Higher refresh rates, once exclusive to gaming monitors, are gradually becoming more common in budget models designed for work. Initially, these monitors offered only 75Hz, but manufacturers have since started releasing 100Hz models. However, that’s not the limit—today, we’re reviewing the MSI PRO MP252 E2, a 24.5-inch budget Full HD monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Specifications of MSI PRO MP252 E2:
| Diagonal | 24,5” |
| Curvature | no |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Screen Type | IPS |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Refresh Rate | Color Coverage |
| Color Coverage | 99% sRGB |
| Brightness | 300 nits (cd/m²) |
| 300 nits (cd/m²) | 1500:1 |
| Response Time | 4 mc (GtG) |
| HDR Support | HDR Ready |
| Wall Mount | VESA 100x100 |
| Adjustability | Tilt forward/back |
| Ports | 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2a, headphone jack |
| Additional Features | built-in speakers |
| Dimensions (with stand), W x H x D | 63 x 41 x 18,8 sm |
| 3,2 kg | |
Design
We've reviewed other models in MSI's Pro series before (e.g., the 27-inch MSI PRO MP275Q), so the design of the PRO MP252 E2 is already quite familiar to us.
The monitor has a practical look typical of budget models: a black matte plastic body with matching plastic stand and base (the only metallic element is the plate used to attach the stand to the display's body).
The stand is simple, allowing only for tilt adjustments (-5°~20°), and the monitor has a screwless assembly. Given the materials used for the body and the minimalistic design of the stand, it's not surprising that the MSI PRO MP252 E2 is quite lightweight: it weighs just over 3 kg.
Like other models with similar stands, the screen is positioned quite low: the bottom edge of the image sits 11 cm above the surface of the table. With a typical user position at eye level with the monitor, the focus will be on the upper part of the screen, not the center.
It's worth noting that, unlike some other monitors in the Pro series that offer more advanced versions with fully functional stands (distinguished by the "P" suffix in their names, such as MP251 and MP251P), the PRO MP252 E2 does not include this option.
Відеороз’єми розташовані ліворуч від кріплення ніжки. Тут можна знайти один HDMI 1.4 та один DisplayPort 1.2a, також поруч є мініджек для підключення дротових навушників. У монітора є можливість настінного монтування: в наявності VESA-сумісне кріплення (100х100).
The MSI PRO MP252 E2 features an integrated power supply.
Menu
The monitor is controlled using a five-way joystick located at the back on the right side. Moving it in any direction activates a quick function (e.g., adjusting brightness or selecting input source), while pressing it opens the main menu.
In the MSI PRO MP252 E2, the first section is "Professional," where you can find video mode selection, overdrive settings, adaptive refresh rate, and some other options. A notable feature is the presence of a unique functionality — a quick vision test for specific vision issues such as astigmatism or certain macular diseases.
The "Image" section includes traditional display settings: brightness, contrast, color temperature, sharpness, and more. In "Input Source," you can manually switch between video inputs and activate auto-detection of the signal source. Meanwhile, the Navi Key allows for custom re-assignment of functions to "hot keys," meaning you can adjust the joystick in any direction without opening the main menu.
Finally, in the last section, Settings, system settings are gathered: on-screen menu options, behavior of the power indicator, volume adjustment for built-in speakers, resetting all settings to factory defaults, and more.
Functionality
The MSI PRO MP252 E2 features an 8-bit (6-bit + FRC) IPS panel with a diagonal of 24.5 inches and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels — a typical option for budget "office" monitors, slightly larger than the most budget-friendly 24-inch models (with a real diagonal of 23.8 inches).
The pixel density reaches approximately ~90 PPI (pixel size 0.2825 mm) – individual pixels can be distinguished from a typical viewing distance, but it does not affect the perception of the image, even for users with excellent vision.
The maximum refresh rate is 120 Hz via both DisplayPort and HDMI – the highest value in the Pro series (and the main difference from the 100 Hz model, PRO MP252), which is a very good performance, especially for a budget monitor.
With such a refresh rate, it’s no surprise that this work-oriented model is additionally equipped with gaming features – adaptive refresh rate support, panel overdrive, and backlight strobing (MPRT) to improve clarity in dynamic scenes during gaming. Therefore, this monitor can also serve as a gaming device in free time.
Brightness is adjusted by changing the current strength: PWM is not used across the entire brightness range, so there is no flickering on the screen. Additionally, the monitor features built-in speakers with a power output of 2x2 W.
