MSI has announced its new curved gaming display that combines a near-4K resolution with an up to 144 Hz variable refresh rate supported by VESA’s Adaptive-Sync technology, and 600 nits brightness in HDR mode. In addition to its main capabilities, the MEG381CQR monitor has two interesting 'smart' features, such as an auxiliary OLED screen that displays various information as well as a special webcam that can recognize user’s face and load an appropriate profile tailored for them based on the game being played.

The MSI Optix MEG381CQR uses a 37.5-inch IPS panel featuring a 2300R curvature, a 3840x1600 resolution, a 1 ms GtG response time, and a variable refresh rate of up to 144 Hz handled by VESA’s Adaptive-Sync technology. The LCD is VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified, so it supports a peak brightness of at least 600 nits in HDR mode, but also some kind of a local dimming technology (edge lit?) to ensure a higher contrast ratio and deeper blacks. It is logical to expect the monitor to support a wide color gamut (think >90% DCI-P3), but MSI currently does not confirm this.

As we noted in our previous coverage of 37.5-inch ultrawide displays featuring a 3840x1600 resolution, they are very well suited both for gaming and for watching Ultra-HD videos filmed in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 or 2.40:1, which is a popular aspect ratio for movies.

Traditionally for gaming displays, the Optix MEG381CQR is equipped with a stand that can adjust height, tilt, and swivel. In fact, to maximize precision of height adjustment, the display seems to have a special knob on top. Other notable features of the monitor are the aforementioned OLED screen that can display various information that might be crucial for a particular game, and a special camera to recognize the owner and adjust settings in accordance with their preferences.

MSI currently does not have a firm launch date for its Optix MEG381CQR monitor and only says that it plans to launch it sometimes in the third or the fourth quarter. Pricing of the display is also not set, so we can only make guesses based on MSRPs of other curved 37.5-inch displays which appear to be pretty expensive.

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Source: MSI

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  • Valantar - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link

    Is the ball head camera mount on top of the monitor included in the package/integrated into the monitor? That is a nifty addition for streamers not wanting to use the janky mounts of most webcams or mount a more serious camera securely without a tripod.

    Also, is that the "special knob on top" mentioned in the post? 'Cause it's definitely a ball-head camera mount (though technically capable of holding anything with a compatible mounting hole). It definitely has nothing to do with adjusting the monitor's ergonomics.
  • imaheadcase - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link

    Honestly most streamers have moved away from webcams themselves and just use DSLR camera as device.
  • Valantar - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link

    Which makes a ball head screw mount all the more relevant :)
  • coromd - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link

    On the MPG341CQR (their last flagship UW) it is removable, same as the included mouse bungee/hook thing. This just looks like a revised variant with a bigger screen and the same overall design - RGB light bar included.
  • Valantar - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link

    That sounds like an excellent solution. I didn't imagine it being fixed, but having the option at all is really good. Heck, I don't stream, but I can still see several neat use cases for a ball-head mount atop my monitor.
  • Techtree101 - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link

    *cough*, it's not near-4K resolution. It's near-4K wide if you want to put it that way, but 'resolution' it's not near it. A near-4K resolution would be closer to 5120x2160 for this size screen.
  • WhiteSkyMage - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link

    This is just a disappointing release. WHY? When you see Asus release a 32" 4K HDR1400, why do you release this piece of trash? Get that HDR1000 and then you got my cash.

    And if MSI / LG / ACER feels like it they can deliver something more, like say:
    IPS 5120x2160p @ 100Hz (2-4ms response time), HDR1000/1400 with G-Sync Ultimate+FreeSync Premium Pro with nearly bezel-less panel.
  • diehardmacfan - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link

    You do realize there is such a thing as price points and segmentation when it comes to products, right? Just because something doesn't have the specs of a monitor that will likely be several thousand dollars doesn't make it a "piece of trash".
  • jragonsoul - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link

    That was my thought exactly!
  • PeachNCream - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - link

    Wide, curved display - game displayed on it with black bars to either side - Brilliant selling technique.

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