Image: Matthew Smith / Foundry
At a glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Useful design with small stand and ergonomic adjustment
- Includes USB-C with up to 98 watts of Power Delivery
- Wide range of image quality adjustments
- Great image quality in SDR and HDR
Cons
- Not the most attractive design
- 3440×1440 resolution is adequate, but not sharp
- HDR brightness is only competitive in some situations
Our Verdict
The MSI MPG 341CQR isn’t quite perfect, but it delivers great image quality and plenty of features at an attractive price. That makes it easy to recommend for both work and play.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Best Prices Today: MSI MPG 341CQR
$949.99
$1051.54
MSI’s MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 is in many ways a flagship gaming monitor. It offers a 5th-generation Samsung QD-OLED panel, a refresh rate of 360Hz, a USB-C port with 98 watts of Power Delivery, and it is VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certified. However, the monitor’s price limbos under $1,000 — at $899.99, to be precise. That makes it a great value and easy to recommend for a wide variety of uses.
Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best ultrawide monitors for comparison.
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 specs and features
The MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 is yet another 34-inch ultrawide. However, it’s a new and high-end model, and so it packs a lot of features. These include the latest five-layer tandem QD-OLED panel, a 360Hz refresh rate, and a good range of ports including USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery.
- Display size: 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide
- Native resolution: 3440×1440
- Panel type: 5-layer Tandem QD-OLED
- Refresh rate: 360Hz
- Adaptive sync: Yes, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- HDR: HDR10, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 Certified
- Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 2.1a, 1x USB Type-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 98 watts of Power Delivery, 2x USB-A 5Gbps downstream, 1x USB-B 5Gbps upstream, 1x 3.5mm audio-out
- Audio: None
- Warranty: 3-year limited warranty
- Price: $899.99 MSRP
Packing so many features into a monitor does result in a somewhat expensive MSRP of $899.99 — though that’s not unusual for a cutting-edge OLED monitor, and actually rather competitive considering the features offered.
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 design
The MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 has a design language typical for MSI’s gaming monitors. This includes a matte-black colorway and simple branding with the exception of a glossy MSI Dragon logo on one side of the display’s rear panel. It also has a small RGB-LED backlit MSI logo which adds a bit of flair, but it’s not bright.
I think MSI’s monitors tend to look good at a mid-range price point, but the company struggles to pull off a high-end look in its premium monitors. Asus and Samsung are better at delivering high-end displays that look and feel as expensive as they are.
Looks aside, the monitor is functional. It includes an ergonomic stand with a good range of height, tilt, and swivel adjustment. The monitor’s stand base is small and flat but generally stable, though I did notice just a hair more wobble than I’d prefer when the monitor height was extended to its maximum. A 100x100mm VESA mount is available, too, for mounting the monitor to an arm.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
I like the monitor’s 1800R curve, which isn’t as aggressive as some competitors’ (a smaller number means a more aggressive curve). The curve is easy to notice, but once I sat down and used it for a few hours I quickly forgot about it. I prefer a subtle — or even no — curve on a 34-inch ultrawide monitor, so this is to my taste.
On a final note, the monitor’s power board is internal. Some OLED monitors will use a power brick, which can enable a slimmer monitor design, but adds an accessory you must position below your desk. I prefer an internal power board, so this is another small victory for MSI.
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 connectivity
Connectivity is a perk for the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36. The monitor’s video input includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 2.1 (rated at UHBR13.5), and DisplayPort over USB-C. All of these ports can support the monitor’s native resolution of 3440×1440 at its maximum 360Hz refresh rate.
The USB-C port also provides up to 98 watts of Power Delivery. That’s enough to handle most MacBook models and most Windows laptops without discrete graphics, though there are a few exceptions (like laptops with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme).
A USB hub with KVM switch is included and connects to a pair of downstream USB-A ports. They only support 5Gbps of data, so high-speed external storage will see data rates restricted. The USB-A ports can be driven either by the USB-C port or a USB-B upstream port.
A 3.5mm audio-out jack rounds out the connectivity options.
