Leaked MSI Gaming Monitor Roadmap Shows QD-OLED Ambitions

By Mark Tyson
published

At least four new QD-OLED gaming monitors are in the works, according to the leak

MSI gaming monitor with QD-OLED
(Image credit: MSI)

A gaming monitor roadmap, allegedly from MSI, has leaked. If the roadmap shared by chi11eddogg is genuine, it looks like MSI will jump onto the QD-OLED monitor train with both feet. The gaming monitors in the leak sport large, attractive, high-res panels, with fast refresh rates, and show MSI is also interested in promoting USB Type-C connectivity.

(Image credit: chi11eddogg)

All of the monitors in the leak seem to be equipped with 'QD-OLED' panels. Samsung is the only maker of panels we know of with this description — QD-OLED panels mix quantum dots (QDs), for bright, vivid colors, with OLED technology, for stunning contrast, deep blacks, and great response times.

According to the leaked launch timeline, the first new QD-OLED gaming monitor from MSI will be the MSI MAG 341CQP. This will be a 34-inch 1800R curved monitor with a UWQHD resolution, or 3440 x 1440 pixels. MSI has made several 34-inch UWQHD curved gaming monitors (I own one), but this new model will have the added appeal of a QD-OLED panel with a 175 Hz max refresh rate. As part of the MAG series, we expect this monitor will have the gaming basics covered while also being affordable.

If you aren't familiar with the MSI gaming product family hierarchy, this is how it goes: MEG — MSI Enthusiast Gaming; MPG — MSI Performance Gaming; and MAG — MSI Arsenal Gaming.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Date

Model

Panel type

Panel resolution

Refresh (Hz)

Nov 2023

MAG 341CQP

QD-OLED 1800R

UWQHD

175

Jan 2024

MPG 491CQP

QD-OLED 1800R

DQHD

144

Jan 2024

MPG 321UPX

QD-OLED Flat

UHD

240

Jan 2024

MAG 271QPX

QD-OLED Flat

QHD

360

The next gaming monitor from MSI in the leak is the MPG 491CQP. We expect this to feature a 49-inch diagonal QD-OLED panel with 1800R curvature. The resolution is described as DQHD, which is 5120 x 1440 pixels. It seems to have a lot in common with Samsung's 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 DQHD Gaming Monitor — but the $2,200 Samsung model has a faster max refresh at 240 Hz, so MSI's monitor will potentially be a cheaper option.

Two more MSI QD-OLED gaming monitors are listed for release in January. The leak indicates that the flat screen MPG 321UPX and MAG 271QPX are on the way. These are 32-inch UHD (4K) 240 Hz, and 27-inch QHD 360 Hz monitors, respectively, according to the leak.

On the topic of USB Type-C connectivity, the roadmap is a little confusing, but we interpret the "Type-C 15W" text to mean that the monitor supports 15W charging from its USB Type-C ports. Meanwhile, "Type C 90W" suggests single cable USB-C connectivity with 90W power delivery. Some monitor makers offer both these features together in the same monitor, so it's a little odd to see them listed separately — but remember, this is a leak, so all specs should be taken with a grain of salt, anyway.

It is possible that some of the leaked monitors will be good enough to make it into our best curved gaming monitors and best computer monitors roundups post-release. It shouldn't be long until we see the first monitor, the MAG 341CQP, arrive, assuming the Nov. 2023 date on the roadmap is correct. The rest will likely arrive all at once in the tidal wave of tech product launches timed for CES 2024, which will run from Jan. 9 - 12, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Mark Tyson
Mark Tyson
Freelance News Writer

Mark Tyson is a Freelance News Writer at Tom's Hardware US. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • randyh121
    I have an old 144hz monitor, 2k resolution, MSI
    All these new monitors that come out seem to have no advantage over older ones.
    I've been to conventions that show off these new monitors and they all look the same, only difference I can see is the better the resolution and hz, the better the monitor. But 144hz and 2k is perfect for me.
    OLED, QD-OLED. Why would I pay an extra $1000 for something you can't notice?
    Reply
  • blacknemesist
    randyh121 said:
    I have an old 144hz monitor, 2k resolution, MSI
    All these new monitors that come out seem to have no advantage over older ones.
    I've been to conventions that show off these new monitors and they all look the same, only difference I can see is the better the resolution and hz, the better the monitor. But 144hz and 2k is perfect for me.
    OLED, QD-OLED. Why would I pay an extra $1000 for something you can't notice?
    You can't see the difference in LED vs OLED? It's like night and day. Just the constrast alone is insane.
    Reply
  • anonymousdude
    randyh121 said:
    I have an old 144hz monitor, 2k resolution, MSI
    All these new monitors that come out seem to have no advantage over older ones.
    I've been to conventions that show off these new monitors and they all look the same, only difference I can see is the better the resolution and hz, the better the monitor. But 144hz and 2k is perfect for me.
    OLED, QD-OLED. Why would I pay an extra $1000 for something you can't notice?

