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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 22, 2024·
For precise text clarity and high-resolution productivity tasks, the LG UltraFine 5K could be a perfect fit, although it's not ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming and comes at a higher cost. Conversely, the MSI MPG 321URX, while less expensive, offers superior contrast and color performance, making it excellent for both HDR gaming and media consumption, and it's also well-suited for creative work like digital photo editing. However, the MSI's lower resolution may not match the LG's sharpness for text and detailed work. Considering the tradeoffs between image quality for entertainment and creative tasks (MSI) versus detailed productivity and text clarity (LG), you should choose based on your primary use case while also factoring in price and gaming preferences. 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 MPG 321URX (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 MPG 321URX (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 MPG 321URX (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 MPG 321URX (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 MPG 321URX (QD-OLED) is best in class for media consumption, while the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is good.
Cost
$1,179
$950
$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 MPG 321URX (QD-OLED) costs $950.
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 MPG 321URX (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 MPG 321URX (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 MPG 321URX (QD-OLED) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and MSI MPG 321URX (QD-OLED) are suitable for digital photo editing.
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How the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and the MSI MPG 321URX (QD-OLED) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) | MSI MPG 321URX (QD-OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,179 | $950 | ||
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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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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