On the whole, the MPG 341CQR’s connectivity is solid for a gaming monitor, with the USB-C port taking the spotlight. While USB-C is now fairly common among high-end monitors, it’s not guaranteed in a gaming monitor, so its inclusion is appreciated.
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 menus and features
MSI has put a lot of effort into its on-screen menus lately, and the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 benefits from it. The menu system is easy to control thanks to the responsive joystick tucked behind the lower bezel. MSI’s menus are well-labeled and easy to control.
There are a lot of options on offer here including precise gamma and color temperature modes, a gigantic list of pre-set image modes, picture-in-picture/picture-by-picture modes, reduced screen space modes (like a 4:3 mode), and a huge range of OLED Care features that let you control how OLED care interacts with specific interface elements like the Windows taskbar and icons.
Related to OLED care, the monitor includes presence detection features. This can dim or turn off the monitor when you step away — which is helpful for preventing OLED burn-in and general wear. These features generally work well, though at times it can take 10 or 20 seconds for the monitor to detect your return.
The monitor features can also be controlled in MSI’s Gaming Intelligence app for Windows. It’s not my favorite software control for a monitor in Windows, but it works well enough, and not all monitors have this feature — Samsung and LG remain notable exceptions.
If you’re looking for a 34-inch ultrawide OLED monitor for gaming, you can stop your search.
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 audio
The MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED doesn’t include speakers.
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 image quality
The MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED has a 5th-gen tandem QD-OLED panel produced by Samsung. While the panel isn’t superior to top competitors, it does deliver great performance across a wide range of tests.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Starting with SDR brightness, the MPG 341CQR manages to sustain a maximum SDR brightness of 300 nits. As the graph shows, this isn’t a record for an OLED monitor, but it’s good. Recent OLED monitors have generally raised the typical maximum SDR brightness to around 300 nits, and the MPG 341CQR meets that standard.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
There’s not much to say about contrast, but that’s good. OLED monitors can achieve an effectively infinite contrast ratio due to their ability to reach a minimum luminance of zero nits. The MPG 341CQR is no exception here, and it leads to an image with a great sense of depth.
However, because virtually all OLED monitors offer this, the MPG 341CQR has no serious advantage here.
One final thing to note, however, is that the MPG 341CQR has a glossy finish with MSI’s “Dark Armor” anti-glare film. It is a generally good finish that does mitigate glare while also providing a glossy and high-contrast look.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The MSI MPG 341CQR, as mentioned, has a QD-OLED panel, and QD-OLED as a rule has an excellent color gamut. The color gamut spans 100 percent sRGB, 98 percent DCI-P3, and 94 percent AdobeRGB.
As the graph shows, this is a typical range for a QD-OLED monitor. Still, it’s generally excellent. A few years ago, before QD-OLED was popular, color gamut figures like this were staggeringly excellent. And they remain excellent today, providing a vivid, saturated, and alluring look to the display.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Next up is color accuracy, and here the MSI MPG 341CQR again performs well. The color error is well under an average color error value of 1.0, and that average low value is the result of generally low values across the board (instead of some low values and some high values). This provides a realistic image and is also good news if you want to use the monitor for creative work.
There’s more good news there, too. The monitor has a default gamma curve of 2.2 and a typical default color temperature of 6400K. My default targets are 2.2 and 6500K respectively, so the MPG 341CQR is performing well here. Also, the monitor does include adjustments for these values, so you should be able to dial them in if you need different gamma and color temperature values.
Sharpness, however, is the MPG 341CQR’s worst trait (though that should be no surprise). This is a 34-inch monitor with a 3440×1440 resolution, and while newer QD-OLED monitors are better in sharpness than their predecessors, there’s no getting around the fact that a pixel density of about 110 pixels per inch isn’t amazing in 2026. A 27-inch 4K monitor, for example, has about 163 PPI.
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 HDR image quality
The MSI MPG 341CQR supports HDR10. It’s also VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certified and claims a maximum peak brightness of 1,300 nits. These are impressive figures, and the MPG 341CQR is in fact a great HDR performer, though not necessarily ahead of the pack.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Looking at the graph, two things stick out. First, the maximum sustained brightness of 953 nits in a 3% window is a great result. It’s not the very best, but the margin of difference between the leaders here is low. For example, I don’t think the LG Ultragear Evo 39GX950B-B will actually look brighter in these test scenarios, even though it leads by 50 nits. That’s going to be hard to notice in the real world.
