MSI MAG 342CQR E2 Gaming Monitor Review: Ultrawide Performance Powerhouse

The MSI MAG 342CQR E2 is a 34-inch ultrawide curved gaming monitor that promises high refresh rates and immersive visuals for under £400. After spending weeks testing this VA panel, I’ve found a monitor that delivers solid gaming performance and excellent value, though it’s not without the typical VA panel compromises. Let’s examine whether this ultrawide is the right choice for your setup.

The 180Hz refresh rate is achieved via DisplayPort 1.4a, whilst HDMI 2.0b connections are limited to 100Hz. This is worth noting if you’re planning to use this with a console – the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X won’t be able to drive this at full refresh rate, though the ultrawide format isn’t ideal for console gaming anyway given most games don’t support 21:9 aspect ratios.

Peak brightness measured around 350 nits in my testing, which is adequate for most indoor environments but won’t overcome strong sunlight. MSI claims support for 1.07 billion colours (8-bit + FRC), and the 119% sRGB coverage means colours are vibrant, though occasionally oversaturated out of the box. I’d recommend dialling back the saturation slightly in the OSD if you’re doing any colour-critical work.

The 90% DCI-P3 coverage is respectable for this price point, though professional content creators should look elsewhere. Out-of-box colour accuracy was decent with a Delta E of around 2.5 after some tweaking, but this isn’t a factory-calibrated display. The panel lottery is real with VA technology – some units show better uniformity than others, and I noticed slight brightness variations in solid grey test patterns, particularly in the corners.

Viewing angles are the Achilles heel of VA panels. Move off-centre vertically and you’ll see colour shifting and contrast loss. For a single-user setup this isn’t an issue, but if you’re planning to watch films with others gathered around, the person sitting off-axis won’t get the same image quality. Similar to what we noted in our AOC 34-inch ultrawide review, this is simply the trade-off you accept for superior contrast.

I tested motion performance extensively using UFO Test patterns and various games. At 180Hz with the overdrive set to ‘Fast’ (the middle setting), motion clarity is good in bright-to-bright transitions. You’ll notice some trailing in fast-paced competitive shooters like Valorant or Counter-Strike 2, but it’s not egregious. Where the VA panel really struggles is with dark-to-dark transitions – the infamous black smearing that VA technology is known for.

In darker game scenes, particularly in titles like Elden Ring or horror games, you’ll see noticeable ghosting when panning the camera quickly. Dark grey objects moving across black backgrounds leave visible trails. This is less apparent at 180Hz than it would be at lower refresh rates, but it’s still there. If you’re primarily playing brightly-lit competitive games or racing titles, you’ll barely notice. If you live in Bloodborne or similar dark fantasy games, it becomes more obvious.

The overdrive implementation is reasonably well-tuned. The ‘Fast’ setting provides the best balance – ‘Fastest’ introduces some inverse ghosting (overshoot), whilst ‘Normal’ is too slow. Unlike some budget monitors, MSI hasn’t completely botched the overdrive tuning, which is refreshing. The KTC 32-inch curved monitor we reviewed had more aggressive overshoot issues at higher settings.

Adaptive sync works well via both FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible modes. I tested with both an AMD RX 7800 XT and Nvidia RTX 4070, and experienced no flickering or frame pacing issues within the variable refresh rate range (48-180Hz). Screen tearing is eliminated effectively, which is crucial given the GPU horsepower needed to drive 3440 x 1440 at high frame rates.

If HDR is essential for your workflow or gaming preferences, you’ll need to spend considerably more. Proper HDR requires at least 600 nits sustained brightness and local dimming, which pushes you into £600+ territory for ultrawide formats. The MSI MAG 272QP QD-OLED offers genuine HDR, but at a significantly higher price and smaller screen size.

There’s no USB-C connectivity, which isn’t surprising at this price point but would have been nice for laptop users wanting a single-cable solution. Similarly, there’s no USB hub functionality, so you can’t use the monitor as a connection point for peripherals. The HDMI ports do support CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), allowing some basic control of connected devices, though this is a niche feature most users won’t utilise.

Audio output is provided via a 3.5mm headphone jack on the rear. There are no built-in speakers, which is absolutely fine – monitor speakers are universally terrible, and their absence helps keep costs down. If you need audio, use proper headphones or external speakers.

I was pleasantly surprised by the stand quality. Many budget monitors skimp here, offering only basic tilt adjustment, but the MAG 342CQR E2 includes height adjustment with approximately 100mm of travel. This makes it much easier to achieve proper ergonomic positioning without resorting to books or monitor arms immediately.

Tilt adjustment offers around -5 to +20 degrees, which is standard. There’s no swivel or pivot functionality, though pivot on a 34-inch ultrawide would be somewhat pointless anyway – you’re not using this in portrait orientation. The stand footprint is reasonably compact considering the screen size, with a Y-shaped base that provides good stability without consuming excessive desk space.

Build quality is what you’d expect at this price: sturdy plastic rather than aluminium. The panel doesn’t flex or creak, and once assembled, the whole unit feels solid. There’s minimal wobble when typing, though you’ll notice some movement if you thump the desk. The rear features MSI’s typical gaming aesthetic with red accents, which you’ll either love or ignore depending on your taste.

VESA 100×100 mounting is supported if you want to use a monitor arm. Given the weight (around 7kg with stand), ensure your arm is rated for this mass. Cable management is basic – there’s a clip on the stand to route cables, but nothing elaborate.

The LG 34WR50QK we reviewed previously takes a different approach with an IPS panel and 100Hz refresh rate. You gain better viewing angles and no dark smearing, but lose contrast and refresh rate. It’s a better choice for colour-critical work, whilst the MSI is superior for gaming.

Gigabyte’s G34WQC A is perhaps the closest competitor, offering 144Hz VA performance at a similar price. The MSI edges ahead with higher refresh rates and slightly better colour coverage, but both are solid choices. If you can find the Gigabyte significantly cheaper, it’s worth considering.

For those willing to spend more, the Dell S3422DWG (around £450) offers improved build quality and better motion performance, though still with a VA panel. If motion clarity is your priority and budget allows, that’s a worthwhile upgrade. Alternatively, dropping to a 32-inch 16:9 display like the AOC C32G2ZE gives you 240Hz performance at a lower price, though you lose the ultrawide immersion.