MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2 monitor review: «universal soldier» Quad HD gaming

Looking at the statistics of the most popular gaming monitor resolutions, it may seem that Full HD is not even going to give up its leadership. But progress doesn’t stand still, so today we’re reviewing MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2, which offers to move to another level of gaming quality in WQHD format.

Specifications MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2

Technical characteristics
Diagonal	27″
Curvature	1500R
Panel type	Rapid VA
Surface type	Anti-glare
Aspect ratio	16:9
Viewing angle	178°/ 178°
Pixel pitch	0.23 mm
Resolution	2560 ×1440 (WQHD)
Brightness (typical)	300 nits
Contrast	5000 to 1
Color depth	8 bits + FRC
GtG response time	> 0.5 ms
Update frequency	180 Hz
HDR support	+
Audio system	–
Audio jack	3.5 mm jack
Display Port	1 x DP 1.4 (WQHD x 180 Hz)
HDMI	2 x HDMI 2.0b (WQHD x 144 Hz)
USB	2 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-B, 1 x USB Type-C (PD 15W)
Other	Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync, Flicker-Free, Less Blue light, KVM switch, Picture by Picture, smart reticle, timer, FPS display, dark area illumination, tilt adjustment, height adjustment, screen rotation.
Power supply	External, 90 W
Energy consumption	13-35 W
Dimensions	611.5 x 236.7 x 428.7 mm
VESA mounts	75 x 75 mm
Weight (with stand)	5.7 kg

Package and packaging

If you believe that multilayer recycled cardboard molds will save our planet, you’ll love the MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2.

Between the improvised cardboard halves, we find the panel itself, and the rest of the elements are placed somewhat carelessly on top: a vertical leg, a V-shaped base, DisplayPort 1.4a cable, USB Type-B to Type-A cable, power supply, fixing the bolts and documentation.

Design, ergonomics MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2

You won’t have any problems assembling the monitor, as the whole procedure will take about a minute. All you need to do is screw the stand to the leg and fix the panel itself with two bolts on this structure.

The leg feels quite sturdy, and the base is only slightly wider than the display itself. So the overall construction seems stable and does not cause any additional concerns Optionally, you can fix the monitor on the wall by purchasing a separate VESA 75 x 75 mm mount.

A big plus is the variety of options for adjusting the monitor The MAG 275CQRF QD E2 supports a 5-degree forward and 20-degree backward tilt, as well as a 20-degree left and right swivel. And most importantly, it has a height adjustment function in the range of up to 110 mm.

On the rear right side of the monitor, we have the power button, also known as the Navi Key, which allows you to adjust the monitor to your preferences with just one finger. On the right side of the panel there is an LED indicator. It changes color depending on signal availability, connection mode or idle time.

There is a cable organizer on the main leg, which you will definitely need because the monitor contains a whole range of interfaces, which we will discuss in the next section.

For an additional gaming entourage, there is a special ARGB backlight (MYSTIC LIGHT) on the rear panel in the form of a special glossy strip. It fits quite well into the laconic design of MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2. In addition, it can be synchronized with other gaming devices. Looking at the front of the monitor, one would assume that we are looking at an office version, not a gaming solution, if not for the backlight and V-shaped base.

Interfaces

Connectivity options include one DisplayPort 1.4a, two HDMI 2.0b ports, one USB Type-C port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It’s worth emphasizing that HDMI 2.0b supports a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hertz at a resolution of 2560 × 1440 (WQHD). That is, in order to demonstrate all its gaming capabilities, MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2 must be connected using the bundled cable that supports DisplayPort 1.4a. In this case, we will be able to enable the 180Hz mode. USB Type-C can also be used for image transmission, as long as the signal source supports DisplayPort Alternate. In addition, using Type-C, we can power additional devices, the maximum power in this case is 15 watts.

MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2 is equipped with a full set of interfaces. Here we have three USB 2.0 ports, one of which is a Type-B input port that provides control through the Gaming Intelligence application. The monitor supports the KVM function, which allows you to control multiple devices with a single keyboard and mouse set.

Additional display features include Anti-Motion Blur to reduce «residual images». Also supported is AI Vision technology to automatically adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation based on content and Adaptive-Sync to prevent «screen tearing».

In general, 27″ at WQHD is the golden mean for most gamers. After all, classic Full HD with this diagonal will produce an insufficiently detailed and «blurry» image, and to appreciate the benefits of full 4K you need to be the owner of an expensive gaming system. MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2 supports HDR extended dynamic range technology. However, it is worth noting that the original standard does not have strict requirements for the implementation of backlighting and brightness.

Therefore, the inscription «HDR Ready» or «HDR10 Ready» is available even for monitors with a brightness of 250-300 nits. True HDR is not even close. The 10-bit requirement is fulfilled here purely formally because the matrix in our case is built on «imitations» 10 bits (8 bits + FCR). Nevertheless, according to Microsoft’s recommendations, an HDR display should have a brightness of at least 300 nits. But in practice, this implementation is considered the most budget-friendly.

The resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels at a distance of 50-70 centimeters is quite enough for working with texts or non-professional image processing. The fonts look quite clear and do not cause discomfort during long work. In multimedia tasks, I liked the sRGB mode the most, as it did not «fall» into oversaturation and looked natural.

