The MSI Pro MP275Q is a stunningly affordable 1440p monitor that’s designed to be suited for both gaming and business use. It costs less than some 1080p variants, so we’re extra curious as to how it performs. Let’s see if the monitor has performance penalties to help MSI sell it at this unbelievably low price.
MSI Pro MP275Q Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 100Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1300:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 24.17” x 17.98” x 8.16”
- Weight: 12.21 lbs
Design and Features
The first characteristic of a budget model is its much simpler design, which we know works for many users. The monitor has a matte black finish, so it won’t look out of place anywhere you put it. The display has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most monitors.
It’s a 27-inch model, but its dimensions are modest compared to similar modern alternatives. The device needs a little over eight inches of depth from your desk, but the base is flat, so it shouldn’t be too intrusive. The whole device weighs 12.21 pounds, so it’s very easy to move around or bring with you as needed.
The MSI MP275Q’s build quality isn’t the best we’ve seen from them, but it doesn’t mean that its bad. The plastics used are sturdy enough to prevent flexing and cracking, and there were no cosmetic defects. The included stand is a bit wobbly due to its limitations, but it is still workable in our eyes.
This model may be an extra-budget model, but it still includes a joystick for the OSD. Other monitors will have to make do with buttons at this price range, so this is a welcome bonus. It’s very easy to access even if you don’t see it, and getting to a specific setting is typically quicker with it.
The included stand only offers tilt, but that’s understandable since most budget models are often limited to this design. The monitor may ride low for some, so a stand, pedestal, or even a stack of books might be needed to prop it up. It’s worth getting an affordable VESA mount for it this time since the two purchases are still within the affordability range.
Another aspect that took a penalty to help with the price is the MSI MP275Q’s connectivity layout. It only has DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a 3.5mm jack for audio. Other business monitors have USB ports, but we’d gladly not have them if the price is right.
It does have speakers, but they only have 2 watts of power per channel, like most basic monitors. It’s nice to have a backup set, but they are incapable of playing games and playing entertainment-grade sound. It is still better to use headphones, but we know that those are not ideal for business or professional settings.
Display and Performance
The MSI Pro MP275Q sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 100Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight has a 300 cd/m2 output, while the contrast is listed at 1300:1. This model doesn’t advertise HDR features, but that’s understandable since it’s a budget model.
27-inch 1440p monitors are perfect all-rounders because of their excellently balanced pixel density. The screen will be sharper than a regular 1080p variant, but it won’t be as polarizing as a 4K display. It’s relatively easy to run now with most midrange GPUs, so gamers won’t struggle with having to spend a lot more for a flagship GPU.
The MSI Pro MP275Q covers 99% of sRGB and 70% of DCI-P3 for decent color in most applications. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.21, so it was decently accurate and balanced out of the box. MSI monitors are keeping up with the factory calibration trend of their products, so owners won’t have to do much at the start.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 0.77, making it comparable with some prosumer models in the market. It’s not as vibrant, but it has enough room for optimization to go toe to toe with the best color fidelity. However, the colorimeter used to get these results is quite expensive, so it’s not a practical purchase for most.
The MSI Pro MP275Q’s backlight reached 391 cd/m2 at 100%, so it pumps out a lot of light, unlike many office monitors. Its contrast reached 1244:1 at 35% brightness, pushing it past many IPS offerings in the market. It has better grayscale and black luminance than other IPS models, but it still cannot match OLEDs and VA panels in that regard.
Its panel uniformity had some issues with backlight leaks at the top and bottom edge of the screen. This is natural for IPS, so it can’t truly be treated as a deal breaker. It is random, so there are units with better panel qualities out there.
The MSI Pro MP275Q’s pixel response time is considerably better than most office monitors simply because it goes up to 100Hz. Modern IPS panels have also improved in this aspect, so you’d be hard-pressed to find smudging most of the time. It also has an overdrive feature like its gaming counterparts, but use it sparingly since setting it too high will add overshoot.
The MSI Pro MP275Q is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free gaming. Dual compatibility is necessary now if you want to save money since you won’t need to buy a new display if you switch GPU brands and want VRR. Its input lag sits at 5ms at 100Hz, so it’s fast and very responsive.
Thoughts on the MSI Pro MP275Q
The MSI Pro MP275Q is an excellent budget monitor for both office and casual gaming applications. It is built well despite its limitations, so it won’t give you the unsatisfying feeling most cheap monitors can provide. It also passes imaging tests with flying colors, so its perfect for content creation and some editing work.
We did mention that it has some limitations, such as its lack of crucial connectors and its stand. However, those are easily forgivable if you consider how much you are paying for this monitor. It’s a great buy, and anything better with more features will be more expensive.
Pros:
- Very Low Price
- Great Color Performance
- Adjustable Stand
- Great for Gaming and Productivity
Cons:
- Poor Uniformity
- Limited Features
- Tilt-Only Stand
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.
- Overall
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