MSI Trendy MD272UPSW assessment: A 4K sensible TV disguised as a monitor

Finest Costs In the present day: MSI Trendy MD272UPSW

Sensible screens are very a lot a factor in 2025. These screens bundle a wise TV working system (normally Google TV OS) to offer a lot of the advantages of a tv in a pc monitor. This flexibility makes the Trendy MD272UPSW interesting when you usually end up utilizing a monitor like a tv, although the monitor’s picture high quality is simply so-so. MSI’s aggressive worth additionally improves the monitor’s enchantment.

Learn on to study extra, then see our roundup of one of the best screens for comparability.

Trendy MD272UPSW specs and options

The MSI Trendy MD272UPSW’s fundamental specs are typical for an affordable 4K monitor. It has a 27-inch 16:9 facet ratio display with, in fact, 3840×2160 decision. The refresh charge is simply 60Hz and the panel makes use of IPS LCD expertise and not using a fancy Mini-LED backlight.

• Show measurement: 27-inch 16:9 facet ratio
• Native decision: 3840×2160
• Panel kind: IPS LCD 8-bit + FRC
• Refresh charge: 60Hz
• Adaptive sync: Sure, Adaptive Sync
• HDR: HDR 10
• Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x USB Kind-C with 65 watts of Energy Supply, 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm audio-out jack
• Extra options: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5, Distant management, Google TV OS
• Audio: 2x 3-watt audio system
• Guarantee: 3-year guarantee
• Worth: $349.99 MSRP

Nonetheless, there’s one thing within the field that instantly units the monitor aside: a TV-style distant management. That is used to regulate Google TV OS, which is pre-installed on the monitor. The distant can even regulate monitor options together with the monitor’s profile preset and brightness. Additionally, as a result of the monitor is supposed for use as an internet-connected sensible TV, it contains each an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi 5.

Trendy MD272UPSW design

The MSI Trendy MD272UPSW makes a very good first impression. It supplies a smooth, crisp white colorway that can slot in with most lounge and residential workplace setups, and the plastics used throughout the rear of the panel, in addition to the stand, really feel sturdy.

MSI ships the monitor with an ergonomic stand that adjusts for peak, tilt, swivel, and pivots 90 levels to be used in portrait orientation. That is the standard vary of adjustment for a contemporary monitor, but it surely’s additionally good to see. The stand is just not massive and has a flat base, which minimizes the area that it takes up on a desk.

The Trendy MD272UPSW additionally has a 75x75mm VESA mount to be used with a third-party monitor stand or arm.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Trendy MD272UPSW connectivity

Though cheap, the Trendy MD272UPSW has a very good vary of connectivity, a few of which is required to make use of the monitor’s sensible TV options.

The monitor’s video inputs embrace one HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one USB Kind-C with DisplayPort alternate mode. The USB-C port additionally supplies 65 watts of USB Energy Supply.

A pair of USB-A ports provide extra USB connectivity, which will be accessed by the USB-C port. Nonetheless, the USB-A ports are solely rated on the USB 2.0 specs, in order that they’ll show reasonably gradual for knowledge transfers. A 3.5mm headphone-out jack is included, too.

The monitor’s sensible TV options require an web connection, so it has an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi 5, plus Bluetooth. Nonetheless, the Ethernet port doesn’t lengthen connectivity to a linked laptop computer. That’s a bummer.

On a last however essential be aware, buyers ought to needless to say the MSI Trendy MD272UPSW doesn’t have a TV tuner. Which means it will probably’t settle for a coaxial TV sign and gained’t work with most cable set-top packing containers, and positively not with over-the-air TV alerts. It’s all about TV delivered over the web.

Trendy MD272UPSW menus and options

As a result of the MSI Trendy MD272UPSW has Google TV OS, setting it up is a bit completely different from a typical monitor.

