Have you been searching for a compact monitor that balances everyday productivity, comfortable long sessions, and a touch of smoothness for casual gaming?
First Impression of the MSI PRO MP223 E2, 22-inch VA 1920 x 1080 (FHD) Computer Monitor, 100Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDMI, Video Port, Display Port, VESA Mountable, Tilt, 1ms, Black
When I first unboxed the MSI PRO MP223 E2, the unit felt solid and understated in a way I appreciate for a home or office setup. The overall presentation — compact footprint, matte finish, and clean bezels — told me this monitor was aimed at people who want reliable daily performance without flashy extras.
I immediately noticed that the stated “22-inch” label refers to the marketed size while the actual panel is 21.45 inches diagonally. That small difference is common in monitor marketing, and it didn’t impact how the screen looked on my desk. The build gives a no-nonsense vibe that suits professional environments or minimalist home setups.
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Design and Build Quality
I like how MSI kept the design simple and functional. The monitor’s black matte chassis resists fingerprints and looks professional whether it’s sitting on a desk or mounted on an arm.
The bezel is modest yet not ultra-thin, which adds a small amount of structural rigidity. The plastics feel durable for the price range, and the screen panel sits well within the frame without any obvious gaps or uneven seams.
Stand, Adjustability, and VESA
The included stand offers tilt adjustment so I can angle the monitor for the best viewing position without needing extra tools. It doesn’t offer height adjustment or swivel, so I mounted mine on a VESA arm to get ergonomic positioning for longer work sessions.
Because it’s VESA mountable, I had no trouble attaching it to my monitor arm; the 75 x 75 mm pattern is standard and works with most third-party mounts. If you rely on a single stand height, you’ll be fine, but people who constantly switch posture or users who want more flexible multi-monitor alignment will benefit from a mount.
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Display Panel and Image Quality
The MSI PRO MP223 E2 uses a VA panel, which I’ve seen deliver strong contrast and deep blacks relative to IPS and TN options in similar price brackets. In everyday tasks like web browsing, spreadsheets, and watching videos, the panel produces pleasing images with a richer sense of depth.
Colors look lively enough for casual content creation, though if you need absolute color accuracy for professional photo editing, you’ll want to calibrate or consider a higher-end panel. For the target audience — office users, students, and casual gamers — the image quality strikes a very sensible balance.
Resolution and Screen Size
The monitor’s 1920 x 1080 (FHD) resolution on a 21.45-inch panel yields a comfortable pixel density that provides readable text and crisp UI elements. I found that scaling at 100% works well for desktop productivity without making text feel too small or too large.
For multi-window tasks, the screen real estate is modest but tidy, and I can comfortably place two app windows side-by-side for light multitasking. If you need more workspace for professional editing timelines or huge spreadsheets, a larger or higher-resolution display would be preferable.
Color Performance and Accuracy
Colors come across as vivid without being oversaturated, which makes movies and casual image work enjoyable. The VA panel’s strength is richer blacks and contrast, and I noticed deep shadow detail that enhances cinematic scenes.
If you need precise color matching, you’ll want to run a calibration with a colorimeter because out-of-the-box color temperature and gamma can be slightly off in budget-class panels. For social media content, document work, and general photo adjustments, the default performance is more than adequate.
Brightness, Contrast and HDR
One of the VA panel’s defining traits — high native contrast — is apparent on the MSI PRO MP223 E2. Blacks appear deeper compared to most IPS screens at this price, making dark areas in movies and games feel more immersive.
This model isn’t designed to target HDR performance; it handles standard dynamic range very well but won’t reach the peak brightness or color volume of true HDR displays. For everyday indoor use, the brightness is sufficient, and the contrast helps deliver a satisfying image in moderately lit rooms.
Viewing Angles and VA Characteristics
VA panels typically have narrower optimal horizontal viewing angles than IPS, and that’s something I noticed in group viewing scenarios. When you view the screen from off-center, colors can shift a bit and contrast drops faster than an IPS panel would.
For a solo workstation or a primary monitor where I sit directly in front, this isn’t an issue. If you plan to have a lot of people watch the screen from widely differing positions, keep that VA trait in mind.
