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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If your priority is exceptional image clarity and you're mainly focused on tasks like digital photo editing, the LG UltraFine 5K offers a higher resolution ideal for such activities. However, due to its lower refresh rate and no variable refresh rate support, it isn't tailored for gaming. On the other hand, the MSI MAG274QRF-QD offers a good balance for both gaming, with a high refresh rate and variable refresh rate support, and productivity. Although it has a lower resolution compared to the LG, it's also less expensive, making it a cost-effective option for a well-rounded experience in casual gaming, media consumption, and productivity tasks. 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
- Good for media consumption
- Best in class text clarity
- Best in class image clarity
- Good brightness
Advantages of the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS)
- Good refresh rate
- Good response time
Key differences
Competitive Gaming
5.0
5.8
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
14.0 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
9.1 ms
N/A
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
Yes
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
The MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are both poor for competitive gaming, though the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is somewhat better.
Productivity
8.7
6.2
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
218 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is very good for productivity, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Media Consumption
7.0
6.0
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
1200:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is good for media consumption, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Cost
$1,179
$436
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) has a price of $1,179 and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) costs $436.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
No
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is suitable for digital photo editing while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is not suitable for digital photo editing.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
6.0
6.1
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
1200:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
99.0 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
96.7 %
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are both only fair for casual gaming.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) | MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,179 | $436 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 5120 x 2880 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1200:1 | 1195:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 500 nits | 372 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | Unknown | 390 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 100 % | 96.8 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 14 ms | 9.1 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | N/A | 20 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | Yes | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 218 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Glossy | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 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 | 0 | 1 | |
Shopping
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."
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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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