Turning it on will direct you to Google TV’s setup course of. Customers have to activate and pair the distant and join a Google account. If all goes nicely, this could take about 5 minutes; I bumped into a number of points with correct detection of the monitor however, after a number of tries, it will definitely labored.

As soon as arrange, you’ll be greeted by a Google TV OS interface that appears very similar to another show that makes use of the working system. Google TV OS presents a clear, trendy consumer interface with fast entry to frequent streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube. Technically, this implies you don’t want an enter system in any respect. You should utilize the MSI Trendy MD272UPSW as stand-alone sensible TV.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

I anticipate most customers will need to hook up with a PC, nonetheless. Sensible screens will be finicky about detecting and switching to new gadgets, however this wasn’t an issue I had with the Trendy MD272UPSW. My desktop and laptop computer have been detected inside seconds and the monitor switched to those new enter sources with out guide adjustment.

As well as, the Trendy MD272UPSW’s pricing offers it a robust aggressive benefit in opposition to different sensible screens. As I’ll talk about in a second, the monitor’s picture high quality is mediocre. But when Google TV OS is a key function you need in a monitor, the Trendy MD272UPSW is an inexpensive approach to get it—and it really works as nicely right here because it does on costlier alternate options, just like the Asus ZenScreen Sensible Monitor MS27UC.

It’s not all sunshine and roses, nonetheless. Whereas enter gadgets labored nicely, navigating Google TV OS to alter monitor settings can really feel cumbersome. If you wish to regulate brightness, for instance, you’ll have to navigate by a few settings sub-menus to take action. Google TV OS can even really feel gradual when flipping by menu choices. It’s a minor hesitation—only a fraction of a second normally—however noticeable.  

What about audio? The Trendy MD272UPSW contains built-in audio system with first rate audio high quality. They’re not that loud at most quantity and have bother with extra demanding content material, like music. Nonetheless, they’re advantageous for YouTube and plenty of streaming exhibits. Attributable to their average quantity, the audio system are greatest suited to smaller rooms.

Trendy MD272UPSW picture high quality

The MSI Trendy MD272UPSW is a tried-and-true IPS LCD show with an edge-lit LED backlight. This sort of panel expertise stays the most typical, and inexpensive, choice for laptop screens, and little doubt contributes to the Trendy MD272UPSW’s low worth. Nonetheless, it delivers so-so picture high quality.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

First up is brightness which, it seems, is among the many Trendy MD272UPSW’s greatest traits. It reached a sustained SDR brightness of 440 nits, which is quite a bit for a pc monitor. It’s crushed solely by the Asus ZenScreen Sensible Monitor MS27UC.

A brightness of 440 nits is, in fact, excess of required for typical use in a house workplace or PC den. Nonetheless, a monitor just like the MD272UPSW could be roped into use as a wise TV for a visitor room, trip house, or perhaps a kitchen. The monitor’s brightness provides some flexibility in the place the monitor is used.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Subsequent up is distinction, and right here issues get a bit dicey for the MSI Trendy MD272UPSW. It achieved a distinction ratio of 1170:1 at 50 % of most brightness. That’s not dangerous, but it surely’s a firmly mid-pack end result for a monitor on this class.

As frequent for IPS-LCD screens, distinction is restricted by the monitor’s incapability to succeed in deep, convincing black ranges in darkish scenes. This could be a downside when the monitor is used to play video games or watch TV, particularly in a darkish room. You might discover the dreaded “IPS glow,” which may trigger darker scenes to look hazy and grey.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The Trendy MD272UPSW’s coloration gamut can also be a bit restricted. It may obtain as much as 99 % of sRGB, 75 % of DCI-P3, and 76 % of AdobeRGB. These outcomes would’ve regarded nice a number of years in the past, however they’re mid-pack in 2025.

Nonetheless, the MD272UPSW’s coloration gamut is okay for the worth and have set. Films, video games, and different content material gained’t look as vivid as on some equally priced screens, just like the Gigabyte M27QA ICE. However it’s ok to fulfill much less crucial viewers.

