refresh rate, offers a more immersive experience for media consumption and casual to competitive gaming at a better price point, but the lower resolution might not be as suitable for tasks that benefit from the higher pixel density of the LG. 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 UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS)
- Very good for productivity
- Best in class text clarity
- Best in class image clarity
Advantages of the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- 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
6.0
9.9
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
1200:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1000 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
99.0 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
99.0 %
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is only fair.
Competitive Gaming
5.0
6.8
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
14.0 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
0.0 ms
N/A
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
48 - 240 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1000 nits
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is only fair for competitive gaming, while the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is poor.
Productivity
8.7
7.6
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
218 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
139 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is very good for productivity, while the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is good.
Media Consumption
7.0
10.0
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
1200:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
1000 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is best in class for media consumption, while the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is good.
Cost
$1,179
$900
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) has a price of $1,179 and the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) costs $900.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
Yes
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (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 LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (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 LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (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 LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) are suitable for digital photo editing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) | MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,179 | $900 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 32" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 5120 x 2880 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | OLED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | QD-OLED | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1200:1 | Inf:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 500 nits | 1000 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | Unknown | Unknown | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | Yes | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 100 % | 138.2 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 14 ms | 0.03 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | N/A | 48 - 240 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5/10 | 8/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 218 PPI | 139 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Glossy | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 10/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 10/10 | 7.9/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 0 | 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 | |
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
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CEO and Monitors Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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