MSI PRO MP253 24.5" Matte Black 2024

The MSI PRO MP253 delivers a 100Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time at a budget price, landing at the 68th percentile for performance. But the feature set is thin at the 21st percentile and color accuracy is middling at 44th. At USD 89 it's a steal, at USD 140 it's a stretch.

The 100Hz refresh rate is the star here. Paired with a 1ms response time and Adaptive-Sync, motion handling lands at the 68th percentile, well above average for a monitor in this price bracket. You won't mistake it for a 240Hz esports panel, but for casual gaming and smoother scrolling during work, it's a genuine step up from the 60Hz office monitors most people are used to. The IPS panel also delivers a 1,300:1 contrast ratio, which is better than the typical 1,000:1 you see on budget IPS displays.

But the performance story has limits. Brightness tops out at 300 nits, which is fine for indoor use but nothing special. Color coverage is listed at 103% of CIE 1976, which sounds impressive until you realize the color score sits at the 44th percentile. The 8-bit color depth is actually 6-bit plus FRC, a common budget trick that can produce subtle banding in gradients. For spreadsheets and YouTube, you won't notice. For photo editing, you might.

Against the competition, the PRO MP253 is a budget specialist, not an all-rounder. The ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B and LG UltraGear 27GS75Q-B both offer higher resolutions and better color performance, but they also cost significantly more. The Acer Nitro XV272U W2bmiiprx brings a 1440p panel and stronger feature set to the table, while the HP OMEN 27qs G2 targets a similar gaming audience with more polish. Where the MSI wins is price and simplicity. A 100Hz refresh rate at the 68th percentile for performance is respectable, but the 21st percentile feature score means you're giving up USB hubs, height adjustment, and better color for the savings. If you need a no-frills second monitor or a first gaming display on a tight budget, the MSI holds its own. If you want color accuracy or ergonomics, look elsewhere.

Pricing is all over the map. In the US, listings range from USD 89 to USD 140 across 3 vendors, a USD 51 spread that's worth shopping around for. At the low end, you're getting a 100Hz IPS panel for under a hundred bucks, which is genuinely hard to beat. At the high end, you're paying 57% more for the exact same monitor, and that's when the value proposition starts to crumble. The Canadian market is even messier, with prices ranging from CAD 336 to CAD 845 across 2 listings. That CAD 509 gap is absurd, and anyone paying the top end is getting fleeced. If you're in Canada, hunt for the CAD 336 listing or wait for a sale. The best US deal is at the USD 89 price point, where this monitor makes a lot of sense.

The MSI PRO MP253 is a 24.5-inch 1080p IPS monitor that tries to split the difference between office work and light gaming. The headline numbers are a 100Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and Adaptive-Sync support, which put its performance at the 68th percentile in our database. That's solid for a budget panel, but the rest of the spec sheet tells a more modest story. Color accuracy lands at the 44th percentile, connectivity at 45th, and the feature set is a thin 21st percentile. This is a monitor that does one thing reasonably well, smooth motion, and not much else to write home about.

Customer feedback is sparse and mixed. With only 4 reviews and a 3 out of 5 rating, the social proof sits at the 15th percentile, one of the weakest we've seen. One buyer praised the out-of-box sRGB color and gamma, calling it a great budget display. Another reported persistent screen lines that survived multiple HDMI cable swaps. That's a wide gap between experiences, and with so few data points, it's hard to know which one you'll get.

Skip this one if you need a monitor for color-sensitive work. The 44th percentile color score and 6-bit + FRC panel won't cut it for photo editing or design. Also skip it if you want a feature-rich setup. The 21st percentile feature score means no USB hub, no height adjustment, and no extras beyond basic inputs. And with only 4 reviews and a 3-star average, the social proof at the 15th percentile is a red flag. If you're risk-averse about quality control, the reported screen line issue on a brand-new unit should give you pause. This is a budget monitor for budget expectations.

The MSI PRO MP253 is a one-trick pony, but it's a decent trick. The 100Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time deliver smooth motion at a price that undercuts most competitors. The 68th percentile performance score backs that up. But the 21st percentile feature set and 44th percentile color performance mean this monitor won't impress anyone doing serious creative work or demanding ergonomic comfort. With only 4 reviews and a 3-star average, you're also rolling the dice on quality control. At USD 89, it's an easy recommendation for budget buyers. At USD 140, it's a harder sell. Know what you're getting: a fast, basic monitor with a few rough edges.