MSI MP225V 22" Matte Black

The MSI PRO MP225V is a 22-inch 1080p monitor with a 100Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync, which is rare at this price. It's a solid budget pick for office work or as a second screen, but color accuracy and connectivity are limited. Shop around, because prices vary wildly from $56 to $104.

The 100Hz refresh rate is the star of the show here. Most budget monitors in this price range are stuck at 60Hz or 75Hz, so getting 100Hz with Adaptive-Sync is a genuine step up. Scrolling feels smoother, and casual games benefit from the extra frames. The 1ms MPRT response time is a marketing number, though. The real-world gray-to-gray response is 4ms, which is typical for a VA panel and fine for casual play, but fast-paced shooters will show some ghosting. Our database puts this monitor's overall performance at the 68th percentile, which is solid but not spectacular.

Color performance is a mixed bag. The 300 nits brightness is adequate for indoor use, and the 4000:1 contrast ratio gives blacks more depth than you'd get from a cheap IPS panel. But the color gamut coverage lands around the 60th percentile, so this isn't a monitor for photo editing or anything that needs accurate color. The 8-bit panel can technically display 16.7 million colors, but the VA panel's viewing angles mean colors shift when you're not looking straight on. For office work and YouTube, it's fine. For creative work, look elsewhere.

Compared to the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27VQMY, the MSI is smaller, dimmer, and less feature-rich, but it's also a fraction of the price. The ASUS is a 27-inch curved panel aimed at gamers, while the MSI is a basic productivity monitor that happens to have a 100Hz refresh rate. If you're serious about gaming, the ASUS is the better pick. If you just want a cheap second monitor, the MSI wins on price alone.

The Acer Nitro XV271U M3BMIIPRX is another step up, with a 1440p resolution and higher refresh rate, but again, you're paying significantly more. The SANSUI 27 inch monitor is a closer competitor in terms of price, but it's a bigger panel with similar specs, so it comes down to whether you want more screen real estate or a smaller footprint. The Samsung Odyssey LS27DG302ENXZA is in a completely different league, with better everything, but it costs several times more. For what the MSI is, a cheap 22-inch 100Hz monitor, it holds its own against the budget competition.

Here's where things get interesting. The MSI PRO MP225V is listed anywhere from $56 to $104 in the US, which is a $48 spread depending on where you shop. That's a huge range for a monitor this basic. The best deal we're seeing is at the low end of that range, and at $56, this monitor is a steal for a second screen or a kid's first setup. At $104, though, you're getting into territory where you can find 24-inch IPS panels with better color and more connectivity. In Canada, the spread is even wider, from CAD 98 to CAD 177. If you're paying the higher end of that, you're overpaying. Shop around before you commit.

The MSI PRO MP225V is a 22-inch budget monitor that sits in that sub-$100 sweet spot where you're mostly hoping for something that just works. It's a 1080p VA panel with a 100Hz refresh rate, which is honestly more than you'd expect at this price. MSI is pitching it as a do-it-all display for office work and casual gaming, and for the most part, that's a fair description. The thin bezels and VESA mount support make it a decent candidate for a multi-monitor setup if you're tight on desk space.

But let's be real about what you're getting. This is a no-frills monitor. You get one HDMI port, a VGA port, and a headphone jack. No DisplayPort, no USB hub, no speakers. The stand only tilts, so you'll need a VESA arm if you want height adjustment. At 300 nits brightness and with a 4000:1 contrast ratio, it's fine for a dim office, but don't expect it to fight off sunlight. The 100Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync support are the headline features here, and they do make a difference if you're coming from a standard 60Hz office monitor.

Is the MSI PRO MP225V good for everyday productivity? For basic tasks like email, spreadsheets, and web browsing, yes. The 22-inch size keeps text reasonably sharp at 1080p, and the VA panel gives you better contrast than a typical IPS budget screen. Just don't expect it to be a color-accurate workhorse or a serious gaming display. It's a budget monitor, and it acts like one.

If you're a serious gamer, a content creator, or anyone who needs accurate color, the MSI PRO MP225V isn't for you. The VA panel's color accuracy is mediocre, the connectivity is limited to HDMI and VGA, and the stand only tilts. Gamers should look at something like the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27VQMY or the Acer Nitro XV271U M3BMIIPRX instead. If you need a monitor for photo or video editing, you'll want an IPS panel with better color coverage. And if you're planning to use this as your primary display for years, the reported reliability issues might make you think twice. This is a budget second monitor, not a daily driver for demanding work.

Should you buy the MSI PRO MP225V? If you need a cheap, compact monitor for office work, web browsing, or as a second screen, and you can find it for under $70, yes. The 100Hz refresh rate is a nice bonus that makes everyday use feel more responsive, and the VESA mount support means you can stick it on an arm and forget about the flimsy stand. It's not going to blow you away, but it does the job.

If you're looking for a primary gaming monitor or something for color-sensitive work, skip it. The VA panel's color accuracy is mediocre, the connectivity is limited, and some users have reported screen tearing issues in browser windows. There are better options if you can stretch your budget by $50 or so. But for a budget second monitor, the MP225V is a reasonable pick.