Visually Reviewed rate the MSI Optix MAG271CR a 9/10
Quick Summary
The 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR is an all-round amazing gaming monitor which we can easily recommend. Not only is it an ideal size of 27-inch and supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, but it also features a 1800R curvature, all of which results in a much more immersive gaming experience. In addition, the frameless design makes this MSI monitor ideal for a multi-monitor setup. When looking for the best 1080p gaming monitor, it’s hard to get much better than this MSI Optix MAG271CR.
Pros
- 144Hz refresh rate
- Frameless design, great for multi-monitor setups
- 1ms response time
Cons
- Only 1080p
- The PPI could be better
MSI Optix MAG271CR specifications
| Screen size: | 27-inch |
|---|---|
| Resolution: | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
| Refresh rate: | 144Hz |
| Response time: | 1ms |
| Screen curvature: | 1800R |
| Aspect ratio: | 16:9 (widescreen) |
| Colours: | 16.7 million |
| Brightness: | 300 nits |
| Contrast ratio: | 3000:1 |
| Anti-glare: | Yes |
| Mountable: | VESA (100mm x 100mm) |
| Ports: | DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 1.4, 2x USB 2.0, headphone jack |
| Power consumption: | 53W |
| Weight: | 6.4kg |
MSI Optix MAG271CR review
The MSI Optix MAG271CR is a 27-inch curved gaming monitor with a super-fast 1ms response time. In this MSI Optix MAG271CR review, we’ll be taking a look at the pros and cons of this gaming monitor and deciding whether or not this monitor is worth buying. There are a total of four variants of this monitor, all of which you can find below:
MSI Optix MAG271CR review: Design
The MSI Optix MAG271CR is a 27-inch gaming monitor which features a thin, sleek, curved, and anti-glare design making it an ideal choice for gamers. Alongside its 1800R curvature, the MSI Optix MAG271CR also includes a super narrow bezel, making for an incredibly seamless experience in a multi-monitor setup. On top of this, the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR also features a built-in headset hanger and has an anti-glare screen coating.
When it comes to the stand, the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR has an adjustable tilt of -5° to 20°, and an adjustable height of 0-130mm. The adjustable height is a great addition over the MSI Optix MAG271C which only had an adjustable tilt. Alongside this, the MSI Optix MAG271CR is also VESA mount compatible, making it super easy to mount onto a wall or a desk stand. The 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR also features MSI’s Mystic Light, RGB lighting that can be synced with other MSI Mystic Light products.
The 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR also includes many different connectivity options. On the back of the gaming monitor, you’ll find connections for a DisplayPort (1.2), 2x HDMI (1.4), 2x USB (2.0), and a headphone jack. Additionally, you’ll also find a very useful headset hanger.
MSI Optix MAG271CR review: Image Quality
The 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR gaming monitor is based on a VA (Vertical Alignment) panel. VA panels are known for having the best contrast and image depth when compared to other panel types, such as TN (Twisted Nematic) and IPS (In-Plane Switching), although VA panels usually fall short with some of the longest response times. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, as VA panels are often seen as a great middle-ground and are common in the best gaming monitors.
The contrast ratio is a figure used to measure the luminance difference between the brightest white and the darkest black. Contrast ratios are listed as x:y where ‘x’ is the brightest white and ‘y’ is the darkest black, the higher the contrast ratio, the better. The MSI Optix MAG271CR gaming monitor has a 3000:1 contrast ratio which is a common ground for gaming monitors and allows for greater shadow details.
In addition to this, the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR gaming monitor also offers an extended colour gamut covering 90% DCI-P3 and 115% sRGB colour space. Simply put, the colours on the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR gaming monitor result in a captive and immersive image, ideal for gaming and watching movies.
The 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR features the common-ground 1080p resolution which provides a solid viewing experience. The MSI Optix MAG271CR also comes with 81 PPI (Pixels Per Inch) which is a bit of a let-down for this monitor. Generally speaking, the higher the PPI, the more detail you can see on the display.
MSI Optix MAG271CR review: Performance
The 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR brings very strong overall performance which makes this monitor ideal for all purposes but is an especially good choice for gaming. This MSI gaming monitor has a solid resolution of 1080p and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. The refresh rate is the number of times per second that the monitor refreshes its image. The most common refresh rate is 60Hz, but a 144Hz refresh rate will look and feel very smooth. If you’re looking to use this monitor for gaming, a 144Hz refresh rate is very important as it gives you a slight edge over opponents with a lower refresh rate such as 60Hz as your monitor will refresh more than twice as fast. Simply put, the higher the refresh rate, the smoother your monitor will look and feel.
Along with this, the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR also comes with a tiny 1ms response time making this MSI monitor amazing for gaming, especially when playing FPS (First Person Shooter) games where every split second counts. In addition to this, the 178-degree viewing angles ensure a great picture even if you’re not sitting directly in front of the monitor, this is especially helpful if you often have someone watching you when you play.
Yet another great feature the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR brings is a reduced blue light filter and flicker-free technology, these dramatically reduce the potential strain on your eyes and reduce the chances of you getting a headache when looking at this monitor for long periods of time.
The 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR also includes AMD FreeSync support, a feature that reduces tears, stutters, and ensures a fluid gaming experience. However, it’s worth checking your graphics card is compatible with AMD’s FreeSync technology to make use of this feature. AMD’s FreeSync technology changes your refresh rate dynamically to match the framerate of your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) which will prevent tearing or stuttering.
The FreeSync range for this 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR gaming monitor is 48-144Hz/FPS (Frames Per Second), but even if your FPS drops below 48, LFC (Low Framerate Compensation) technology will multiply your display’s refresh rate by three times to help compensate and maintain a smooth gaming experience. For example, if you’re getting 30fps, thanks to AMD’s FreeSync technology, your refresh rate will be increased to 90Hz to compensate for the low framerate.
MSI Optix MAG271CR review: Features
On top of everything already previously mentioned, the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271C also includes a bunch of additional features to enhance your experience using this monitor, whether that’s whilst playing games or just casual work.
One of the main features of the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271C is the OSD (On-Screen Display). This OSD is a user-friendly interface which contains many useful features and settings. By default, you can control this OSD using the joystick found at the back of the gaming monitor, or alternatively, you can download the desktop or mobile applications.
Within this OSD, you can change many different settings that will affect the way your 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271C will look and function. When you open the OSD, you will see that there are six main tabs: Gaming, Professional, Image, Input Source, Navi Key, and Settings.
Throughout these tabs, you’ll find a bunch of useful settings that allow you to adjust the monitor to your ideal preferences. Some of these settings include brightness, black tuning, contrast, anti-motion blur, RGB level controls, FreeSync, and Image Enhancement.
MSI Optix MAG271CR review: Pricing
The 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR costs around £250. You can check out the MSI Optix MAG271CR on Amazon, or alternatively, you can check where you can buy the MSI Optix MAG271CR from MSI’s website.
MSI Optix MAG271CR review: Conclusion
Overall, the 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR is an all-round amazing gaming monitor which we can easily recommend. Not only is it an ideal size of 27-inch and supports up to a refresh rate of 144Hz, but it also features a 1800R curvature, all of which results in a much more immersive gaming experience. In addition, the frameless design makes this MSI monitor ideal for a multi-monitor setup. When looking for the best 1080p gaming monitor, it’s hard to get much better than this 27-inch MSI Optix MAG271CR.
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