MSI MAG 272UP X24: QD OLED with 4K and 240 Hz – slimmed down, but not starved to death

With the MAG 272UP X24, MSI is launching another display based on Samsung’s QD OLED technology on the Chinese market. It sounds high-end and looks that way on paper – but as always, the devil is in the detail. Because although 4K resolution is combined with a whopping 240 Hz refresh rate here, the lavish equipment is saved elsewhere. Typical product policy, the red pencil has to find its raison d’être somewhere.

OLED remains OLED – at least for the panel

Let’s start with the obvious: The panel comes from Samsung, and it is a classic QD OLED display with a 26.5-inch diagonal, a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels and said 240 Hz – for all those who don’t just want to pixelate with UHD, but also want to sweep. The contrast of 1.5 million to one is at the expected level, as is the native 10-bit color depth, which should ensure colorful images without visible transitions – at least as long as you don’t use cruelly adjusted factory settings. The brightness of 250 nits in SDR mode and 450 nits in HDR mode is within a manageable range. That’s not a lot of light, but still enough for the panel not to be completely lost in daylight. Incidentally, nothing here is VESA-certified – which in this price range is either a conscious decision or simply a cost-cutting measure. But well, certificates cost money.

MAG 272URX vs. MAG 272UP X24 – what’s missing?

The more exciting question is: Where exactly did MSI cut corners? After all, the basic structure is familiar from the previously released MAG 272URX, an OLED monitor with similar DNA. The answer is unspectacular, but clear: in the connections.’While the URX model comes with a DisplayPort 2.1a (UBHR20) and a full bandwidth of 80 Gbps, the X24 only has DisplayPort 1.4 – that means: 48 Gbps maximum, which is just enough for 4K@240Hz with DSC (Display Stream Compression). Theoretically okay, but in practice rather tightly calculated if you think about the next GPU generation. The USB-C port is even worse. Instead of the URX’s 98 watts of charging power, you only get 15 watts of Power Delivery, which is just enough for a smartphone in economy mode. So if you want to power your notebook via the monitor, you’re literally looking down the drain here – if OLED still had one. Otherwise, much remains the same: the casing is the same, as are the ergonomics (height-adjustable, tiltable, standard stand without fashionable escapades), the menu navigation and – get this – the panel itself. MSI packs the same screen into a reduced mainboard and reduces the price.

Pricing and market strategy: If you want cheap, you have to have bandwidth

With an entry-level price of 5,499 yuan, i.e. around 752 US dollars, the MAG 272UP X24 is clearly below the URX model. Whether you want to do without modern connection standards is ultimately a question of the intended use. If you only play games and don’t have any USB-C hub fantasies, you could well be happy here – especially as the panel itself leaves nothing to be desired (as long as you can do without HDR certificates). The catch: The device will initially only be available in China. MSI has not yet made any international listings or announcements. So it could well be that this model remains a purely regional derivative – possibly exclusively for OEM partners or certain local sales channels.

Conclusion: OLED with deductions in the B grade

The MAG 272UP X24 is a classic example of what is kindly referred to as product differentiation. Same look, same performance (at least visually), but less under the hood. For OLED fans with a limited budget, this could be quite interesting – as long as you are aware of the slimmed-down I/O options. What remains is that 4K at 240 Hz on a QD OLED basis looks strong on paper. In practice, we will have to see how the Display Stream Compression behaves in fast game scenes and whether the reduced brightness does not become a problem with HDR content. Until then, as is so often the case, the panel quality is the deciding factor – the rest is USB cosmetics.

Technical summary MSI MAG 272UP X24 (China model):

Technical summary MSI MAG 272UP X24 (China model):

Feature	Specification
Panel	26.5″ QD-OLED, 3840×2160 (4K UHD)
Refresh rate	240 Hz
Color depth	10-bit native
Contrast ratio	1.500.000:1
Brightness	250 nits (SDR), 450 nits (HDR)
Connections	DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI, USB-C (15 W)
Power delivery	max. 15 W via USB-C
Ergonomics	height-adjustable, tiltable
Price	5.499 Yuan (~752 USD)
Availability	from next week, China only for now

Source: My Drivers, MSI