The MSI Modern MD272UPSW is a reasonably priced 4K monitor that’s designed as a daily driver. It’s a bit pricey if it were a regular 4K monitor, but it does include Google TV functionality that essentially doubles its usefulness. Let’s take a closer look at this new offering to see if it should be the next upgrade for your home and office.
MSI Modern MD272UPSW Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 300 cd/m2
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (75 x 75)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4a x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB-C PD65W x 1, USB 2.0 x 2, RJ45 x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 24.15″ x 16.35″ x 7.95″
- Weight: 13.89 lbs
Design and Features
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW has a sleek and modern aesthetic that starkly contrasts with its gaming siblings. The monitor has a matte white finish, so it looks elegant and clean despite its budget-oriented nature. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern displays.
This model is sleeker than your average monitor, which helps make it cheaper and environment-friendly at the same time. The device only needs 7.95 inches of depth, so it shouldn’t be too intrusive on most desks. The whole unit weighs 13.89 pounds when fully assembled, so it should be very easy to move around for most users.
Its build quality is great and comparable to most of MSI’s best-selling monitor models. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, and there were no cosmetic defects on any of their parts. The included stand is firm and stable, but the screen can still wobble a bit if you nudge it accidentally.
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW has a mini joystick at the back for easy access to its settings and peripherals. It’s located near the right-hand side, so it’s very easy to reach even if you can’t see it. The remote is the icing on top since it makes navigation much easier, especially while going through the Google TV apps on the monitor.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for comfort and convenience. It is easy to get a good angle for those long hours of work or play, or to position the monitor to sit back and watch some movies. You can also use VESA mounts, but it only becomes necessary in select instances.
MSI did not skimp on the connectivity layout, so this model is as flexible as their high-end offerings. The monitor has DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports, plus a 65-Watt USB-C port with DP Alt mode. You also get two USB 2.0 ports, an RJ45 port, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones and speakers.
This model also has built-in speakers, but it’s underwhelming since they only have 3 watts of power each. They are usable, but the experience isn’t as great since the sound quality can be limited at slightly higher volumes. It’s still recommended to use headphones or a separate set, but its still nice to have a pair that’s ready for use.
Display and Performance
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms response time. The backlight has a 300 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model doesn’t have HDR certification, but that’s okay since basic screens are not that good with them anyway.
4K at 27 inches can be a bit too sharp for couch viewing, but it still has its merits for desktop use. 4K gives you a lot of room and eye candy, but it can still be challenging for some PCs to run games optimally. This model would be better if it were slightly larger, but we can’t complain either.
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW covers more than 100% sRGB and 95% of DCI-P3 for stunning colors in games and movies. The screen’s default accuracy had a dE average of 1.98, meaning it’s decently accurate out of the box. MSI pre-calibrates its products, so buyers often do not have to do anything to them before usage.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to 1.04, making it usable for editing work and content creation. However, the downside is that you will need a colorimeter, which costs as much, if not more, than the monitor itself. It’s only worth it if you will use this monitor for work, but it is impractical otherwise.
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW’s backlight reached 304 cd/m2 at 100%, so it can fight off a decent amount of glare. Its contrast peaked at 1140:1 at 30% brightness, so it’s a bit better than your average IPS panel. However, it is still not comparable with VA or OLEDs, but that’s an acceptable limitation for the panel type.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some issues due to backlight leaks at the top of the screen. They showed up as clouds in dark scenes, but are not as noticeable otherwise unless you actively look for the flaws. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better and worse units out there.
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW is limited to 60Hz, so it is not the fastest when it comes to pixel density. It does well with casual games, but fast-paced titles like CSGO 2 might reveal the limitation. Setting the overdrive too high isn’t ideal since it will add overshoot, which is worse than the original dilemma.
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW doesn’t have FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility. That’s fine for casual purposes, but VRR may come in handy for gamers who want to enjoy demanding titles. Its input lag sits at 9ms at 60Hz, so it is as responsive as a modern productivity monitor.
Thoughts on the MSI Modern MD272UPSW
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW is a decent pick for users who want the most well-thought-out mixed-use monitor. It features a vibrant and accurate IPS panel, which is great for daily PC use, but it also has TV features that make it more valuable. We like its design overall, especially since it includes a ton of functionality for the price.
However, the “Swiss knife” monitors like this are often not perfect since companies try to incorporate more features than usual. It doesn’t have VRR or any specialized implementation, but that’s still okay in our opinion. The price is right, and it’s functional, so we still think that it’s a good buy.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Vibrant and Accurate
- Plenty of Features for Versatility
Cons:
- No HDR
- No VRR
- Screen Can Be Too Small for Movie Streaming
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Overall
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