For the previous few weeks we have been testing the upcoming MSI MPG 321URX, a brand new gaming monitor packing one of many long-awaited 32-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED panels, and at this time we’ll provide a preview and share as a lot as we will about this product. It is a pre-production unit, so we’re not allowed to share efficiency knowledge simply but, however we do have fairly a bit of knowledge to go over and solutions to questions we anticipate you might need.
To start out with, the MSI 321URX might be out there within the US, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand beginning in February, with a wider launch in March, priced at $1,200. That is across the mark of different premium OLED shows and may slot in properly contemplating that 1440p 240Hz WOLEDs are actually down across the $800 mark. It does stay a premium-priced monitor, however this value is much from extreme contemplating what some monitor producers have charged for true HDR shows over the previous few years.
This value level ought to be indicative of the competitors that is set to land on the gaming monitor market in 2024. This MSI monitor isn’t the one one to make use of this 4K QD-OLED panel – different variations from Asus, Dell, Samsung, and extra are additionally launching quickly. We’re additionally anticipating intense competitors as a second 32-inch 4K 240Hz OLED panel from LG Show can be coming. This LG WOLED panel will provide dual-mode performance, doubling as a 1080p 480Hz show. With so many choices and, crucially, a number of panel producers concentrating on this spec, a fiercely contested battle ought to hold costs in verify.
Fundamentals and Specs
The MSI 321URX makes use of a 2nd-generation QD-OLED panel, that includes a smaller pixel construction to permit for the next density 4K decision in comparison with latest 49-inch super-ultrawide QD-OLEDs. The show is barely overprovisioned with extra pixels for pixel shifting performance whereas sustaining a full 3840 x 2160 decision, a standard function in gaming OLEDs.
MSI is quoting a 0.03ms grey-to-grey response time. Nonetheless, we’re not anticipating any response time efficiency variations in comparison with different OLEDs, which usually sit within the 0.2 to 0.3ms vary based mostly on our testing.
They’re additionally quoting 250 nits of typical brightness for full-screen sustained SDR utilization, in addition to 1,000 nits of peak brightness for HDR. We will not present you precise numbers simply but, however these figures align with what we have seen from different QD-OLEDs, so brightness traits ought to be comparable. It comes DisplayHDR True Black 400 licensed, which is identical spec different QD-OLEDs have obtained, to not be confused with DisplayHDR 400 for LCDs.
For ports, we’ve got DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and USB-C with DP-Alt mode and 90W of energy supply. All these ports help the total 4K decision at as much as 240Hz. Options like DSC imply DisplayPort 1.4 stays ample for any such show, as we already knew from the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8. This contains 10-bit HDR and adaptive sync as nicely, without having for uncommon subsampling strategies. There’s additionally a built-in KVM change.
One of many fundamental questions we had entering into was whether or not these 32-inch 4K OLEDs would require lively cooling like another QD-OLED displays or whether or not they might function passively. We will affirm the MSI variant is silent and makes use of passive cooling by way of a customized heatsink. This heatsink is contained throughout the central field on the rear, from which the QD-OLED panel extends outwards, much like the Asus PG27AQDM, which can be a passively cooled monitor utilizing WOLED know-how.
We sat proper subsequent to it whereas in operation and it is useless silent, which is all the time a aid as lively cooling has been a nuisance on another gaming displays just like the AW3423DW.
Display Coating and Panel Composition
For panel composition and coating, this can be a traditional Samsung 2nd-gen QD-OLED panel, which means it is shiny with an “anti-reflective” floor remedy. Evaluating it facet by facet with one other 2nd-gen QD-OLED, the Asus PG49WCD, exhibits that the reflectivity of the glass for each ambient mild and objects in entrance of the show is analogous.
Some ambient mild is mirrored in brighter lighting circumstances as a result of panel composition, a standard subject for QD-OLEDs throughout all fashions, and that is no totally different right here. Nonetheless, as TFT Central has confirmed, this 2nd-gen QD-OLED design is simpler than 1st-gen QD-OLEDs, just like the 34-inch 3440×1440 175Hz panels, when it comes to minimizing ambient mild reflectivity.
Mirror-like reflections are additionally seen at occasions, although typically, QD-OLEDs are respectable at minimizing this subject in comparison with different shiny panels.
So should you’re questioning whether or not you will have to optimize lighting circumstances to make use of a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor, we suspect that would be the case, although to a considerably lesser extent than the unique ultrawides. In our workplace space, which is commonly nicely lit by way of daylight or overhead lights, we did discover raised blacks. Nonetheless, when transferring lights behind the show or utilizing it in a dimmer atmosphere, it is a full non-issue.
We predict what we have mentioned beforehand about QD-OLED panel coating and composition will stay true with these newer 4K panels as seen within the MSI 321URX, however we’ll want extra time with it and to conduct extra testing to substantiate what we have seen on this preliminary hands-on preview.
Textual content Readability
Pixel density and textual content readability is one other massive query: is a 4K QD-OLED appropriate for desktop work? Nicely, placing burn-in apart for a second, we have been genuinely fairly impressed with the textual content readability after utilizing this monitor for a couple of days.