    There's a vast difference between any LCD monitor and an OLED that is easily noticeable. Black levels/contrast being the easiest one to see. It's also not like you need a trained eye for it either. It's black on an OLED vs varying shades of grey on an LCD.

    What I will say though is that there are diminishing returns once you have a decent monitor. And whether an upgrade from there is worth it is a whole different discussion.
    Reply
  • randyh121
    blacknemesist said:
    You can't see the difference in LED vs OLED? It's like night and day. Just the constrast alone is insane.
    Actually, I take that back. I can notice the difference in VR goggles at least.
    OLED looked horrible in VR, extremely blurry compared to LED
    Reply
  • sycoreaper
    I like my 4K 144hz MSI Monitor. Would 240 be nice? Sure but games can't even reach 4K 120 stable. OLED would be the main feature but if be scared to death of burn in.

    Burn in is rare on TVs but they also don't get used like a computer monitor displaying static elements for hours at a time.
    Reply
  • hotaru.hino
    The glaring issue with current OLED and QD-OLED monitors is they have subpixel structure that Windows doesn't know how to deal with yet, which results in color fringing. And it's one of those things that once you see it, you start noticing it more.

    I guess we'll see if MSI is just following suit with what Alienware is using.

    sycoreaper said:
    Burn in is rare on TVs but they also don't get used like a computer monitor displaying static elements for hours at a time.
    Phones have a similar problem, but I've yet to see burn in on any of the phones I've used. I'm inclined to believe as long as you're not asking the display to be at 100% brightness the whole time, it'll last a lot longer.
    Reply
  • anonymousdude
    hotaru.hino said:
    The glaring issue with current OLED and QD-OLED monitors is they have subpixel structure that Windows doesn't know how to deal with yet, which results in color fringing. And it's one of those things that once you see it, you start noticing it more.

    I guess we'll see if MSI is just following suit with what Alienware is using.


    Phones have a similar problem, but I've yet to see burn in on any of the phones I've used. I'm inclined to believe as long as you're not asking the display to be at 100% brightness the whole time, it'll last a lot longer.

    I mean MSI is sourcing it's panels from Samsung (QD-OLED) and LG (OLED) just like everyone else so it should retain the same issues. I have the Alienware QD-OLED and I only see the fringing if I'm looking for it. In normal use I don't see it at all. It's one of those quirks where you just have to see if it bothers you. Didn't bother me at all, drove other people crazy.

    The issue with burn in is two-fold. One is if you used a panel to where it started to burn in you're kind of desensitized to it cause you adjusted to the gradual burn in. It's why a lot of people don't realize their panel even has burn in unless you get a new panel for comparison or someone tells you. The second item is by the time where burn in is likely to become a problem, there's a pretty decent chance the product is due for an upgrade or you've upgraded already.
    Reply
  • hotaru.hino
    anonymousdude said:
    The issue with burn in is two-fold. One is if you used a panel to where it started to burn in you're kind of desensitized to it cause you adjusted to the gradual burn in. It's why a lot of people don't realize their panel even has burn in unless you get a new panel for comparison or someone tells you.
    I'm pretty sure someone would recognize noticeable burn-in fairly easily. Like the whole fear with say the start menu burning in. If someone plays a game at full screen, they would definitely start to see the Windows icon.

    anonymousdude said:
    The second item is by the time where burn in is likely to become a problem, there's a pretty decent chance the product is due for an upgrade or you've upgraded already.
    Sure, that's a given. But the actual occurrence of noticeable burn-in within say 3 years, as long as you're not asking the screen to blast your eyes at full brightness all the time, I'd say is minimal.
    Reply
  • sycoreaper
    hotaru.hino said:
    The glaring issue with current OLED and QD-OLED monitors is they have subpixel structure that Windows doesn't know how to deal with yet, which results in color fringing. And it's one of those things that once you see it, you start noticing it more.

    I guess we'll see if MSI is just following suit with what Alienware is using.


    Phones have a similar problem, but I've yet to see burn in on any of the phones I've used. I'm inclined to believe as long as you're not asking the display to be at 100% brightness the whole time, it'll last a lot longer.
    I've not experienced burn in but have had ghosting. The bigger the screen the more evident it seems to be IMO. But I've experienced ghost burn on my phone, tablet and TV. Typically disappears in a minute or two but is disconcerting. If a shortish duration can ghost like that, I'd be very concerned about gaming sessions or things like the star button which are static most of the time.
    Reply