LABS TEST / HDR MONITORS
W
e lookedattheMSIMAG321CURVa
fewmonthsagoandfoundit tobea
perfectlycapable4Kmonitorfor
thosewhowanta fun,colourfulpicture.
However,wedidn’tfocustooheavilyonits
HDRcapabilities,sowethoughtit wortha
revisit,asitsperformanceis representativeof
manya DisplayHDR 400 ratedmonitor.
LiketheAOCAG273QX,theMAG321CURVis
a monitorthat’sbasedona VA-typeLCDpanel
thathasaninherentlyhighcontrastratio,in this
MSI OPTIX
MAG321CURV /£440 inc VAT
SUPPLIER box.co.ukcase, 2,500:1. The monitor relies
on this to create its HDR-like image,
along with its extended colour gamut.
Also like the AOC, the MAG321CURV’s wide
colour gamut can’t be turned down for use in
normal sRGB mode. However, the monitor
only extends very slightly, hitting 78 per cent
coverage of DCI-P3 and 103 per cent of sRGB,
compared to the 88 per cent and 124 per cent
for the AOC. This means the MAG321CURV
looks far more natural in sRGB situations but
conversely, it looks noticeably less vibrant
than all the other displays in this Labs when it
comes to HDR.
Where this display pulls things back a little
is with that inherently high contrast. Rated at
2,500:1, we measured it as 2,774:1, so you still
get deeper blacks and a more punchy picture
than with many other displays. Nonetheless,
this is typical of the sort of display that tacks
on the HDR moniker yet delivers little of the
meaningful impact of HDR images.
Elsewhere, though, this is a nice display. Its
32in size partners well with its 4K resolution.
Set Windows scaling to 150 per cent and
you have an effective resolution of 2,880 x
1,620, making for a nice upgrade in desktop
area over a typical 27in display. You still get
the inconvenience of that scaling not working
properly every now and then, but it feels like
a far more practical application of 4K than the
likes of the PG27UQ.
This monitor also looks the part thanks to an
impressively slim screen and narrow bezels.
You also get a height-adjustable stand and
plenty of connectivity, although the USB ports
being around the back is a bit inconvenient –
some displays have a couple of ports on the
side. The OSD is controlled by a mini joystick
on the back of the screen – as is the case with
most of the screens in this Labs – and it’s easy
to use. Around the back you also get a streak
of RGB lighting, if you’re into that sort of thing.When it comes to gaming, the 60Hz
maximum refresh rate immediately limits
the appeal of this screen for those who are
into competitive first-person shooters or
other fast-paced games. However, for more
cinematic fare, the combination of the 4K
resolution, huge 32in size, decent contrast
and good colour reproduction makes for an
impressive display, even if it isn’t quite what
we’d consider true HDR.Conclusion
Decent overall image quality, a 4K resolution
and massive 32in size makes this an
appealing monitor for those seeking a
colourful, high-resolution screen for general
work and play. However, its 60Hz refresh rate
is a major limit to its gaming appeal and its
HDR is essentially pointless. It also doesn’t
have the image quality criteria to compete
with more professionally oriented 4K
displays so its exact appeal is niche.SPEC
Screen size 32in
Resolution 3,840 x 2,160
Panel technology VA
Maximum refresh rate 60Hz
Response time 4ms
Contrast 2,500:1
Display inputs 1 x DisplayPort 1.4,
2 x HDMI 2.0, USB Type-C
Audio 2 x 2W and 1 x 5W
speakers, headphone jack
Stand adjustment Height, tilt
Extras 2 x USB 2 ports, Freesync
HDR standard DisplayHDR 400VERDICT
A big 4K screen for a decent price but it’s not
without compromise.CURVACEOUS
+ Very slim, yet
large display
+ A great size for 4K
+ Good overall
image qualityU BEND- Basic HDR
performance - No G-Sync support
- 60Hz refresh rate
limits gaming
IMAGE QUALITY
24 / 30
FEATURES
14 / 20GAMING
18 / 30
VALUE
17 / 20OVERALLSCORE
73 %