2025 looks to continue the QD-OLED revolution, but MSI’s gaming monitor line-up has plenty in store aside from self-emitting pixels. There are new refresh rate standards ranging all the way to 600Hz and even a dual mode Mini LED that’s caught my eye. Let’s take a closer look on the CES show room floor.
MSI MPG 272URDFW E16M
After spending a lot of time testing QD-OLEDs, it’s refreshing to see Mini LED get the attention it deserves. After all, they’re far brighter with a dedicated backlight, leading to its DisplayHDR 1000 certification. MSI doesn’t reveal its peak luminance, but it hits the eye perfectly in this brightly-lit showcase.
Sitting atop a Rapid IPS panel, there’s an explosion of colour that pops, rivaling its OLED brethren with 136% sRGB gamut coverage, 97% DCI-P3, and 93% AdobeRGB. Although it can’t switch pixels off at will, 1,152 lighting zones ensure blacks are as deep as possible from corner to corner.
Whipping out its secret weapon, MPG 272URDFW E16M is both a UHD resolution monitor at 160Hz and an FHD resolution display at 320Hz. Each offers a 0.5ms GtG (grey-to-grey) response time, but the higher the refresh rate, the lower the latency, which is ideal for competitive games. Not only does Dual Mode let you pick and choose your favourite combo at the click of a button, MSI AI Dual Mode intelligently detects your resolution and adjusts the refresh rate granularly to avoid any headaches.
On the rear, it packs two HDMI 2.1 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4 (HBR3), and a USB Type-C with DP Alt Mode compatibility, alongside a 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s no sign of pricing just yet, but we’ll find out soon enough.
MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED
4K/240Hz QD-OLEDs have been around for the better part of a year, but grabbing the spec previously meant you’re lumped with a 32in behemoth. Now, I’m already sold on the larger display as my MSI MPG 321URX review inspired me to grab one, but MPG 272URX marks the first monitor to pack the spec into a more platable 27in form factor that’ll slot onto your desk far easier. Smaller also means denser, with 166 PPI (pixels per inch) ultra-defined visuals.
As a QD-OLED, it comes ready with all the goodies you’d expect, from the quickest 0.03ms GtG response times to immersion-enhancing DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification making images pop. It covers 99% DCI-P3 and even boasts VESA’s ClearMR 13,000 rating. It also does well to mitigate the panel’s pitfalls, with a greater focus on text clarity and light efficiency courtesy of five layers and EL Gen 3 tech.
It’s no surprise to see HDMI 2.1 take the reins but it’s the brand-new DisplayPort 2.1a UHBR20 that takes the cake here. Its 80Gb/s bandwidth is just short of double the alternative, making for uncompromised 4K images without compression.
Alongside its AI Navigator, MSI blesses the display with OLED Care 2.0, helping to combat screen burn-in by automatically detecting and reducing the luminance of specific static objects, like user interfaces or neon signs. If all else fails, there’s a three-year warranty that covers faults, including burn-in.
MSI MPG 272QR QD-OLED X50
In another world’s first, MSI has adorned its QHD resolution QD-OLED with a blistering 500Hz refresh rate. It’s not alone in the space, with some competitors debuting the same spec at CES 2025, but I’m confident that MSI has the muscle to edge them out when taking all its features into consideration.
You’re going to need the new high-bandwidth DisplayPort 2.1a on your side to achieve the lossless maximum refresh rate here, so it’s best paired with a fresh graphics card, like Nvidia RTX 50 Series. Going a step further than other QD-OLEDs, it manages a higher VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, and top-of-the-line ClearMR 21000 rating to wave goodbye to motion blur.
QD Premium Colour ensures you’ll see colour reproduction under a Delta E of two, while gamuts range no lower than 98% for AdobeRGB, 99% for DCI-P3, and 138% for sRGB. Safe to say it’s one we can’t wait to get in our labs.
MSI MPG 322URX QD-OLED
MSI hasn’t reinvented the wheel with MPG 322URX, as it shares much of the same specs as previous 4K/240Hz gaming monitors, but it’s not entirely trodden ground. Slipping an advanced DisplayPort 2.1a UHBR20 under the hood means you can shrug off compression and witness the full might of the display, no holds barred.
Other quality of life improvements include a more comprehensive KVM switch featuring a 98W power delivery USB-C, up from 90W, and new certifications, such as ClearMR 13000. Just when I thought the monitors of 2024 couldn’t get much better, this model is here to prove me wrong.
MSI MPG 242R X60N
What would a CES showcase be without something for the esports scene? MPG 242R X60N sticks with old, reliable Rapid TN technology to crank the dial all the way up to 600Hz, putting it on the bleeding edge of competition. Resolutions stay low at FHD, but it’s the only way you’ll be able to saturate such a staggeringly high refresh rate, even with the latest GPU in your system.
With many of the same features as its premium counterparts, you can also expect a 0.5ms response time, 98W power delivery USB-C in the KVM ecosystem, and all the AI fancifuls.