If you wish to deal with content material creation, I’d take a move on the MD272UPSW. The monitor’s restricted coloration gamut can grow to be an impediment when creating or modifying digital photographs and video, as it will probably’t show as many colours as some aggressive screens.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Subsequent up is coloration accuracy, which seems to be among the many Trendy MD272UPSW’s much less spectacular outcomes. The monitor’s coloration error common was close to 2.0, and a few colours have been nicely over that mark. Subjectively, the monitor’s picture nonetheless appears lifelike, however crucial viewers might discover that greens and cyan appear a bit light and push in the direction of blue greater than is right.

Whereas the monitor’s coloration accuracy wasn’t a robust level, the monitor did nicely in gamma and coloration temperature. It achieved a default gamma curve of two.2, which is our goal and implies that content material will usually look as shiny because it ought to. Additionally, the monitor had a spot-on coloration temperature of 6500K at 50 % of most brightness, which implies the picture doesn’t look too cool or too heat.

Sharpness is a perk, in fact. The monitor’s 3840×2160 decision ends in a pixel density of about 163 pixels per inch throughout the 27-inch panel. That’s a wonderful pixel density for a monitor. Small fonts are comparatively readable and 4K video appears crisp.

The MSI Trendy MD272UPSW’s SDR picture high quality gained’t knock your socks off, but it surely covers the fundamentals and appears ok for watching a present on Netflix or YouTube. Customers who need higher picture high quality on a finances might contemplate a monitor just like the Gigabyte M27Q ICE. It’s not a wise monitor, nonetheless, so that you’ll want to attach a media streaming system if you need entry to streaming apps.

Trendy MD272UPSW HDR picture high quality

HDR is on the market on the MSI Trendy MD272UPSW, but it surely’s unremarkable. The monitor isn’t VESA DisplayHDR licensed and is marketed as merely “HDR Prepared.” Which means it will probably settle for an HDR sign however doesn’t make any particular claims about HDR efficiency. HDR content material will be considered, but it surely gained’t look a lot better than SDR.

Whereas that’s disappointing, it’s additionally typical for a monitor on this worth bracket. You’ll want a minimum of $500 to snag a monitor with first rate HDR efficiency. Proper now, older OLED screens offered at a reduction are your greatest guess if you need good HDR on a finances—however none of them have sensible TV connectivity.

Trendy MD272UPSW movement efficiency

The MSI Trendy MD272UPSW isn’t offered as a gaming monitor and doesn’t promise nice movement efficiency. It has a 60Hz refresh charge and a minimal gray-to-gray pixel response time of 4 milliseconds, which is typical for a monitor on this class. Quick-moving objects will present noticeable blur and scrolling textual content will be onerous to learn.

Nonetheless, the monitor does a minimum of assist Adaptive Sync for easy body pacing in PC video games. MSI doesn’t quote official AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync assist, however my desktop PC (with an AMD Radeon 7800 XT) detected it as a FreeSync appropriate monitor.

Do you have to purchase a Trendy MD272UPSW?

The MSI Trendy MD272UPSW is a modest finances 4K monitor with one large benefit. It helps Google TV OS.

Whereas that gained’t make it interesting to individuals who want a monitor for a house workplace or PC gaming den, the Trendy MD272UPSW is inexpensive than most 4K sensible screens. The lower cost doesn’t result in any main trade-offs, both. Whereas the Trendy MD272UPSW’s picture high quality is simply so-so, it’s on par with the alternate options. In case you simply need a monitor, you’ll be higher served by extra conventional laptop screens just like the Dell S2722QC or Gigabyte M27Q ICE.

Finally, I believe the Trendy MD272UPSW is greatest understood as a 27-inch sensible tv disguised as a pc monitor. It’s a sensible choice if you need a wise TV for a studio residence, visitor room, kitchen, or another scenario the place you may use a show as each a monitor and a tv.