The market for OLED monitors is finally heating up.
On Twitter, MSI teased its forthcoming enthusiast-oriented super-ultrawide gaming monitor. The company has confirmed that “Project 491C” will feature a QD-OLED display with a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, but few other details are currently available.
According to its name, MSI’s monitor will have a 32:9 aspect ratio and measure 49 inches diagonally. This would result in the exact dimensions as two 27-inch 16:9 panels placed side-by-side, but without the middle bezel.
The panel will be manufactured by Samsung Display, making it the company’s fourth QD-OLED screen size after the 55-inch and 65-inch TV panels and the 34-inch ultrawide panel found in the excellent Alienware AW3423DW.
MSI’s monitor will also be curved, although the company did not specify the degree of curvature…
The world's FIRST super ultra-wide curved gaming monitor, with a 240Hz QD-OLED panel, is out there to ensure you enjoy a viewing experience far better than anything you’ve had before. Get ready for CES2023 for the debut of our Project 491C. #MSIxCES2023 #InnovationAward pic.twitter.com/tbTC8ognaD
— MSI Gaming (@msigaming) November 24, 2022
Regarding the resolution of Project 491C, several options exist. It may be limited to 3,840 x 1,080, but it’s doubtful given the current high-end nature of QD-OLED displays.
It is also possible that it will have a resolution of 5,120 x 1,440, similar to some of Samsung’s most recent ultra-wide VA panels of the same size. This could be one of the “8K ultrawide” monitors with DisplayPort 2.1 support that AMD mentioned during its RDNA 3 reveal Livestream, giving it a resolution of 7,680 x 2,160.
Regardless, the MSI Project 491C will likely be an excellent gaming monitor due to its QD-OLED panel’s highest refresh rate to date. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, additional information, including pricing and availability, will be revealed.
In related news, LG’s website now features the UltraGear 45GR95QE OLED monitor. For a quick refresher, the forthcoming 45-inch ultrawide screen has a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 and a refresh rate of 240 Hz.
We’ve learned that LG will begin accepting pre-orders for the monitor on December 12, with shipments scheduled to start on December 28. However, it will not be inexpensive, with LG’s website estimating a US price of $1,700.
