Once we’d ramped the contrast up to appropriate levels, the MSI rendered 94.9% of the sRGB colour gamut with a delta E of 1.55 and a colour temperature of 6,491K.
Dark sections actually look dark, and you get loads of extra subtlety and vivacity. That far higher contrast ratio means the MSI has loads more punch – it’s like using a whole new monitor. That means the MSI deployed a revised contrast level of 3666:1, which is fantastic – higher than the firm's quoted 3000:1 figure. We ramped the contrast slider up in the app and the panel’s brightness level improved to 220cd/m2 and the black point dropped to 0.06cd/m2. MSI’s Display Kit app can alter settings instead of the on-screen menus, and adjusting these options made a huge difference to the MSI’s contrast performance. That low contrast ratio means that colours lack depth and vibrancy, and the high black point means that black areas look grey. Out of the box the MSI’s brightness level of 183cd/m2 is ample for office use, but the black point of 0.63cd/m2 is very high – which means a disappointing contrast ratio of 290:1. The MSI may look great, but its initial benchmark results were disappointing – and we were worried that this screen was all style and no substance. On the inside, its 2,560 x 1,440 resolution means it’s sharper and more spacious than the MSI. It’s got 130mm of height adjustment, move swivel movement, and portrait mode support.
The MSI’s rival from Iiyama looks like a typically underwhelming office monitor, but it’s more practical than the MD271CP. That said, it’s cramped if you want to use two or three windows, and the 27in diagonal means you can easily pick out individual pixels – the lack of sharpness doesn’t ruin everyday work tasks, but it’s evident.Įlsewhere, the 75Hz refresh rate delivers smooth animation and movement in everyday tasks, and the screen uses mid-range 8-bit colour rather than the 10-bit range needed for complex creative work. That figure is fine for everyday workloads, and it provides enough space for Office apps and web browsers. Underneath the curve you’ll find a 1,920 x 1,080 VA panel. It’s easy to build this panel, too, thanks to tool-free assembly. That’s decent movement, and the only thing missing is the option to swing the screen into portrait mode. It has 110mm of height adjustment alongside tilt and swivel movement, and it supports 75mm VESA mounting. Nevertheless, this screen can easily withstand office life. The base and metal stand are sturdy, but the plastic rear is inconsistent: it’s robust in central areas but has flex at the sides. It’s available in a more modest black shade, but we’ve reviewed the eye-catching white variant, finished with attractive metallic trim.
From the front you’ll see slim bezels and a sleek round base, and at the rear the MSI has a cylindrical stand that attaches to the back of the panel with a sleek, curving connector. This monitor may cost just north of £200, but it certainly doesn’t look like it. The MSI Modern MD271CP undoubtedly looks slicker than its main rival, the Iiyama ProLite XUB2792QSN-B1, but the two products should have an interesting battle – that hard-nosed business screen has a broader range of features and it only costs £213 exc VAT.