Designed for the office, the MSI Pro MP251 is cheap, functional, and offers some niceties such as a 100Hz screen. This S$169 25-inch (well, 24.5-inch) full-HD monitor has really thin bezels, a very slim frame, and speakers to boot.
Quick specs
- 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution
- 100Hz refresh rate
- 25-inch IPS panel, up to 300 nits brightness
- Connectivity: HDMI 1.4b, D-Sub (VGA), headphone-out, line-in
Of course, there are some compromises. It only has one D-Sub (VGA) and HDMI, so you can't just plug in a Thunderbolt USB-C cable into your laptop to charge it while using the monitor. Your laptop also needs to have an HDMI port, so if you're say, using an ultra-slim notebook or an Apple MacBook Air, then you also will need an adaptor. It also lacks USB ports. Furthermore, the MP251 doesn't have an internal power adaptor. That reduces its weight, but you will need to use the included power brick.
These issues aside, this monitor is pretty good. The 100Hz display makes scrolling webpages smooth, and you can also use it for light gaming (somewhat). The 300-nits brightness isn't the brightest, but it's perfectly usable indoors. And the IPS display means you get good viewing angles. The on-screen display (OSD) is also pretty easy to use, and also shows if it's running at 60Hz or 100Hz. Windows usually defaults to 60Hz, so be sure to switch to the higher refresh rate in the display settings.
One thing that the MP251 can improve on is the stand. It only supports tilt from -5 degrees to 20 degrees. If you want pivot, swivel, and height adjustment, there's a P version that does all that. However, that model is not sold here in Singapore. Alternatively, you can use a monitor arm such as the Prism+ Arc Stealth Pro. Lastly, the monitor's dual 2W speakers are tiny and soft. I suspect you won't be using them much, but they are there if needed.
At S$169, the MSI Pro MP251 is one of those cheap, but good business monitors you can buy. The lack of USB-C or DisplayPort may not be ideal for some offices, but HDMI does mean it will connect to most devices. Get it from Shopee or Lazada.
Note: Review unit provided by MSI
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