If you prioritize exceptional color quality for HDR gaming, media consumption, and digital photo editing, and you have a higher budget, the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is excellent for these uses with its superior contrast and color performance. However, if you're looking for a more affordable option that still performs well for a mix of casual and competitive gaming, productivity, and media consumption, the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is a solid choice, though it won't deliver the same level of HDR capability and color accuracy as the QD-OLED model. 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 MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED)
Best in class for casual gaming
Good for productivity
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
Advantages of the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS)
Good text clarity
Key differences
Casual Gaming
9.9/10
6.1/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
1000 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
99.0 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
96.7 %
Matte
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Competitive Gaming
6.8/10
5.8/10
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
0.0 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
9.1 ms
48 - 240 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
Yes
1000 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is only fair for competitive gaming, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is poor.
Productivity
7.6/10
6.2/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
139 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is good for productivity, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Media Consumption
10.0/10
6.0/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
1000 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
Matte
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is best in class for media consumption, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is only fair.
Cost
$900
$436
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) has a price of $900 and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) costs $436.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
Yes
No
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
No
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is suitable for digital photo editing while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is not suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
Yes
No
The MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) is suitable for HDR video editing and color grading while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Key similarities
Print Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-OLED) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are suitable for print photo editing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI MAG 321UPX (QD-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.
By the numbers
210
Monitors evaluated
10,500
Monitors stats compiled
15
Proprietary Monitors ratings developed
116,600
Recommendations made
17,490
Consumer hours saved
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.