Product: MSI Optix MAG281URF
Type: Gaming Display (28”)
Price: $1,099.00 RRP
Availability: Out Now
Link: msi.com/Monitor/Optix-MAG281URF

When it comes to new displays in the console space, that is when you’re on the hunt for a new television, resolution doesn’t really factor into the equation. Mainly because 4K is now the norm and modern gaming consoles fully support the resolution. The aisle at JB is basically wall-to-wall 4K TVs. PC gaming on the other hand has you sitting closer to your display, a lot closer, and as such the difference between 1080p and 4K is immediately noticeable due to the magnitudes higher pixel-density that comes from a sizable bump in resolution.

Crisper, more detailed. And with that you’d probably assume that 4K would be the new norm here too. Except, not really. PC gaming is usually best when you’re playing at the native resolution of your display, and with so many pixels in a 4K image it takes a decent GPU and accompanying rig to hit a stable 4K in a lot of titles. That and 4K displays with a high refresh-rate have only recently become a thing you can find at a reasonable price in a lot of places.

As far as 4K displays for PC gaming in 2022 goes, the new MSI Optix MAG281URF is definitely an enticing prospect. 4K, 144Hz, G-Sync Compatibility, a Rapid IPS panel suitable for esports, HDR, and so on. Not only vibrant and crisp for the likes of, say, God of War’s recent PC debut, it’s the low response time coupled with current graphics hardware capable of running competitive titles at a fast frame-rate that make this a great option. Plus, it’s great just doing day to day stuff on a PC in 4K.

Looking Good

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MSI has kept a pretty similar look and feel to its MAG line-up of displays in recent years, and the MSI Optix MAG281URF is no different. Here the back panel is all angles and shines with some RGB flourishes that scream “this be a gaming display”, but it’s the minimal and sleek stuff you actually see that we’ve grown to love here at AusGamers. The almost bezel-free look to three sides of the main display, a tasteful logo in the centre, with the MSI Optix MAG281URF featuring a square and sturdy base to boot.

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As far as 4K displays for PC gaming in 2022 goes, the new MSI Optix MAG281URF is definitely an enticing prospect. 4K, 144Hz, G-Sync Compatibility, a Rapid IPS panel suitable for esports, HDR, and so on.

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As a somewhat weighty display the overall build quality is excellent here, and something that lives up to the more premium price-tag. Which can be felt when you tilt, swivel, and adjust to suit your desktop needs - everything here is smooth. Which extends to some nice add-on features found with the MSI Optix MAG281URF, like being able to connect multiple sources for a little picture-in-picture action with full support for one set of peripherals connected to the display. Very cool.

One of the great add-on features is the software integration with MSI’s Gaming OSD app which basically lets you adjust any and all settings via a clean-to-use and powerful UI versus having to do the underside button dance. In fact, with the ability to save different image profiles and call on them at will is something that we wish was a feature across all PC displays.

A View to Remember

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Okay, so MSI labelling this an esports display is more than a marketing label; it signifies that the Rapid IPS panel delivers the goods all the way up to the 4K 144 Hz of the specifications. 1ms GTG response times (or close too) results in smooth movement to the point where it does have an effect on in-game performance. That is, your own. When you’re aiming down sights to take out an opponent. With the likes of CS: Go, Rainbow Six Siege, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and League of Legends, all able to push high frame-rates in 4K on even mid-range graphics (some of which are further boosted by NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Reflex) there’s also the added benefit of an overall crisper and clearer image.

Maximum Resolution: 3840x2160 (UHD)

Size: 27.9 inch

Panel Type: Rapid IPS

Refresh Rate: 144 Hz (G-Sync compatible)

Response Time (GTG): 1ms

Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Native)

Brightness: 300 / 400 (HDR Peak)

Weight: 7.7kg

The Rapid IPS panel here is impressive and then some, especially for a 4K display. With a wide-viewing angle and great colour accuracy in the sRGB space (plus excellent out-of-the-box calibration from MSI) the only real downside is that the HDR isn’t anything special. MSI went as far as getting this VESA HDR Display 400 Certified, so this has more to do with HDR 400 versus the actual display’s underlying technology. Basically, HDR 400 is entry-level HDR due to the overall peak brightness not hitting the sort of level where HDR truly, and literally, shines. It would have been nice to have seen HDR 600 on a panel as impressive as the one here.

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The Rapid IPS panel here is impressive and then some, especially for a 4K display. With a wide-viewing angle and great colour accuracy in the sRGB space (plus excellent out-of-the-box calibration from MSI) the only real downside is that the HDR isn’t anything special.

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That said, 4K gaming on the MSI Optix MAG281URF is awesome. Granted, our testing was carried out on a GeForce RTX 3080 powered rig so DLSS enabled titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, Ghostwire: Tokyo, DOOM Eternal, Ghostrunner, and more looked, performed, and played brilliantly. When it comes to PC gaming a quality display should be high-up on the list, and if you’ve got a rig capable of hitting high frame-rate 4K action across competitive titles and more cinematic offerings, well, the MSI Optix MAG281URF is a great choice.