Motion Handling and Gaming Performance
Even though the MSI PRO MP223 E2 is primarily positioned for productivity, the 100Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync support mean I can enjoy smoother motion than with a 60Hz display. For casual gaming and fast-paced video, the increased refresh rate is noticeable and pleasant.
It’s not a competitive esports monitor, but it brings a responsiveness and clarity to motion that makes everyday gaming more enjoyable. The balance between smoothness and affordability is one of the monitor’s strengths in my experience.
Refresh Rate and Adaptive-Sync
The 100Hz refresh rate feels like a genuine step up from 60Hz; scrolling through documents, navigating the OS, and playing less demanding games feel more fluid. MSI’s inclusion of Adaptive-Sync helps eliminate screen tearing when paired with compatible GPUs, which improves perceived smoothness without the input lag penalties that come from some other sync methods.
I tested a variety of titles and saw fewer tearing artifacts and a generally consistent experience with Adaptive-Sync enabled. For gamers who play casually or prefer single-player experiences, the combination of 100Hz and Adaptive-Sync is a nice, practical addition.
Response Time and Ghosting
MSI lists a 1ms response time, which is usually an MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) figure for VA panels, rather than the GTG (Gray-to-Gray) metric used on some high-end monitors. In real-world use, I observed minimal ghosting in typical scenarios, though extremely fast camera pans in certain games can reveal slight trailing.
If you’re highly sensitive to motion blur or play top-tier competitive shooters, you might notice the difference against faster TN or advanced IPS gaming monitors. For mainstream gaming and video playback, the motion handling is quite satisfactory.
Input Lag and Competitive Play
I didn’t detect any problematic input lag in my casual gaming sessions, and control responsiveness felt tight enough for most players. Competitive pros chasing every millisecond would probably prefer a dedicated esports display, but I didn’t feel held back in everyday gaming and productivity tasks.
The combination of 100Hz and relatively low input latency makes this a good pick for users who want a responsive monitor without spending on a niche gaming model.
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Eye Comfort and Health Features
MSI emphasizes eye-care technologies on this model, and I appreciated the effect of the Less Blue Light and Anti-Flicker features during long sessions. After several hours of reading, writing, and browsing, my eyes felt less fatigued compared to some older displays I’ve used.
These comfort-focused features make the monitor a sensible choice for people who spend extended periods in front of screens, including students and office workers who want to protect their vision.
Less Blue Light and Anti-Flicker
The Less Blue Light mode reduces short-wavelength blue emissions that can contribute to eye strain and sleep disruption. I toggled the mode during evening work and noticed warmer tones that made evening reading much easier on my eyes.
Anti-Flicker technology also helped in my experience by delivering a steadier image at all brightness levels, which reduces subtle, tiring flicker that many people don’t consciously notice but which accumulates over long sessions. Together these features make workdays more comfortable.
TÜV Certification and Long-Term Use
This monitor carries TÜV certification for low blue light and flicker-free operation, and I find the added assurance meaningful as someone who uses screens for many hours. The certification gives me confidence that MSI’s eye-care claims are backed by standardized testing.
Over several weeks of daily use, I didn’t experience discomfort attributable to the screen, and I suspect that users with moderate sensitivity will also find the extra protection beneficial.
Connectivity and Ports
Connectivity is straightforward and user-friendly: I appreciated having both HDMI and DisplayPort in addition to what MSI calls a “Video Port” (often meaning a D-Sub/VGA on some SKUs). That makes it easy to connect laptops, desktops, and older gear without adapters.
The physical port layout is practical and keeps cables tidy, but there are no integrated USB ports or hub functions, so I use a separate hub on my desk to keep peripherals within easy reach.
HDMI, DisplayPort, and Video Port
Having both HDMI and DisplayPort is useful because it allows me to keep two devices connected simultaneously, like my work laptop and a mini-PC. I used DisplayPort when I wanted to ensure the full 100Hz refresh rate at 1080p and HDMI for a secondary machine — both worked seamlessly.
