MSI MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 Review: Superior Performance at a Lower Price

Introduction

The MSI MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 represents an enhancement of the popular MPG 322URX (previously reviewed here).

At first glance, the MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 appears to be a simple refresh of the MPG 322URX QD-OLED, maintaining the same 32-inch size, 4K resolution, and 240 Hz refresh rate. However, it introduces significant advancements. A major upgrade is the new Samsung QD-OLED panel, which offers a brighter full-screen experience, improved HDR performance, and enhanced perceived contrast in well-lit settings, rectifying several limitations found in earlier QD-OLED models. Additionally, MSI has implemented updated image processing and a more advanced OLED Care 3.0 system, equipped with a presence sensor to mitigate burn-in risks during practical usage. This makes the X24 a more refined version of its predecessor, deserving of renewed attention.

The monitor boasts Samsung’s fourth-generation QD-OLED panel technology, maintaining the triangular subpixel arrangement seen in prior QD-OLED iterations. With a native 4K resolution of 3840×2160 and a pixel density of around 140 PPI, color fringing is minimal during everyday usage. I used this monitor extensively for text-heavy tasks and never noticed any fringing. The combination of 4K and 140 PPI produces exceptionally sharp text on a 32-inch OLED display.

Samsung Display describes the panel structure as a five-layer tandem OLED (distinct from LG’s tandem OLED technology) featuring EL Gen 3 emissive materials. The design of the blue OLED light source consists of multiple layers stacked to distribute the electrical load, allowing for increased brightness in both SDR and HDR modes while minimizing stress on each layer. This configuration includes a quantum dot conversion layer that transforms some blue light into red and green, resulting in a broader color spectrum, cleaner colors, and lower power consumption at average brightness settings.

MSI enhances the new panel with DarkArmor Film, which increases surface toughness from 2H to 3H and improves light absorption. This treatment results in reduced purple tinting and enhanced black depth when in ambient lighting, offering noticeable improvements compared to older QD-OLED models that lacked a traditional polarizer, as observed in the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 review.

On the connectivity front, the monitor includes a DisplayPort 2.1a interface with UHBR20 bandwidth, capable of transmitting an uncompressed 4K signal at 240 Hz with 10-bit color depth, eliminating the necessity for Display Stream Compression. While DSC is generally visually lossless, UHBR20 provides a completely uncompressed signal path, appealing to purists. This also supports features like NVIDIA DSR and DLDSR, which render at higher internal resolutions before downsampling to the display. Additionally, there are two HDMI 2.1 ports that facilitate 4K at 240 Hz, a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 98 W power delivery, and a 5 Gbps USB hub with two USB Type-A downstream ports and a USB Type-B upstream connection.

The monitor also incorporates MSI’s AI Care Sensor and OLED Care 3.0, providing presence detection, adaptive dimming, and enhanced automated burn-in prevention tools. These features were first introduced in the MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 ultrawide, and this implementation is consistent with that model.

Priced at $1,099, the MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 is $200 less than the MPG 322URX it replaces, while featuring a newer panel generation, improved SDR brightness, better text clarity, and additional AI functionalities. This makes it a compelling option, so let’s explore its performance further.

Specifications