Image Quality of MSI PRO MP252 E2
The monitor has a semi-matte screen coating: when viewed from the front, its surface appears typical matte, but when tilted, it gradually takes on a slightly glossy appearance. This solution effectively eliminates nearly all unwanted reflections during work and almost does not add what is known as the crystalline effect (slight graininess in uniform areas), as can be seen in this macro shot: the typical pattern of the diffusion layer is almost imperceptible.
The reported response time for the PRO MP275Q is the same as other models in this lineup – 4 ms (GtG). Despite being designed for work rather than gaming, it features a typical gaming function – overdrive (Response Time option in the Professional section). It has two overclocking levels and the option to fully disable it.
The monitor's behavior in dynamic image clarity tests is typical for a budget IPS panel: without overdrive, even at 120 Hz, moving objects across the screen noticeably blur. The first and second overdrive levels slightly improve the situation but do not fundamentally change it. However, there are no overdrive artifacts like trailing behind objects, even at the maximum setting – allowing users to comfortably set this parameter to Fastest.
The black uniformity is quite good: on a black background in a dark room, the screen displays a fairly even dark glow from the panel's backlighting, with almost imperceptible lighter "spots" along the bottom edge.
The glow effect is typical for IPS technology: when viewing the screen from the side and top, the black background exhibits noticeable gray backlight bleed with a cool tint.
The viewing angles are typical for IPS panels: when viewed from the side, brightness and contrast noticeably decrease. Compared to more expensive IPS monitors, the PRO MP252 E2 experiences greater brightness loss at wider angles, especially when tilted to the side. However, the image quality and color vibrancy remain largely unaffected, with colors slightly shifting towards warmer or cooler tones depending on the viewing angle.
In the Professional section of the on-screen menu, various video modes are offered for typical tasks of a work monitor, such as Eco, Anti-Blue, Office, Movie, etc. After resetting to factory settings, the Eco mode is automatically set. For testing, we will begin with the base User mode, which offers higher brightness and manual adjustment capabilities for all parameters.
As is typical for Pro-series models from this manufacturer (and most budget monitors in general), the color gamut of the MSI PRO MP252 E2 is standard, covering 99% of the sRGB color space (78% DCI-P3, 77% Adobe RGB). Colors appear natural and accurate, though somewhat subdued compared to models with extended color coverage.
Brightness can be adjusted in the range of 39-357 nits — the lowest value allows for comfortable work in near-total darkness, while the highest value is more than sufficient for typical office lighting conditions.
The maximum static contrast is 1140:1 — although this is significantly lower than the official specifications (1500:1), it is still a very good result for a budget IPS panel. It’s worth noting that while the manufacturer’s claimed contrast can be found in IPS monitors, it is quite rare and typically seen in much more expensive models.
Unlike most monitors in this category, where the "Normal" color temperature preset is usually heavily skewed, and a balanced image tone is achieved only in the "Warm" setting, in this case, it’s better to stick with Normal for a more accurate display.
The actual color temperature is around 7000K, which is slightly above the standard 6500K. Meanwhile, the Warm preset turns out to be much warmer than expected at only 5300K.
There is no gamma adjustment available in MSI PRO MP252 E2, but the factory settings closely match the standard value of 2.2, making them suitable for most users who may be interested in this model.
The uniformity of color temperature is very good: the maximum deviation across different areas of the screen ΔE is only 3.4, which is significantly lower compared to previous models in the series. The uniformity of the white field is also impressive: the brightest area is in the center, while the darkest is the lower left corner, with a brightness difference of 13%. For the rest of the screen, this difference does not exceed 10%, which is considered a very good result even among much more expensive models.
The color accuracy pleasantly surprises: the monitor clearly undergoes factory calibration, which is rare for its class. With the exception of one color (which deviates from the overall picture due to the specifics of the test colorimeter's operation), the maximum ΔE value is 1.54, with an average around one. It’s worth noting that the average user is unlikely to notice the difference between the reference color and what the monitor displays if ΔE does not exceed two or even three.
In sRGB mode, some settings are locked (contrast, color temperature, blue light reduction in backlighting), and color coverage is reduced to 98% sRGB (72% DCI-P3, 73% Adobe RGB).
Brightness is set at 70% (202 nits), but its adjustment is not fully restricted, allowing for even higher brightness compared to User mode – its maximum value reaches 370 nits. Color temperature and gamma remain the same, while color accuracy slightly decreases – the maximum ΔE reaches two, with an average slightly below 1.4.
Other video modes don't differ significantly from one another and come with varying default settings for brightness, color temperature, gamma, and so on. The color coverage remains unchanged, except for the last black-and-white mode.
Visually comparing them can be done in the following gallery (Eco — User — sRGB — Anti-Blue — Movie — Office — Black-White):
