The MSI Pro MP251 is another affordable solution that works great for gaming and business use. Its 100Hz panel hits two birds with one stone, making that low price even more enticing. Let’s see how it performs to know if it’s another fantastic value king like the larger MSI MD27QXPW.
MSI Pro MP251 Specifications
- Screen Size: 25 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 100Hz
- Response Time: 1ms (MPRT)
- Contrast Ratio: 13 00:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height -No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: HDMI 1.4 x 1, VGA x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 21.95” x 16.62” x 8.16”
Design and Features
The MSI Pro MP251 looks like a regular office monitor based on its aesthetics and functionalities. It has an all-black finish so that it will look unremarkable in any setting or with any setup. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most monitors.
It’s a 25-inch monitor, so it’s the perfect choice for users with limited cubicles or desktop surfaces. It only needs 8.16 inches of depth, so one or two units should fit on a standard-sized desk. It doesn’t weigh a whole lot, so moving it around should be very easy for most users.
Its build quality is great despite its budget-oriented nature. The plastics used are thick enough and sturdy, plus there were no signs of cosmetic defects or imperfections. The stand has some wobbling if you touch the cabinet accidentally, but it’s stable enough most of the time.
The MSI Pro MP251 has an OSD joystick at the back near the right-hand side of the screen. Its easier to use compared to the MD27QXPW’s buttons since it takes less time to get to a specific setting. Other monitors have software support and remotes, but those are unnecessary in most cases.
The included stand only offers tilt, so it might feel limited if you need posture correction for extended hours of use. It also rides low, so some might need a base or to prop it up on top of big books to match their eye level. You can use a VESA mount, but that’s an added cost that might offset the budget limit or put you in the range of a better monitor.
Another limitation of this model is its connectivity layout, which only has HDMI 1.4, a VGA port, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. That’s sufficient for the display’s maximum output, but we wish it had more to offer. However, it would be unfair to use this as a demerit to the product since it is a budget-oriented model.
The MSI Pro MP251 also has speakers, but they only have 2 watts of power per channel. They are fine for basic audio needs like listening to background music but are incapable of entertainment-grade clarity and response. Headphones or desktop speakers will be better, but it is always nice to have a backup.
Display and Performance
The MSI Pro MP251 sports a 25-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 100Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms MPRT response time. The backlight has a 300 cd/m2 output, while the contrast is listed at 1300:1. This model doesn’t have HDR certification, but that’s acceptable since it’s not equipped for it.
1080p monitors are great for gaming and productivity simply because they are easy to run and comfortable. You don’t need a flagship GPU to run games at 100 FPS while processing documents, and browsing will not induce strain. The best part is that most 1080p monitors are very affordable, so it is easier to build a full setup.
The MSI Pro MP251 covers 99% sRGB and 80% DCI-P3 for decent saturation in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 3.71, so it’s not as accurate as the other 100Hz model. It’s not great for editing out of the box, but it’s decent for gaming and browsing.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.31, balancing out the unnatural hues from the default setting. You will need a colorimeter to achieve comparable results, and those are not cheap. We recommend prioritizing a better monitor first if color fidelity is important to your work.
The MSI Pro MP251’s backlight reached 291 cd/m2 at 100%, while its contrast peaked at 1215:1 at 40% brightness. It can fight off glare, but it doesn’t offer deep blacks like VA or OLED panels. It has better black luminance than most IPS panels, but it’s not a significant advantage.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was decent since there were no major backlight leaks on the edges. There is some clouding in the panel’s quadrants, but it was not substantial enough in most instances. Note that this can vary between every monitor made due to tolerances, so it is possible to get a unit with more or fewer panel issues.
The MSI Pro MP251’s responsiveness is great by itself, so you can get by even if you don’t use overdrive. Setting it to the Fast level helped a bit, but some overshoot can happen in contrasting transitions. It’s great for action-packed games, but a faster variant is ideal for E-sports titles.
The biggest limitation of the MSI Pro MP251 is its lack of VRR, which usually requires a DisplayPort connection. It’s not a big deal since 1080p is very easy to run, but it’s always nice to have the option in case it becomes necessary. Its input lag sits at 7ms at 100Hz, so it is still very responsive despite its business-oriented design.
Thoughts on the MSI Pro MP251
The MSI Pro MP251 is a decent choice if you want an affordable solution that satisfies dual purposes. It’s great for gaming and business use, so you don’t have to buy two separate screens if you are serious about hourly hardware. Its design is limited, but it has a few bonuses, like the joystick, to help make up for it.
Our biggest issue with the MSI Pro MP251 is its lack of DisplayPort and VRR functionality. It’s a must-have combo for anything that has gaming suitability, but we understand that it was omitted to drop the price considerably. It’s a decent monitor overall, but we expected the same level of greatness the MSI MD27QXPW offered.
Pros:
- Very Low Price
- 100Hz on a Budget
- Good Color Coverage
Cons:
- Limited Stand
- No DP and VRR
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 has the 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 and create reviews that accentuate the seldom-explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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