At $380, MSI’s 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED gaming monitor is one of the best buys the verge Readers who want a great gaming upgrade can make one now. That’s how much it costs in this online-only deal at Costco for membership holders through December 1st. If you want to know what kind of OLED monitor you can get for just $380, I was curious too. So I got MSI to send me a review unit, which I’ve been using for over a week.
This monitor (model MAG271QPX E2) is really no different from many other models of similar size. It offers a fast 240Hz refresh rate, great viewing angles and really striking colors compared to cheaper panel types. This isn’t generally something I would recommend most people buy at its usual $599 selling price, but it becomes an extremely attractive value for $200 less.
MSI’s QD-OLED replaced the old Acer 1440p IPS 144Hz monitor on my desk, and when I jumped into a game the difference was profound. i’m playing a lot battlefield 6 Lately, and landscapes look more lifelike than the limited, pale color gamut my IPS can muster. With more vivid-looking explosions, the chaotic action feels a little more real. It’s also easy to parse every little aspect of the interface, thanks to OLED’s unique contrast ratio.
nectar sky This is another title I picked up recently that looks especially stunning on this display. I wish I had started testing it around Halloween, when I was playing more horror games, because its deep black levels look fantastic in my home office – it has great contrast. If this is your first OLED gaming monitor and you haven’t yet experienced the difference between this and an inferior panel type, you’re in for a gift that keeps on giving.
I play a lot of games, but because of my job I often type articles in Google Docs. OLED has a bad reputation when it comes to rendering text; Different subpixel layout types introduce color-hued aliasing that is not present on IPS and other types of non-OLED panels. The evidence is irrefutable upon closer inspection, as this monitor’s unboxed hands-on video proves. However, as mentioned in the video, you may not notice this. I find it just fine at the distance I sit from the monitor.
The features of this monitor make it a particularly good deal compared to other non-OLED monitors at this price point. This model supports variable refresh rates between 48Hz and 240Hz. Although it only lists support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro Adaptive Sync, not Nvidia G-Sync, I’m happy with its performance in a range of games while connected to my Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti-powered PC. The panel itself is covered with an “anti-reflection” coating that appears semi-glossy, so it can catch reflections in well-lit rooms. This monitor comes with a nice height-adjustable stand that allows for tilting, turning, and rotating, but because of its VESA mount I placed it on my monitor arm.
MSI covers the monitor with a three-year warranty that covers panel burn-in, which is great. I’m also impressed with the ports on this model. It has a DisplayPort 1.4a port, two HDMI 2.1 ports that support up to 240Hz on PC (or up to 120Hz on consoles), as well as a USB-C with DisplayPort video, which works great with my Steam deck, and a headphone jack. That port allows 15W PD charging, but is turned off by default.
If I have one complaint, it’s that the rear plastic chassis is a bit thick compared to other models I’ve tested. However, MSI says this is where the monitor’s heatsink is located, allowing it to have a fanless design. And at $380, there isn’t much merit to this complaint.
If you’re not a Costco member, it might be worth becoming a member just for this deal. But if you don’t plan on getting one, it’s likely we’ll see deals for this model at other retailers. It sold for $449.99 on Amazon during Prime Big Deal Days, so expect the price to go up (or ideally, to something better) during Black Friday.
While Best Buy only sells MSI monitors through a third-party seller, the retailer currently has Alienware’s AW2725D, the company’s 27-inch 280Hz 1440p QD-OLED, for $499.99 — a $50 price drop. LG’s 27-inch 1440p OLED with a 240Hz refresh rate (which seems to be the same as MSI’s) is $499.99 at Amazon. In other words, there are deals available almost anywhere. But right now, Costco is taking the plunge on QD-OLED gaming monitors.
Photography by Cameron Faulkner/The Verge