A couple of months in the past, Katharine reviewed the slightly wonderful (and catchily-named) MSI Optix MAG272CQR gaming monitor. While it’s not the perfect 1440p panel we’ve checked out (that honour goes to the AOC Agon AG273QX), Katharine gave it a reasonably agency thumbs up because of its tremendous correct display screen and excessive 165Hz refresh charge. At £399, it isn’t dangerous worth, however for those who’d slightly save £100 and make do with a 144Hz refresh charge, then MSI’s barely older first gen mannequin of this monitor is now going low cost at Argos.
You can get hold of the MSI MAG271CQR for just £299, which is a saving of £50 off its regular value of £349. That saving does include a few drawbacks in comparison with its flashier MAG272CQR successor, however for my cash they don’t take away from the 25% saving.
First up, this mannequin isn’t HDR-ready just like the MAG272CQR, however given Katharine “had a terrible time trying to wrangle [the MAG272CQR’s HDR] into something that didn’t make my eyes bleed”, you may wish to add that to the ‘positives’ column. Secondly, as I discussed above, the refresh charge is a bit decrease. While the newer mannequin will get 165Hz, the model on sale right here ‘only’ offers you 144Hz. But what’s 21Hz between associates, eh?
Otherwise, they’re just about equivalent the place it counts. Each monitor has a 27in VA panel with a 2560×1440 decision, a 1ms response time and so they each have AMD FreeSync assist. They’re each curved as properly, though Katharine wrote that the curvature was barely noticeable from a traditional viewing distance. It could also be barely extra noticeable right here, because it has a curvature of 1800R in comparison with the 1500R in our evaluate mannequin.
Other choices can be found after all, and it’s value digging by way of our best gaming monitor information (and our frequently up to date Best gaming monitor deals web page) earlier than you checkout. But judging from the specs and Katharine’s expertise with the MAG272CQR, you gained’t remorse making its predecessor a part of your gaming setup – especially at under £300.
