MSI's hot new 34-inch 144Hz gaming monitor is powered by VA rather than IPS panel tech and packs HDR support, RGB lighting, USB-C and more.

Punchy VA panel; Great gaming performance; Really strong overall feature set

This class of monitor is expensive

With a stack of cool customization options, innovative approaches to the problem of dark scenes in gaming, and super-quick input-lag scores, this monitor is a recommended upgrade for any gamer who wants to game on one of the most feature-rich under-$1,000 displays we've tested to date.

Innovative design and wide gamer feature set; Decent color results; Very low input lag; Aggressively priced for its class

Overall HDR and movie quality is so-so; Contrast ratio tested lower than advertised; Built-in webcam is nifty but works only for facial recognition feature

Ever thought your gaming monitor needed more artificial intelligence The MSI Optix MPG341CQR pairs novel AI features with some serious specs elsewhere, like a 144Hz 34in curved panel

Going purely by the numbers alone, it would be easy to suggest that MSI's Optix MPG341CQR struggles to justify its lofty £870 price tag. Out-the-box colour accuracy isn't great, average peak brightness makes for a lacklustre HDR experience, and the RGB lights and awkwardly-positioned webcam add...

Curved UWQHD at up to 144Hz; Makes games look and feel tremendous; Works with both FreeSync and G-Sync; Gaming OSD software comes in handy; USB-C DisplayPort is a welcome addition

Costs almost £900; Colour accuracy could be better; HDR support is basic

MSI’s giant monitor is rather expensive, but strong gaming credentials and a vast array of features almost justify the price

Massive, high-speed panel; Great OSD software; Loads of features and extras;

Expensive; Slight colour inaccuracy; Facial recognition camera is a faff;

A high-refresh-rate ultrawide gaming display, MSI's $799 Optix MPG341CQR introduces a range of features to the gaming monitor space that gamers didn't even know they wanted, and it posts some remarkably low input-lag figures. Its color results may not be ideal for creative professionals, and the HDR quality leaves a bit to be desired. But outside of those quibbles (which don't affect this panel's core audience), the Optix is one of the best values among 34-inch ultrawide gaming panels today, and it earns our Editors' Choice.A Gamer's Monitor Wish List The VA-based Optix MPG341CQR is a 144Hz 34-inch gaming monitor with a 3,440-by-1,440-pixel native resolution. I first laid eyes on it during an in-office visit from MSI. Company personnel dropped off the unit at PC Labs after giving a quick hands-on tour of the unique features on offer. On the design side of things, what immediately caught my eye: a mouse bungee mounted to the underside of the monitor, a camera cradle for a webcam on...

MSI's 34-inch ultrawide Optix MPG341CQR combines solid gaming performance with a raft of exclusive features, adding up to an ultra-quick curved panel that excels across nearly every metric that matters to gamers.

Innovative design and wide gamer feature set; Decent color results; Very low input lag; Aggressively priced for its class

Overall HDR and movie quality is so-so; Contrast ratio tested lower than advertised; Built-in webcam is nifty but works only for facial recognition feature