Published: November 30, 2023 | Source: MSI | Author: Tom Logan

MSI MAG 274UPF 4K IPS Monitor Review

Conclusion

Having recently reviewed the MSI MEG 342C OLED panel, it would be easy to come to the MAG 274UPF and be disappointed. However, that’s far from the case.

Obviously it isn’t going to give you the same level of eye-candy as a monitor that is more than twice the price, but neither is the MAG 274UPF put in the shade. We know that not everyone has the room for a giant monitor, be it 16:9 or 21:9, and the 27″ format of this fits most peoples desks. If you’ve only ever used the affordable 24″ or smaller displays you’ll adore the extra size. A less obvious benefit is that with smaller dimensions but still a 4K display, you get smaller pixel size and thus a smoother image. Given how much GPU horsepower you need to run the MAG 274UPF flat out – 144 Hz remember – then saving some performance by needing less anti-aliasing can only be a good thing.

Image Quality

The blacks were as good as you would expect from an IPS panel, and the colours were, if anything, even better. IPS can bring accurate colours from wide viewing angles, but sometimes is let down in the contrast and ‘punch’ departments. The Rapid IPS on the MSI MAG is excellent. We know that photos of screens don’t do them justice, but we think our photos on the previous page show this off well. So imagine that quality but even more so, as the naked eye is always the best test. As you would expect from a 144Hz screen there is no ghosting or tearing. The addition of both AMDs Freesync and Nvidias G-SYNC help no end in this regard. It lets you have all the rock solid imagery of VSYNC, but regardless of frame rate. VSYNC only works in steps. It’s a real feather in the cap of the MSI.

Extras

Although a solid stand might seem like a strange thing to applaud but we’ve seen enough dodgy ones that MSI deserve credit here too. The stand has adjustment in all regards, whether you want simple tilt and height, or run it in portrait mode, you’re covered. As we said before, if you have got your own stand already be aware the MAG 274UPF is 75×75 VESA. Finding a 65W USB Type-C amongst the connection options was a really nice touch, particularly at this price point.

Final Thoughts

The MSI MAG 274UPF has great image quality, a great stand, plenty of connection options and a blazing fast 4K 144Hz HDR400 panel. If you’ve been putting up with lesser screens it’s a great place to see how good things can really look, without spending as much as their MEG 342C OLED panel demands, and wins our OC3D Gamers Choice Award.

Currently available until the end of November as part of the MSI Black Friday deals for just Â£449.