MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 review: Two-fer monitor pairs 500Hz with USB-C

Best Prices Today: MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50

An unprecedented wave of high-refresh gaming monitors has hit the market over the past few years, including multiple OLED and LCD displays with a maximum refresh rate of at least 500Hz. The MSI MPG 271QR delivers this alongside great color accuracy, but the most attractive reason to buy the MSI over another OLED competitor is the inclusion of USB-C with lots of Power Delivery.

Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 specs and features

The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 is part of a new wave of OLED monitors with a resolution of 2560×1440 and a refresh rate of 500Hz (or in some cases, slightly more). The MSI’s specifications are largely similar to competitors, such as the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SD.

However, the MSI offers one specification that is unusual, and that’s a USB-C port with up to 98 watts of power delivery. Many direct competitors don’t offer USB-C at all, and most that do have USB-C, deliver less power through it.

• Display size: 26.5-inch 16:9 aspect ratio
• Native resolution: 2560×1440
• Panel type: QD-OLED
• Refresh rate: Up to 500Hz
• Adaptive sync: Yes, Adaptive Sync, G-Sync Compatible
• HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black
• Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x USB Type-C with DisplayPort and 98 watts of Power Delivery, 1x 3.5mm audio out
• Audio: None
• Extra features: Ergonomic stand, proximity sensor
• Price: $899 MSRP, approx. $700 typical retail

MSI announced the MPG 271QR at $899 MSRP, but it has quickly dropped in price due to holiday deals and can now be found for $650 to $700. That’s a big drop, though one that competitive monitors have matched.

The MPG 271QR shouldn’t be confused with the MSI MAG 272QP QD-OLED X50, though the two are similar. The most notable difference is the USB-C port; the MPG model has USB-C with up to 98 watts of power delivery, while the MAG 272QP has just 15 watts. The MPG also has a proximity sensor not found on the MAG.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 design

The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 opts for a reserved design with an all-black chassis and stand. Up front the bezels are deep, matte black on all sides, while around back you’ll find subtle black gloss MSI branding. A small, subtle MSI badge just above the stand’s neck provides a hint of RGB-LED customization, and is compatible with MSI’s Mystic Light for software control of the lighting, but it’s too small and dim to stand out.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

I generally like simple design, but I also can’t deny that MSI’s design has slipped a bit relative to the competition. Asus packs more flair and Samsung provides more luxury. The MSI looks fine but doesn’t stand out next to design leaders.

Functionally, though, the MPG 271QR QD-OLED checks off the boxes. It has an ergonomic stand with a flat, unobtrusive base. The stand is solid and provides adjustment for height, tilt, swivel, and can pivot 90 degrees for use in portrait orientation. The monitor also has a 100x100mm VESA mount for use with third-party monitor stands and arms.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 connectivity

Connectivity is a big part of the MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50’s story and, for some, will become the reason to buy it over a competitor.

That’s because the MPG 271QR has a USB-C port with DisplayPort and up to 98 watts of Power Delivery. Many competitors don’t even have USB-C, so this is a notable feature. The USB-C port can handle the monitor’s full refresh rate and resolution. It also connects to two downstream USB-A ports with 5Gbps of data bandwidth.

Alternatively to USB-C upstream input, the USB-A ports can be driven by a USB-B upstream port. KVM switch functionality is included for easy switching between two connected PCs. This means you can easily connect both a laptop and desktop (using the USB-A ports to connect your mouse and keyboard), then switch between them as needed.

While I do like the USB-C port, I’ll admit it feels a tad less relevant here than with 4K/240Hz QD-OLED monitors, such as the MSI MPG 272URX. A 1440p/500Hz OLED, such as the MPG 271QR, is more likely to be used as a dedicated gaming display connected to only a desktop. Still, if you need USB-C, the MPG 271QR delivers.

The MPG 271QR also has one DisplayPort 2.1 and two HDMI 2.1 for a total of four video inputs. All four video inputs can handle the monitor’s 1440p resolution at its maximum refresh rate of 500Hz.