However, comparing the MSI MPG 341CQR to the LG Ultragear Evo 39GX950B-B also reveals where the MSI’s performance is more middling. The MPG 341CQR isn’t all that bright when content demands a larger portion of the display be lit. Its performance is still generally on par with other QD-OLED monitors, but some displays—like the LG Ultragear Evo 39GX950B-B—are brighter overall in these scenarios. Keep in mind, however, that the LG is about twice the price, so you’re paying a premium for performance.
One area where the MPG 341CQR has an edge over the LG, as well as most other competitors, is in HDR brightness adjustment. MSI provides controls for brightness in HDR mode, as well as controls to customize the HDR curve.
By default, HDR content is supposed to control display brightness — which means that if you think the HDR image is too bright, you’re out of luck. To make matters worse, HDR content is often created with the assumption that the viewer is watching a TV from 10 feet away, not staring at a monitor from two and a half feet away. Fortunately, brands like Asus and MSI combat this with HDR brightness controls. It’s an essential feature for fixing an over-bright HDR presentation.
MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 motion performance
The MSI MPG 341CQR ups the refresh to 360Hz, which is an excellent refresh rate for an ultrawide monitor. As you might expect, it leads to superb motion performance. Small, fast moving objects are generally legible, with details as small as a few pixels wide visible. A fast camera pan in a 3D game will also retain most detail, which is of particular use in competitive titles.
Of course, you can find better performance. I’ve reviewed OLED monitors with refresh rates as high as 540Hz. And yes, I do find that the improvement is noticeable. Even so, 360Hz is very good — and if you’re upgrading from 120Hz or 60Hz you’ll be shocked at just how crisp the MPG 341CQR looks in motion.
MSI also provides a black frame insertion feature, in this case called SLMB, when the refresh rate is at 240Hz or 360Hz. This inserts blank, black frames between existing frames which, due to a quirk of human vision, actually reduces perceived motion blur. I’ve found MSI’s implementation to be effective, though to my eyes it still has a slightly more pronounced “double image” than Asus’ implementation, which I find to be the most effective. Also, the feature can’t be used alongside variable refresh rate features.
Speaking of which, the MPG 341CQR supports both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for smooth frame pacing across a variety of frame rates.
On the whole, the MPG 341CQR is a great monitor for motion clarity, particularly given its size, resolution, and price tag. You can find monitors with a higher refresh rate, but supporting the refresh rate can be difficult at 3440×1440 resolution (as it can prove too demanding on your hardware), and most OLED monitors with a refresh rate above 360Hz are also more expensive than the MPG 341CQR.
Should you buy the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36?
If you’re looking for a 34-inch ultrawide OLED monitor for gaming, you can stop your search. The MSI MPG 341CQR is going to work for you. It has great image quality, great motion clarity, and a lot of image quality controls, all at a reasonable $899.99 MSRP.
But the MSI MPG 341CQR is also solid if you want a general purpose monitor for, well, just about anything. The monitor’s high color accuracy, USB-C port with power delivery, and useful design make it easy to recommend for work and for play. The only significant issue worth note is the monitor’s sub-par pixel density — but that applies equally to any 34-inch monitor with 3440×1440 resolution.
That makes the MSI MPG 341CQR easy to recommend at $899.99. It’s a solid mid-range OLED monitor with great image quality and plenty of features and still manages to keep the price below the $1,000 mark.
Best Prices Today: MSI MPG 341CQR
$949.99
$1051.54
Author: Matthew S. Smith, Contributor, PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith is a freelance technology journalist with 15 years of experience reviewing consumer electronics. In addition to PCWorld, his work can be found on Wired, Ars Technica, Digital Trends, Reviewed, IGN, and Lifewire. Matthew also covers AI and the metaverse for IEEE Spectrum and runs Computer Gaming Yesterday, a YouTube channel devoted to PC gaming history.