The monitor supports 8-bit + FCR color bit depth. Frame Rate Control technology expands the color palette of the matrix by mixing them at frequent intervals. This is made possible by the high frequency of the matrix. In the classic 8-bit version, in the black and white gradient mode, we can see the steps in the transitions in shades. To enable 10-bit color, we need a DisplayPort 1.4a cable, but with classic HDMI, only the usual 8-bit palette is available. There is also a slight banding effect.

Thanks to the matte finish of the screen, you can work without any discomfort even if you sit with your back to the window. The brightness margin is quite enough for office work. At night, I reduced the brightness to 20% (approximately 100 nits) and turned on the eye protection function. By the way, MSI has a separate TÜV Rheinland certificate for Low Blue Light, which confirms the low level of blue light.

Software

The main settings of MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2 are controlled not only with the joystick, but also with the help of the proprietary Gaming Intelligence software, which can be downloaded from the official MSI website. At the installation stage, the program tries to offer us to install Norton 360. This looks a bit improper, and it also increases the size of the file itself when downloading.

At the same time, a wide range of different settings appears before us.  This software has a large number of functions integrated into it, with separate profiles for the settings modes and a manual option. In addition, you can customize joystick control hotkeys, system settings, and many other additional functions.

Fans of shooters will like it «intelligent reticle». It solves a common problem when the reticle color blends into the background. In such cases, the monitor automatically changes its color to make it stand out better on the screen.

In addition, in MSI Gaming Intelligence we can turn on AI VISION technology. It increases the overall saturation and brightness in order to «pull out» additional details, for example, in dark rooms. I think it will be useful for all gamers who complain about dark locations in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

If two options for accessing your monitor’s settings weren’t enough, MSI adds a third — through the Remote Monitor mobile application. In it, we can also access the necessary functions directly from our smartphone screen.

In general, Gaming Intelligence offers any profile for various game genres: from FPS to RPG. Of course, we haven’t forgotten about the «Movie», «Office», «Anti-Blue» and «Eco».

Power consumption MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2

In economy mode, the monitor consumes about 13 watts. As I mentioned earlier, 20% brightness was enough for me in a dark room. In this mode, the monitor consumes about 15-18 W, at 50% – 21-23 W, at 70% – 26 W, and finally at 100% brightness and viewing HDR content The energy meter shows a result of 34 watts. Changing the refresh rate of the display does not significantly affect the overall power consumption, and the main role is played by the brightness of the backlight.

Experience of use

Even at the stage of unpacking, I really liked the «monolithic» construction and overall design MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2, which, unlike some competitive solutions, looked laconic and modern at the same time. Understanding the peculiarities of gaming models, I did not put forward any special requirements for the Rapid VA matrix, expecting some compromises in terms of image quality. However I was pleasantly surprised, first of all, by the flexibility in color gamut customization.

I especially liked the sRGB mode, which gave the colors more natural shades and didn’t suffer from excessive saturation. Of course, this is not a professional monitor to expect any extraordinary features for the priceI was also pleased with the relative uniformity of the backlighting without obvious highlights. Yes, they are present, but they are almost invisible when compared to most IPS monitors. Also, the color is quite «deep» black when compared to competitors in this price range.

In my usage scenario, the monitor was connected to two laptops simultaneously via HDMI, so the KVM function came in handy. It allowed me to free my workplace from an extra keyboard and mouse.

And the main one is «killerficha». This is a full-fledged height adjustment of the monitor, as well as a change in the tilt and swivel angle. So in my case, there were no inconveniences with the placement and adjustment of MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2. Even if the sun was shining directly into the monitor, nothing prevents you from simply turning it a few degrees and continuing to work flawlessly.

Competitors and price of MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2

MSI MAG 275CQRF QD E2 is currently available in only a few stores at a price of about UAH 11299. Given the combination of its characteristics and ergonomics, this is a fairly affordable price. However, let’s try to see if we can find something more interesting among the competition.

Samsung Odyssey G65B 27 was presented in 2023 and is about 3,500 hryvnias pricier. It has a slightly smaller radius of distortion, but its refresh rate is as much as 240 Hertz. In addition, the manufacturer claims higher brightness, which allows it to pass DisplayHDR 600 certification. It can also connect to the Internet via Ethernet or Wi-Fi and rotate 90 degrees to a vertical format. However, it cannot rotate around its axis.Lenovo Legion R27qc-30 can be found only in the several sellers. Its characteristics are somewhat similar to our monitor from MSI. However, unlike the MAG 275CQRF QD E2, it doesn’t have FCR technology, so it supports significantly fewer color shades. It also has lower contrast, although it has 50 nits more brightness «The fly in the ointment» в Lenovo Legion R27qc-30is a smaller color gamut according to the sRGB, DCI P3 standards, as well as the horizontal viewing angle. On the plus side, there are built-in speakers.

And the last competitor we’ll mention is Philips Evnia 27M2C5501. With comparable brightness, it does not support FCR, just like its previous opponent. Also, it lacks the required number of interfaces and response speed according to the GTG method, which will not appeal to demanding gamers.