The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 has an attractive and easy-to-use menu system controlled by a joystick centered behind the lower bezel.

Menu options are well labeled and the range of adjustment is extensive. You’ll find preset modes for several color gamuts including sRGB, AdobeRGB, and Display P3. Additional adjustments include six-axis color calibration and precise adjustments for color temperature and gamma. On the whole, the range of image quality adjustment here is on par with Asus, and better than typical gaming monitors from Alienware, Acer, and Samsung.

A proximity sensor is included and provides options for automatic brightness adjustment, or to turn the monitor off entirely when you’re away. Though pitched primarily as a way to reduce OLED burn-in, the value of automatic brightness adjustment shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s much more convenient than manual adjustment throughout the day.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

There’s a healthy dose of gaming features including timers, frame rate counters, on-screen cross hair, plus black stabilizer and AI vision modes to reveal enemies in dark areas of a scene. The monitor also includes constrained aspect ratio modes to emulate a 24.5-inch monitor or 4:3 monitor. All of this is fairly typical for a OLED gaming monitor, but still good to see.

MSI provides Windows software called MSI Gaming Intelligence. It can control monitor features within Windows, which is generally easier than using the on-screen menus. The Gaming Intelligence app doesn’t look as slick as Asus’ DisplayWidget or Dell’s Display Manager, but it does the job. MacOS users and Linux users are out of luck, though, as the Gaming Intelligence app is only available for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 audio

The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 doesn’t have built-in speakers, which is typical for an OLED monitor. A 3.5mm audio pass-through jack is provided to make connecting a headset easier.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 SDR image quality

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 has a Samsung QD-OLED panel with 2560×1440 resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 500Hz. QD-OLED panels are the most common type of OLED panel for computer monitors and universally perform well—the MPG 271QR included.

First up is SDR brightness, where the MPG 271QR comes in at roughly 300 nits. That’s a respectable result. While some competitors have managed to climb above 300 nits, this has only happened recently. And 300 nits is generally bright enough for most situations, though it may still prove insufficient if you have a room with large, sunlit windows that lack shades.

It’s also worth mention that the MPG 271QR has a glossy coat. Though the finish does attempt to mitigate glare, reflections will be obvious. Shoppers who despise glare (like me!) should look at the Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD, which has a matte finish.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Contrast is a highlight for all OLED monitors, and the MPG 271QR is no exception. The monitor achieves a perfect black level of zero nits, which means it can provide an effectively infinite contrast ratio.

Perceived contrast is also excellent due to the glossy finish. A glossy finish will generally look more contrast-rich than a matte finish due to how light interacts with the display’s surface.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Samsung QD-OLED panels are well known for their excellent color saturation. The MPG 271QR lives up to that reputation with color coverage that spans 100 percent of sRGB, 98 percent of DCI-P3, and 95 percent of AdobeRGB.

This is close to as good as it gets for a monitor in 2025. Keep in mind, however, that other QD-OLED monitors provide the same performance. Asus’ ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W, which has a tandem LG WOLED panel, is also in this league.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The MPG 271QR scores well in color accuracy even by the standards of OLED monitors, which are generally excellent. It also managed to achieve this with great color accuracy across all measured colors. No color had an error value above one, which is a spectacular result. This means the image is realistic and true to the intent of the content you’re viewing.

MSI also delivers in gamma and color temperature. The gamma curve was right on target with a value of 2.2. This is notable because many OLED monitors have a default gamma curve of 2.3, which means the image appears just a hair darker than it should. Color temperature, meanwhile, came in at 6400K—a very slight miss off the 6500K target. Technically this means the image is a tad warmer than it should be, but this result is close enough that you’re unlikely to notice it.

Also, as mentioned, MSI provides image quality adjustments for both gamma and color temperature, so you can adjust these values if your needs or preferences vary.