This is not the identical type of in depth testing we do for our full critiques, however our preliminary impressions are that the pink-green fringing seen from 1440p-class QD-OLEDs, particularly the preliminary wave of 34-inch ultrawides, is far much less noticeable at a 32-inch 4K pixel density. The development from 110 PPI to 140 PPI is a big 27% acquire, and mixed with the 2nd-gen QD-OLED subpixel construction, textual content readability is significantly better.
I sometimes use 32-inch 4K displays at 125% scaling in Home windows, which appears nice on the 321URX, however we additionally tried 100% scaling and located that to be very usable as nicely. On first-gen QD-OLEDs at a decrease pixel density, the fringing points are simple to identify and have been one of many downsides we identified in these critiques. Nonetheless, on this monitor, the textual content readability appears fairly nice. In fact, some individuals by no means had a problem with these first-generation panels both, however we expect these individuals will discover an enchancment with the 32-inch 4K panels and suspect anybody on the fence who was apprehensive about textual content readability might be very glad with this show.
The massive check, in fact, is whether or not or not this QD-OLED panel with its triangle RGB subpixel structure (sure, nonetheless triangle RGB right here) is pretty much as good as a 32-inch 4K IPS with a standard RGB stripe for textual content readability. You may have to attend till the total assessment to see a extra in depth take a look at this, however our preliminary ideas are that it is really surprisingly shut. To our skilled eyes, we might say an IPS panel nonetheless appears barely higher, however we expect many individuals would discover it exhausting to identify the distinction. It really seems that this MSI monitor and QD-OLED panel are in a position to ship a real 4K expertise for textual content.
Burn In Safety Options
On the burn-in facet of issues, OLED nonetheless carries a danger, and with 2nd-gen QD-OLED and actually any OLED, we’re nonetheless in a little bit of an unknown section the place we do not actually understand how lengthy these panels will final for desktop utilization. We suspect many consumers might be excited about a show like this for each gaming and desktop work. We’re unsure how snug we might be recommending it for that, however we did spot some attention-grabbing options that MSI is offering.
Within the OLED care part, we discovered all the standard stuff for burn-in mitigation: pixel shifting, panel defend (a.okay.a. panel refresh, pixel refresh, or pixel compensation), and static display detection. Nonetheless, there’s additionally some new stuff: multi-logo detection, taskbar detection, and boundary detection.
These are extra measures to detect and dim static parts. Taskbar detection, for instance, does precisely that; it makes an attempt to acknowledge and dim the Home windows taskbar, serving to to stop that space from burning in, even when the general display brightness is comparatively excessive. Sadly, these three new options are the one ones that require adaptive sync to be disabled to perform, a bit annoying for those who will allow VRR for gaming. However once more, this can be a pre-production pattern, so it is not clear whether or not that would be the case with ultimate retail models.
However, it is nonetheless good to see extra strategies being carried out in newer shows to aim to increase the lifespan of QD-OLED panels. Ultimately, it ought to get to the purpose the place the panels are strong sufficient and the panel care options sensible sufficient that this type of displays might be excellent even for desktop use, and we can’t want to fret about burn-in. We’re not there but, however it’s one thing we’ll hold wanting into with future monitor releases.
Additional Impressions
So, how was utilizing the MSI 321URX for 4K 240Hz HDR gaming? Sure, this can be a very spectacular expertise. It is a brilliant monitor with a superb distinction ratio, and it seems to be the identical QD-OLED expertise we have come to like in different merchandise, however now at a extremely sought-after measurement and determination.
That is principally what everybody has needed for the reason that daybreak of OLED shows: a high-resolution gaming model at a good measurement. This seems to be that, and it has been a pleasure to make use of to this point – we’ve not used it lengthy sufficient to determine if there are efficiency points, lacking options, or different annoyances, so search for our full assessment afterward.
It is also a really excessive refresh charge monitor. We do not assume we’re allowed to point out a UFO Take a look at end result, however should you’ve seen outcomes from 240Hz 1440p WOLED critiques, you’ve a fairly good thought of what to anticipate. The movement readability right here is great, and with such a excessive decision and refresh charge mixture, that is the type of product that ought to final for a very long time, by way of a number of generations of GPU {hardware}. Throughout our hands-on time to this point, we did not spot any points with low brightness flicker, low refresh charge gaming, or adaptive sync.
Lastly, some fast phrases on MSI’s design… we expect it appears alright, particularly from the entrance the place the primary show part is skinny and has comparatively slim bezels. The rear field part is a bit busy for our liking close to the vent part on the prime, however it does have a little bit of RGB LED lighting. The stand itself is fabricated from a fairly fundamental black plastic for the outer surfaces. It has all the standard ergonomic adjustability, aside from with the ability to use it in a portrait orientation; you’ll be able to pivot the show barely however not all the way in which to portrait.
These are our preliminary impressions of the MSI MPG 321URX. If you wish to see a full assessment with precise efficiency numbers, we ought to be receiving a ultimate retail mannequin in February to try it out across the time of launch. This very a lot seems to be the flagship gaming monitor that many individuals have been ready for.
In fact, it’s going to even be attention-grabbing to see what different distributors do with this QD-OLED panel, in addition to how the dual-mode WOLED panel stacks up with its attention-grabbing 1080p 480Hz mode. It seems as if these QD-OLEDs will hit the market first, with the WOLED panel to observe, however definitely, there’s loads of testing to do in 2024.