MSI PRO MP225 E12VL 22" Black

★★★★★ 4.7 (22)

The 120Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time on its VA panel provide smoother motion than typical 60Hz office displays, making everyday scrolling feel more responsive. Its compact 21.5-inch size and VESA mount compatibility offer a practical, space-saving design for cluttered desks. This monitor is best for office workers and students who want a fluid, flicker-free experience for documents and web browsing, with the occasional benefit of smoother casual gaming.

Screen 22"
Resolution 1920 x 1080
Panel VA
Refresh 120 Hz
response time ms 1
adaptive sync FreeSync
HDR No
MSI PRO MP225 E12VL 22" Black monitor
47 Overall Score

No current retailer price

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Snapshot

The 30-Second Version

A 120Hz office monitor for USD 65? Yeah, it's real. Buy it for the smooth scrolling, not the gaming cred.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 120Hz refresh rate at this price is a steal 79th
  • Compact 22-inch footprint fits anywhere 70th
  • Lightweight at 2400g, easy to move around 68th
  • 100% sRGB coverage for accurate colors

Cons

  • Only one HDMI port, no DisplayPort
  • VA panel, not IPS, so viewing angles suffer
  • No height adjustment, just tilt
  • Connectivity is barebones at 22nd percentile

What owners think

The Word on the Street

4.7/5 (22 reviews)
👍 Owners love how light and easy this thing is to set up, especially as a second screen.
👎 A few buyers got burned expecting DisplayPort, only to find HDMI is the only option.
👍 The small footprint is a hit for people with limited desk space or specific setups.

How owner sentiment changed over time

Exclusive

Based on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.

Owner sentiment has cooled since launch
1★2★3★4★5★Q2 '26: 4.5★ · 2 reviewsQ3 '26: 2.5★ · 2 reviews22Q2 '26Q3 '26
Avg ratingHappy (4-5★)Unhappy (1-2★)Bar height = number of reviews

Based on 4 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.

The proof

Performance

The 120Hz refresh rate is the star here, and it lands in the 70th percentile for performance overall. That's solid, not spectacular, but for a 22-inch office panel it's a real differentiator. The 1ms response time keeps motion sharp, and FreeSync support means it can handle casual gaming without tearing. The 300 nits brightness is fine for indoor use, and the 100% sRGB coverage means colors look accurate out of the box. What surprised us is how well this budget panel handles motion. It's not going to compete with a 1440p gaming monitor, but for the price, it's smoother than it has any right to be.

Performance Percentiles

Color 50.2
Portability 79.4
Display 14
Feature 67.8
Ergonomic 47.7
Performance 69.9
Connectivity 21.5
Social Proof 61.8

Specifications

Full Specifications

Display

Size 22"
Resolution 1920x1080 (Full HD)
Panel Type VA
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Curved No
Screen Finish matte

Performance

Refresh Rate 120 Hz
Response Time 1
Adaptive Sync FreeSync

Color & HDR

Brightness 300 nits
Color Gamut sRGB 100%
Color Depth 8-bit
HDR No

Connectivity

HDMI Ports 1
DisplayPort 0
USB-C 0
Speakers No
Headphone Jack Yes

Ergonomics

Height Adjustable No
Tilt Yes
Swivel No
Pivot No
VESA Mount 100x100

Features

Webcam No
Touchscreen No
PIP/PBP No
Power 15
Weight 2.4 kg / 5.3 lbs

vs Competition

The MP225 isn't competing with the ASUS TUF VG27AQL5A or LG UltraGear 27GS75Q-B. Those are 27-inch 1440p gaming monitors with much higher price tags. The real comparison is against other budget 22-inch office monitors, and here the MSI stands out because of that 120Hz panel. The Samsung Odyssey G5 G53F is a closer competitor in spirit, but it's larger and more expensive. If you want a small, cheap monitor that doesn't feel sluggish, the MP225 is the pick. If you need more screen real estate or better connectivity, look elsewhere.

