Pros & Cons
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- 4K UHD resolution
- Full sRGB color coverage
- Integrates Google TV for access to streaming content, web apps, and services such as Google Home
- Can operate independently of a PC
- Competitively priced
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- Small screen for an entertainment monitor
- Peak 60Hz refresh rate
MSI Modern MD272UPSW Specs
| Adaptive Sync | Yes |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 16.3 by 24.2 by 7.9 inches |
| Height-Adjustable Stand? | |
| Landscape/Portrait Pivot | |
| Native Resolution | 3840 by 2160 |
| Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) | 27 |
| Pixel Refresh Rate | 60 |
| Rated Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Rated Screen Luminance | 300 |
| Screen Technology | IPS |
| Swiveling Stand? | |
| Tilting Stand? | |
| USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) | 3 |
| VESA DisplayHDR Level | NA |
| Video Inputs | DisplayPort |
| Video Inputs | HDMI |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 3 |
| Weight | 13.9 |
The MSI Modern MD272UPSW ($356.99) is, in essence, a hybrid device. It can serve as a general-purpose personal or home-office monitor, or as a smart monitor integrating Google TV's huge collection of streaming apps, as well as services such as Google Home and Google Photos. It can operate either connected to or independently of a computer—in the latter case, you can attach a keyboard and mouse to it, connect it to Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and control it with the remote that comes with it. This Editors' Choice-award-winning monitor has few direct competitors, but also just niche appeal: Its modest-sized screen makes it better for personal or small-group viewing than as an entertainment center for a large family room. But for space-strapped shoppers who need it all from a small screen, it's a star.
Design: Modest Screen, Minimalist Style
The all-white MD272UPSW has a simple, appealing design. The rectangular base has a small footprint, but the monitor feels sturdy atop it. MSI includes a clip that attaches to the shaft for easy cable management. The back of the chassis has a square array of holes spaced 2.95 inches (75mm) apart, should you choose to VESA-mount it.
The stand has all the standard ergonomic features we expect, including 4.3 inches of height adjustment, the ability to tilt the top of the monitor up to 5 degrees toward you and 20 degrees away, and 30 degrees of swivel to either side. It can also pivot from landscape to portrait mode and vice versa. Indeed, the MD272UPSW has the same general look as the most similar product I have reviewed, the LG MyView Smart Monitor (32SR85U).
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The MD272UPSW packs a 27-inch (measured diagonally) IPS anti-glare screen with a 4K UHD native resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels, in a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. A screen of that size and resolution has a pixel density of about 163 pixels per inch (ppi), ensuring a sharp image and making this display more than suitable for photo editing. The panel's 60Hz refresh rate effectively limits its gaming use to casual play, though.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The 27-inch screen is fine for personal desktop use or if space is at a premium, though it is on the small side if you are using it to stream video or TV as a family entertainment center. The LG 32SR85U has a more spacious 32-inch screen, though that's still closer to desktop size than family-room size.
Connectivity: All Essentials Covered
The ports, which face downward in a recess in the back of the monitor, include one upstream USB-C port—which supports DisplayPort Over USB Alternate Mode and up to 65 watts of power delivery—one DisplayPort 1.4 connector, an HDMI 2.0 port, and two USB-A ports. You could use the latter to connect a keyboard and mouse should you want to operate sans PC.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The MD272UPSW offers wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 5, and an RJ-45 Ethernet jack lets you stay connected when Wi-Fi is spotty or nonexistent, assuming you've got a wired network connection nearby.
The monitor also has an audio-out jack for headphones or wired external speakers if you need it. That said, the MD272UPSW's two 3-watt speakers provide decent sound quality at a reasonable volume. Worth noting: You manipulate the on-screen menus via a handy mini joystick on the back of the cabinet.
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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Smart Monitor: Google TV Integration
In addition to operating as a standard entertainment or business monitor, the MD272UPSW integrates with Google TV to let you stream an extensive selection of content and use an abundance of web apps, navigating with the included remote control. You can control Google Home smart devices by voice command, if you choose, and access your Google Photos library. It also integrates with Google Assistant and Google Cast.
I entered my Google account info to access the full range of Google TV features and web apps, organized into sections such as News & Magazines, Tools, Music and Audio, Productivity, Health and Fitness, Education, and Communication. Many of the apps are familiar—CNN, Fox, MLB, TED, TeamViewer, and Peloton, just to name a few—while many were unknown to me. Some require you to be an account holder—I added my Disney+ account, and viewed content over that service—while many, such as listening to tunes on iHeartRadio, don't require any login.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Google TV's content selection is vast, with a greater variety of apps (around 10,000) than the WebOS platform that the LG 32SR85U uses. Its integration with services such as Google Home and Google Photos is also a positive for those using the Google ecosystem.
Performance Testing: Bright, With Solid sRGB Coverage
I tested the MD272UPSW's brightness, contrast ratio, and color coverage using our standard test gear: a Klein K-10A colorimeter, a Murideo SixG signal generator, and Portrait Displays' Calman Ultimate for Business calibration software.
MSI rates the MD272UPSW's luminance at 300 nits (candelas per meter squared), and in our testing, it slightly exceeded that, at 324 nits. In HDR testing, it showed a peak brightness of 384 nits. I measured its contrast ratio at 1,172:1, topping its 1,000:1 rating.
(Credit: Portrait Displays)The MD272UPSW's 10-bit color depth goes hand-in-hand with good color coverage, which was borne out in my testing. According to MSI, the panel covers 127% of the sRGB space, 98% of DCI-P3, and 94% of Adobe RGB. Although it fell a little short of these numbers, in our testing, it covered the full sRGB space with room to spare (see the chromaticity chart above), 95.2% of DCI-P3, and 90.7% of Adobe RGB.
For experiential testing, I viewed our usual test video clips, as well as parts of movies and TV shows I accessed through Google TV. Video looked bright, with accurate, vibrant color and good contrast. The MD272UPSW also handled photos from our test suite well, with realistic-looking colors and retention of detail in both bright and dark areas.