MSI kicked off CES 2026 by planting a flag in the 5K gaming monitor landscape. The company unveiled the MPG 271KRAW16, which it’s calling the world’s first 5K gaming monitor equipped with mini-LED backlighting.
Whether or not you like to keep score on “industry firsts” (always lots of them at CES), this 27-inch display packs an impressive collection of specs that put it firmly in the premium gaming segment.
The monitor centers around a Rapid IPS panel with 5120 x 2880 pixel resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. Behind that panel sits a mini-LED backlight array with 2,304 individual dimming zones. That zone count matches what we’ve seen from other high-end mini-LED displays, but with substantially higher 5K resolution rather than the more common 4K or 1440p configurations.
Dual-Mode Flexibility & HDR
Like several other displays announced at CES 2026, the MPG 271KRAW16 includes what MSI calls “AI Dual-Mode” functionality. You can run the monitor at its native 5K resolution with 165Hz refresh – which is basically impossible to power even with the fastest hardware available – or drop down to a regular 2560 x 1440 (QHD) and unlock 330Hz. Switching between modes happens via a single button press.
MSI has also equipped the 271KRAW16 with VESA DisplayHDR 1400 certification, meaning that the mini-LED backlight can hit 1,400 nits peak brightness. Additionally, the monitor features Quantum Dot technology for expanded color coverage, with MSI claiming 98% DCI-P3 gamut and Delta E < 2 color accuracy out of the box.
Connectivity for Next-Gen Graphics
Here’s where the 271KRAW16 makes clear demands on your system: it requires DisplayPort 2.1 with UHBR13.5 bandwidth to run at full 5K 165Hz specifications. That means that you need an RTX 50-series GPU or one of AMD’s RX 7000/9000 series cards that support DP 2.1, as RTX 40-series cards are limited to DisplayPort 1.4a.
That bandwidth requirement isn’t arbitrary. Pushing 5K at 165Hz with 10-bit color and HDR requires roughly 48 Gbps of throughput. While Display Stream Compression can squeeze high resolutions through older DisplayPort versions, MSI apparently decided against relying on DSC for the native mode. If your GPU doesn’t support DP 2.1, you’ll be stuck using the 1440p 330Hz mode.
Other connectivity includes HDMI 2.1 ports and a USB-C port with 98W Power Delivery. MSI has also included a dual USB 3.0 hub and a headphone jack.
How It Stacks Against Competing 5K Monitors
The 5K gaming monitor category barely existed until very recently, but CES 2026 brought a small wave of announcements. LG unveiled its 27GM950B, which shares nearly identical specifications with the MSI: 27 inches, 5K resolution, 165Hz refresh, 2,304-zone mini-LED backlighting, and dual-mode capability switching to 1440p at 330Hz. The LG gets DisplayHDR 1000 certification instead of 1400, and includes AI upscaling features alongside similar connectivity with DP 2.1 and USB-C.
| Specification | MSI MPG 271KRAW16 | LG 27GM950B | Acer Nitro XV270X P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel Size | 27 inches | 27 inches | 27 inches |
| Resolution | 5120 x 2880 (5K) | 5120 x 2880 (5K) | 5120 x 2880 (5K) |
| Pixel Density | 218 PPI | 218 PPI | 218 PPI |
| Panel Type | Rapid IPS | IPS | IPS |
| Refresh Rate (5K Mode) | 165Hz | 165Hz | 165Hz |
| Refresh Rate (QHD Mode) | 330Hz | 330Hz | 330Hz |
| Response Time | 0.5ms GtG | 1ms GtG | 0.5ms GtG |
| Backlight | Mini-LED (2,304 zones) | Mini-LED (2,304 zones) | Standard LED |
| Peak Brightness | 1,400 nits | 1,250 nits | 400 nits |
| HDR Certification | DisplayHDR 1400 | DisplayHDR 1000 | DisplayHDR 400 |
| Color Gamut | 98% DCI-P3 | 99% DCI-P3 | 95% DCI-P3 |
| Color Accuracy | Delta E < 2 | Delta E < 2 | Not specified |
| DisplayPort | DP 2.1 (UHBR13.5) | DP 2.1 (UHBR20) | DP 1.4 |
| HDMI | HDMI 2.1 | 2x HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.1 |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 98W | 90W | Not specified |
| VRR Support | G-Sync Compatible | G-Sync Compatible | AMD FreeSync Premium |
| Screen Surface | Glossy | Not specified | Glossy |
| Expected Price | ~$800 (estimated) | Not announced | $800 |
Acer’s Nitro XV270X P offers the same 5K 165Hz / 1440p 330Hz dual-mode setup but uses standard IPS backlighting without mini-LED zones. That strips away the HDR performance and peak brightness capabilities, but Acer is pricing it at $800, which makes it the more accessible option in this category.
ASUS took a different approach with its ROG Strix XG27JCG, pushing refresh rates to 180Hz at 5K (with overclocking) and 330Hz at 1440p. However, that monitor lacks mini-LED backlighting and ships with lower HDR specifications.
Samsung and AOC have also announced 5K gaming monitors. Samsung’s Odyssey G80HF runs 5K at 180Hz with dual-mode switching to 1440p at 360Hz, while AOC’s AGP277KX matches MSI’s 165Hz/330Hz configuration. Specific details on the AOC’s backlighting technology remain unclear.
The 5K Question: Who Needs This Resolution?
5120 x 2880 on a 27-inch panel produces 218 pixels per inch, matching the “Retina” density Apple uses for its displays. Text looks perfectly sharp and you will not see individual pixels at normal viewing distances. If you’ve worked on this type of monitor, it’s hard to go back.
On the other hand, it’s impossible to run demanding games at this resolution even with an RTX 5090, but this is where “dual mode” comes in (although your GPU will struggle to hit anything near 330Hz even in 1440p mode).
What We Don’t Know
MSI hasn’t announced pricing for the MPG 271KRAW16. The LG 27GM950B with similar specifications also lacks pricing information, while Acer confirmed its standard-backlit version at $800. Given the added mini-LED hardware and higher HDR certification, expect the MSI to command a premium. Speculation might place it somewhere between $900-1,200.
Release timing is also unclear. Most CES 2026 monitor announcements are targeting Q2 2026 availability, which suggests we’re looking at late spring or early summer before these displays ship.
Source and image credit: TechPowerup
