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There's no doubt about it, MSI's MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 is an excellent ultrawide monitor, packing in a number of improvements over previous QD-OLED 21:9 displays.
For starters, the 5th Gen QD-OLED panel from Samsung has delivered some very welcome upgrades compared to 3rd and 4th Gen panels. The new V-stripe sub-pixel structure increases text clarity to the point where I'd say it's no longer a factor to consider, great news for people who use their monitor for a lot of text-based apps or workflows.
There's also an improved panel coating, and this makes a noticeable difference to black depth in bright conditions compared to previous QD-OLED panels, where blacks can often look more grey depending on the ambient lighting. However, black levels are still raised when compared against ASUS' TrueBlack Glossy coating on the XG27AQWMG, so it's not perfect – but it is still a big improvement relative to previous QD-OLED panels, and will make the issue much less of a concern for most people.
On top of that, the increased 360Hz refresh rate is another welcome benefit, making this the fastest ultrawide to date, while the 3440×1440 resolution is significantly easier to drive compared to LG's 5K2K UltraGear model. I've not tested that one personally, but on paper I do think the 341CQR X36 has the edge – it may be lower resolution, but it's significantly faster, with LG's only able to hit 330Hz at its lower 2560×1080 resolution, given it tops out at 165Hz in its 5120×2160 resolution. LG's screen also has a matte coating, which personally I am not a huge fan of for OLED screens.
MSI has also done a great job with the factory calibration, while the sRGB mode is up there with the best I have ever tested. HDR performance clearly has the potential to be strong, being as bright as it gets for QD-OLED right now, but as mentioned earlier in the review, there's been some fun and games with firmware updates during the review process and some further refinement is needed. MSI has a good track record with firmware updates for its screens, but we will be sure to test any further revisions and update this review as necessary.
As for the pricing, MSI told us the MSRP is £999/$1099. Considering 240Hz 3440×1440 options have been on sale a while now and are currently retailing for $700-800, I'd say the asking price for the 341CQR X36 is about as expected. It's by no means affordable for the vast majority of gamers, but the latest OLED tech always starts at a premium, and based on what we've seen in this market segment over the last year or two, I'd wager it won't be long before prices for this model come down to the sort of level we are seeing for current 240Hz screens.
In short, if you want the best ultrawide that QD-OLED technology has to offer, look no further than MSI's MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36. We will have to see when new WOLED ultrawides are announced – the idea of a 21:9 Tandem OLED sounds very good to me – but for now, I'd say this is as good as it gets for ultrawide OLED.
Pros
- Very wide gamut.
- Effectively infinite contrast ratio.
- Very fast response times.
- Fastest ultrawide OLED yet with 360Hz refresh.
- Games just look so good.
- Factory calibration is very good.
- Stellar sRGB emulation mode, one of the best I've used.
- Much brighter than most other QD-OLEDs.
- Improved text clarity thanks to the 5th Gen panel.
- Black depth is noticeably deeper than other QD-OLEDs in brighter conditions.
- HDR hits 1300 nits for the Peak 1300/EOTF Boost modes, True Black 500 mode should be very accurate pending a final firmware fix.
- Supports KVM functionality and 98W PD.
- 2x HDMI 2.1.
- User-upgradable firmware.
- New metal stand adds a more refined feel.
Cons
- Not cheap at £999/$1099.
- HDR behaviour needs a little ironing-out via a final firmware update.
- Black levels are still slightly raised compared to TrueBlack Glossy coatings, even if they are a big improvement versus previous QD-OLEDs.
KitGuru says: It's the best ultrawide OLED we have tested to date.