If your system relies on VGA (analog) and MSI’s package includes a Video Port labeled as such, you’ll be able to connect older hardware. For most modern setups, DisplayPort is my go-to for stability and maximum refresh support.
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Settings, On-Screen Display, and Calibration
MSI’s on-screen display (OSD) menu is intuitive and simple to navigate, which I appreciated when switching picture modes or adjusting eye-care settings. The button or joystick control on the back provides quick access to brightness, color temperature, and game modes.
If you want precise color, the OSD allows basic adjustments but not the granular controls professional colorists expect. That said, my tweaks to color temperature and gamma improved skin tones and neutral grays for day-to-day work.
Using the OSD Menu
The OSD layout is straightforward: I quickly found presets for game, movie, and office modes, as well as toggles for Less Blue Light and Anti-Flicker. The menu is responsive and doesn’t require scrolling through multiple nested screens to reach common settings.
If you like to personalize your display, the presets give a convenient starting point and the manual adjustments let you refine contrast and color temperature without fuss.
Calibration Advice for Accurate Colors
If you want more faithful color reproduction, I recommend using a calibration device like a colorimeter along with calibration software to build an accurate ICC profile. Even a few simple adjustments — setting the monitor to sRGB or reducing color temperature slightly — can make a noticeable difference for photo editing or print work.
Without hardware calibration, expect reasonable color for general use but not the pinpoint accuracy that comes from an instrument-based profile.
Practical Use Cases
I found the MSI PRO MP223 E2 well-suited for mixed-use environments where budget, comfort, and decent performance matter. It’s a good companion for students, remote workers, and casual gamers who want better motion smoothness than typical 60Hz screens.
Its compact footprint is also helpful for small desks, shared spaces, or secondary-monitor roles in dual-display setups. I used it both as a primary screen for day-to-day tasks and as a secondary monitor for documents and chat windows with good results.
Office Productivity and Multitasking
For spreadsheets, web apps, and text editing, the monitor delivers clear text and responsive scrolling that speeds up routine tasks. The 100Hz refresh rate makes interactions feel snappier, which reduces friction during long data entry or email sessions.
I also appreciated the eye-care features during extended document review sessions; the Less Blue Light mode can be a relief during late-night deadlines.
Content Creation and Photo Editing
For casual content creation — social media images, light photo retouching, and video watching — the color and contrast are pleasing and usable. I wouldn’t recommend it as the sole reference display for professional color-critical work without calibration, but it’s perfectly capable for hobbyist and semi-professional creators.
If you do photography or color grading professionally, pairing this monitor with a higher-end color-accurate display or performing frequent hardware calibration will yield better results.
Casual Gaming and Entertainment
When I played single-player titles and indie games, the 100Hz refreshrate and Adaptive-Sync made the experience more fluid and enjoyable than a 60Hz counterpart. The VA panel’s contrast also made darker scenes in story-driven titles look richer and more dramatic.
For competitive multiplayer, I noticed mild trailing at times, but that didn’t ruin the experience for my casual matches. If you want a serious competitive edge, a faster TN or high-end IPS gaming monitor might be a better choice.
Media Consumption and Streaming
Watching movies and streaming content is satisfying thanks to the VA panel’s deep blacks and decent dynamic range. The colors and contrast contribute to a cinematic feel, particularly with darker, moodier scenes where black levels matter.
Because this monitor isn’t aiming for high HDR reproduction, bright specular highlights won’t pop the way they do on HDR displays, but the overall experience is very good for the price and use case.
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Power Consumption and Environmental Notes
The MSI PRO MP223 E2 is energy efficient compared to older monitors, and its small screen size and modern LED backlighting help keep power draw low. If you’re conscious about power usage, this model is a reasonable choice for always-on office environments.
MSI doesn’t claim any unusual environmental certifications for this model beyond standard efficiency practices, but the low power usage contributes to a modest environmental footprint over time.
Pros and Cons
I’ll summarize what worked well and what I think could be better to help you decide if this monitor fits your needs. I found the balance of eye care, smoothness, and solid contrast to be the strongest selling points.
Pros:
- Pleasant VA contrast and deep blacks for better cinematic viewing and dark-scene detail.
