MSI has announced the MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 and MAG 321UP QD-OLED X24 gaming monitors, featuring 31.5in 4th-gen QD-OLED panels with Penta Tandem emissive layers and improved DarkArmor coating treatment.
With these, MSI aims to fix the purple tint that persists as a known limitation of QD-OLED technology. This phenomenon is a characteristic of the QD-OLED panel structure, which uses a polariser to maximise brightness and colour. As a result, when ambient light reflects off the panel, we perceive it as a purple hue instead of the pure black we would expect from an OLED-based display.
To fix this, MSI presents its DarkArmor Film, an advanced coating specifically designed to overcome this limitation. The brand claims that this new film can improve the black levels of its QD-OLED monitors by 40%, allowing the panel to better display its self-emissive capabilities. Better still, the DarkArmor coating also reinforces the screen’s scratch resistance by 2.5 times, from a 2H to a 3H rating, which makes it less sensitive to wiping and cleaning.
Both models are based on 4th-gen QD-OLED technology, which improves text fringing thanks to its square sub-pixel layout. While not as good as the latest RGB Stripe sub-pixel layout of 5th-gen QD-OLEDs found on the MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36, it’s still better than the original Diamond Stripe when it comes to Windows ClearType font rendering.
All of this is topped by Penta Tandem OLED technology, which stacks five self-emissive layers to achieve a 30% increase in overall luminous efficiency compared to previous generations, all while doubling the panel’s lifespan, according to MSI. This brightness is also more customisable thanks to the Uniform Luminance feature, which allows you to adjust overall screen luminosity directly in HDR mode.
Working together, these technologies allow the new monitors to deliver deep blacks, great brightness, vivid colours, superior durability, and of course the pixel responsiveness OLEDs are renowned for.
Perusing the rest of the specs reveals the MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 and MAG 321UP QD-OLED X24 don’t shy away from the competition, offering a fast 240Hz refresh rate at a crispy 4K (3840×2160) resolution. Typical brightness is reported at 300nits in SDR and up to 1,000nits in HDR, though those who care about accuracy will likely better appreciate the True Black 500 mode, which ensures stronger tracking of the EOTF curve. Both also adhere to the VESA ClearMR 13000 certification, indicating a blur-free experience.
The main difference between the two is the inclusion of MSI’s OLED Care 3.0 on the MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24, which uses an AI Care Sensor to detect when the user is away to dim or turn off the screen, improving its longevity and protecting it from burn-in. The MAG 321UP QD-OLED X24 makes do with OLED Care 2.0, which uses a less active protection approach, but both are backed by a three-year burn-in warranty.
In terms of connectivity, you will find two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 2.1a, and one USB Type-C with DP alt mode. The supplied stand looks identical on both models, offering from -5° to +15° tilt, 30° swivel, 10° pivot, and 110mm height adjustment.
Though MSI hasn’t supplied official pricing, early reports suggest the MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 is expected to hit retail at $1,099, while the MAG 321UP QD-OLED X24 is already listed at €899 on MSI’s Italian store. UK availability should follow shortly.
