The MSI MAG 321CUP breaks price norms to provide amazing 4K 144Hz gaming performance to the masses. It’s a large 32-inch display that’s perfect for immersive play, but its also quite capable for fast-paced gaming. Let’s take a closer look to see if this should be your next monitor upgrade for the holidays.
MSI MAG 321CUP Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment(VA)
- Refresh Rate: 160Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1
- Brightness: 350 cd/m2
- Built-in Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C PD15W x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 27.97″ x 21.02″ x 10.15″
- Weight: 14.55 lb
Design and Features
The MSI MAG 321CUP isn’t as fancy as the models from MSI’s MPG line up, but that means that its base price will always be cheaper. The monitor has a matte black aesthetic so it looks discrete enough for any setting. The scree has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern monitors.
It’s a large monitor, so making sure that you have enough space is imperative before pulling the trigger. The device needs more than 10 inches of depth and almost 28 inches of depth, so it might offset some your other large peripherals. It only weighs 14.55 pounds, so it should be easy to carry around despite its imposing size.
It’s a budget model, but its build quality is still more than just decent compared to other lower-priced offerings. The plastic panels are sturdy enough to resist flexing and cracking, and there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The stand has some wobbling, but it is not as bad as it is on some large monitors.
The MSI MAG 321CUP has an OSD joystick for easy access to its settings and peripherals. Its located at the back, but its easily within reach even you don’t have a direct line of sight. Other monitors have remotes or gimmicky designs, but those often raise the price too much if they are included.
The included stand only offers tilt and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Swivel and pivoting weren’t included, but curved monitors typically don’t need them since it only needs to be centered. You can use VESA mounts, but there is very little reason to spend the extra unless your desk space is limited.
The MSI MAG 321CUP’s connectivity layout is rather limited since it lacks valuable extras. However, it does have DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.1 slots, and a USB-C port for modern devices. It also has a 3.5mm jack for headphones, like most monitors.
It doesn’t have speakers just like most modern budget monitors in the market. That’s fine in our eyes since a monitor like this deserves a pair of fine-tuned gaming headsets. They are better for immersion since they can drown out external noise.
Display and Performance
The MSI MAG 321CUP boasts a 32-inch curved VA panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 160Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 3000:1. This model is not certified for HDR performance, but MSI lists it as HDR-ready, so it is compatible with it.
We prefer 4K at 32 inches versus the more common 27-inch variants since visibility is better on it. The pixel density is lower, but the exponentially higher pixel count will still make games look crisper compared to 1080p or 1440p. You will need a more powerful GPU to get to 160Hz, but more and more GPUs are increasingly becoming capable for that.
The MSI MAG 321CUP covers 100% sRGB and 91% DCI-P3 for excellent color in games and movies. Its default accuracy has a deltaE average of 2.56, meaning it is not dead-accurate but not entirely bad either. Most users won’t need to calibrate it since it’s already balanced out of the box.
Using a colorimeter on the MSI MAG 321CUP improved its dE average to 1.14, making it usable for some editing work or content creation. However, you will need a colorimeter to achieve the same results, and those are typically too expensive to be practical for just gaming. We can only recommend it if you are into color-critical work, but a better-tuned monitor should be your priority.
The MSI MAG 321CUP’s brightness reached 379 cd/m2 at 100%, so it can fight off a decent amount of glare. Its contrast peaked at 2311:1 at 60% brightness, so it can produce deeper blacks compared to its IPS counterparts. That’s a low ratio for a VA panel, but it doesn’t mean that this VA type falls behind.
Its panel uniformity had some issues due to backlight leaks on the top edge of the screen. This is extremely common on curved monitors, even if they aren’t IPS. Note that this varies with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The MSI MAG 321CUP’s main weakness is its slower response time, which causes blurring in fast-paced and contrasting transitions. It has a decent overdrive feature, but it can’t completely overcome the limitations of VA panel technology. The IPS variants are better for FPS and racing games, but we think this is acceptable because of the low price.
The MSI MAG 321CUP is also compatible with G-Sync and FreeSync for tearing—and stutter-free performance. It’s important to have both so you won’t have to change the monitor if you switch to the other GPU brand and want to keep VRR functionality. Its input lag is 4ms at 160Hz, so it’s just as fast as its best competitors.
Thoughts on the MSI MAG 321CUP
The MSI MAG 321CUP is an excellent choice because of its well-rounded performance at a shockingly low price. It provides good color quality and contrast, so games will look convincing and engrossing. It may be a budget model, but it has all the necessary features you will need for daily use.
Its not perfect, but that’s always expected from a product that falls below pricing norms. There is room for improvement, but it might raise the price if manufacturers iron every little nitpick. Its an excellent buy overall since its affordable for the masses, although the system needed to run it will still cost a pretty penny.
Pros:
- Affordable for 4K 144Hz+
- Great Color and Contrast
- HDMI 2.1 and USB-C
Cons:
- Slow Pixel Response Time
- Uniformity Issues
- USB-C Limited to 15W
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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