- 100Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync for smoother motion and reduced tearing.
- Eye-care features (Less Blue Light, Anti-Flicker) and TÜV certification for comfortable long sessions.
- VESA mountable and compact footprint fits small desks and multi-monitor layouts.
- Simple, professional design that fits office and home settings.
Cons:
- Limited adjustability on the included stand (no height or swivel adjust).
- VA viewing angle shifts and potential color/contrast changes off-axis.
- Not a colorist-grade display out of the box; needs calibration for professional color work.
- Lacks integrated USB hub or speakers found on some competing models.
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Specification Table
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | MSI PRO MP223 E2, 22-inch (marketed), 21.45″ panel |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
| Refresh Rate | 100Hz |
| Adaptive Sync | Yes (Adaptive-Sync) |
| Response Time | 1ms (likely MPRT) |
| Ports | HDMI, DisplayPort, Video Port (VGA/D-Sub in some SKUs) |
| Mounting | VESA mountable |
| Adjustability | Tilt (included stand) |
| Eye-Care | Less Blue Light, Anti-Flicker |
| Certification | TÜV certified (eye comfort/flicker) |
| Color Gamut | Typical for budget VA panels (not factory-calibrated) |
| Ideal Use | Productivity, casual gaming, media consumption |
| Color | Black |
| Additional Notes | Simple design, compact footprint, no integrated USB hub |
How It Compares to Competitors
Against other budget 21–24-inch monitors, the MSI PRO MP223 E2 stands out for its combination of VA contrast and 100Hz refresh rate; many competitors either offer IPS at 60Hz or VA at 60Hz. That mix makes this model a compelling compromise for users who want better blacks without giving up smoother motion.
If you prioritize wide viewing angles and ultra-accurate color, an IPS monitor with factory calibration could be preferable. Conversely, if you’re chasing the lowest possible input lag for esports, a specialized 240Hz TN or high-refresh IPS gaming monitor will be superior.
Setup Tips and Personal Adjustments
When I set up the monitor, I first adjusted the tilt to center the screen at my eye level and reduced brightness to a comfortable level for my room lighting. I then enabled Less Blue Light for evening work and used the OSD to set a slightly cooler color temperature during the day for more neutral whites.
If you have a full desk, consider a VESA arm for ergonomic height and angle adjustments. I also recommend turning on Adaptive-Sync if your GPU supports it — the smoothness improvement for everyday scrolling and gaming is immediate.
Durability and Long-Term Reliability
After several weeks of daily use, I didn’t notice any backlight issues or color shifts, and the build remained sturdy. The relatively simple mechanical design and lack of moving parts beyond the tilt mechanism suggest good long-term reliability if you treat it like a typical office monitor.
MSI’s brand support and warranty policies vary by region, so I recommend checking warranty details specific to your country when purchasing.
Who Should Buy the MSI PRO MP223 E2?
I’d recommend this monitor to someone who needs a compact, comfortable workstation monitor that can also handle casual gaming. If you’re a student, remote worker, or someone who watches movies and plays games occasionally, this monitor offers a great price-to-performance ratio.
If you’re a professional colorist, competitive esports gamer, or you need a very large screen for intensive multitasking, there are other monitors better suited to those niche demands.
Price and Value Consideration
Given the feature set — 100Hz, Adaptive-Sync, VA contrast, and TÜV eye-care certification — I think the MSI PRO MP223 E2 presents solid value. It fills a sweet spot where the additional fluidity in motion and better contrast create a genuinely improved daily experience without requiring a big budget.
When shopping, look for sales or bundled deals that may include extended warranty or accessory packages to maximize value.
My Final Verdict
I found the MSI PRO MP223 E2 to be a reliable, comfortable, and practical monitor that suits a wide range of everyday needs. It’s not a specialist device for high-end color work or top-tier esports, but it delivers a thoughtful balance of image quality, eye comfort, and motion smoothness that impressed me for its class.
If you want a compact monitor that improves daily productivity, reduces eye strain during long sessions, and gives you an edge with a higher refresh rate for casual gaming, I would recommend giving the MSI PRO MP223 E2 serious consideration.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