Spec MSI PRO MP225 E12VL 22" LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG Dell UltraSharp U4025QW Alienware AW-Series AW3425DW Samsung Odyssey G60SD
Screen Size 22 45 27 39.70000076293945 34 27
Resolution 1920 x 1080 5120 x 2160 3840 x 2160 5120 x 2160 3440 x 1440 2560 x 1440
Panel Type VA OLED OLED IPS QD-OLED OLED
Refresh Rate 120 330 240 120 240 360
Response Time Ms 1 0.029999999329447746 0.029999999329447746 5 0.029999999329447746 0.029999999329447746
Adaptive Sync FreeSync FreeSync Premium Pro FreeSync Premium Pro Adaptive-Sync FreeSync Premium Pro FreeSync Premium Pro
Hdr No DisplayHDR True Black 400 DisplayHDR True Black 400 DisplayHDR 600 DisplayHDR 400 True Black HDR10+
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare
Product ColorPortabilityDisplayFeatureErgonomicPerformanceConnectivitySocial Proof
MSI PRO MP225 E12VL 22" 50.279.41467.847.769.921.561.8
LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B Compare 99.476.699.795.890.899.496.994.7
ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG Compare 96.157.897.98490.89881.499.3
Dell UltraSharp U4025QW Compare 98.276.698.795.890.85699.398
Alienware AW-Series AW3425DW Compare 997485.889.990.89895.498
Samsung Odyssey G60SD Compare 90.44077.467.890.899.587.794.7

Price

Value & Pricing

At USD 65 in the US, this monitor is an absolute no-brainer for a second screen or basic office setup. The CAD pricing is all over the place though, ranging from CAD 100 to CAD 239 across two listings. If you're in Canada, shop around. The lower end of that range is a great deal, but at CAD 239 you're paying way too much for what you get. Best Buy has the better CAD pricing based on what we're seeing.

Read more

Overview

The MSI PRO MP225 is a budget 22-inch monitor that punches above its weight where it counts. The headline feature is the 120Hz refresh rate, which is genuinely rare at this size and price. Most office monitors in this class are stuck at 60Hz or 75Hz, so the jump to 120Hz makes scrolling and everyday navigation feel noticeably smoother. It's not a gaming monitor, but it's a smarter office monitor than most of what's out there.

Common Questions

Q: Does this monitor have DisplayPort?

No. Despite some spec sheets claiming DisplayPort 1.4, this monitor only has HDMI and VGA. If you need DisplayPort, look at the ASUS TUF VG27AQL5A instead.

Q: Is this good for gaming?

For casual gaming, sure. The 120Hz refresh rate and FreeSync help, but it's a 1080p VA panel with no DisplayPort. Serious gamers should look at a proper gaming monitor like the LG UltraGear 27GS75Q-B.

Q: Can I mount this on a monitor arm?

Yes, it has VESA 100x100 mounting holes. The included stand only tilts, so a monitor arm is a good upgrade if you want height adjustment.

Who Should Skip This

If you're looking for a gaming monitor with high resolution and fast response times, this isn't it. Go get the ASUS TUF VG27AQL5A or LG UltraGear 27GS75Q-B instead. If you need multiple inputs or USB hubs, the MP225's single HDMI port will frustrate you. This is a basic office monitor with a nice refresh rate, nothing more.

Verdict

The MSI PRO MP225 is a fantastic budget monitor for office work and casual use. The 120Hz refresh rate alone makes it worth the price, and the compact size is perfect for tight desks or dual-monitor setups. Just don't expect gaming-grade performance or a wealth of ports. For USD 65, this is one of the best value monitors we've seen in a while.

Usage Scores

Overall (47.2)Gaming (42.6)Office (44.7)Creative (36.2)Portable (32.8)Professional (36.4)Entertainment (36.3)
  • Overall47.2
  • Gaming42.6
  • Office44.7
  • Creative36.2
  • Portable32.8
  • Professional36.4
  • Entertainment36.3

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