Sharpness is one potential weakness, though in a relative sense. 2560×1440 resolution works out to roughly 110 pixels per inch (ppi) across the 26.5-inch panel, and looks sharp in many situations. However, 4K OLED monitors deliver about 163 ppi, which is a noticeable improvement. You’ll notice the sharpness disadvantage most when reading very small text, which can look a bit ragged if compared to a 4K display.

On the whole, the MPG 271QR’s SDR image quality is superb. The monitor scores well across the board. While most QD-OLED monitors will look extremely similar, the MPG 271QR has a small advantage over most competitors in color accuracy and gamma performance. It’s also bright for an OLED display.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 HDR image quality

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 supports HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certified. It also supports a relatively new HDR mode called Electro-Optical Transfer Function Boost, or EOTF Boost, which tweaks HDR luminance mapping for a brighter result.

This results in great, though expected, HDR brightness and performance. The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED achieves up to 895 nits of brightness in EOTF Boost mode when 3 percent of the display was lit (and was only slightly dimmer in HDR 1000 mode, at 855 nits). This means the MPG 271QR can provide excellent brightness when small, bright objects are displayed.

Expanding the area of the display that’s lit drastically reduces peak HDR brightness, which is typical for OLED displays. However, the MPG 271QR’s sustained HDR performance remains competitive across the board. I’ve tested brighter OLED monitors, such as the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W with tandem WOLED display, but they’re rare.

The MPG 271QR’s test results translated nicely to real-world performance. The monitor looked electric while viewing the “Into the Storm” scene from Mad Max: Fury Road, which sees lighting arc around and across gigantic dust devils. The “Gargantuan” scene from Interstellar, meanwhile, showed good detail in the bands of the black hole’s accretion disk. These details tend to wash out in SDR.

While the MPG 271QR has solid HDR performance, it lacks user HDR brightness control. This is a feature I prefer to see all OLED monitors provide. While giving the user HDR brightness control technically makes content less accurate, it makes using HDR in Windows far easier. Without it some HDR content (particularly static images) can at times become annoyingly bright. This is a feature that Asus’ OLED monitors usually include.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 motion performance

Gamers who want outstanding motion clarity will be pleased by the MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50. It’s one of several new QD-OLED monitors with a refresh rate that can reach as high as 500Hz—more than twice the 240Hz refresh rate provided by common 4K QD-OLED monitors.

That’s a big boost, and it shows. While 240Hz OLED monitors already look clear in motion, the MPG 271QR is obviously better at 500Hz. Small objects in motion look extremely crisp with details just a few pixels wide visible. Fine interface elements, like HP bars, character names, and floating text, are easy to read even when zooming across the display.

And remember: There’s more to it than just the refresh rate. OLED also benefits from low pixel response times, which will also reduce blur. Because of this, an OLED monitor like the MPG 271QR will have better motion clarity than LCD alternatives even at lower refresh rates, such as 60Hz or 120Hz.

The monitor lists support for Adaptive Sync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible to provide smooth frame pacing in games. AMD FreeSync is not listed (which is unusual), but FreeSync worked when I connected the MPG 271QR to my AMD Radeon 7800 XT video card.

MSI has a black frame insertion feature called MPRT. This inserts blank, black frames between standard frames, a trick which reduces motion blur. However, I didn’t find the improvement as noticeable as with similar features provided by competitors, such as Asus.

Should you buy the MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50?

The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 is yet another great OLED monitor. It serves up 2560×1440 resolution with a 500Hz refresh rate that delivers truly spectacular motion clarity that will appeal to highly competitive gamers, though some players might be disappointed by the lackluster design and subdued RGB-LED lighting.

The MPG 271QR pairs its motion clarity with great color performance and a wide range of image quality features. It also has USB-C, which is rare among OLED monitors and helps the MSI stand out from its peers. These features make the MPG 271QR an obvious choice if you want a competitive gaming monitor that’s also good for home office use.