CES 2026 will see the launch of a next-generation gaming monitor from MSI, built around Samsung Display’s latest fifth generation QD-OLED panel technology. Well ahead of the public announcement, KitGuru was invited to MSI’s headquarters in Taipei as part of the EHA Tech Tour – to receive an early briefing on the new display platform, including a technical deep dive. 

Fifth-Gen QD-OLED Technology Improvements

Samsung’s fifth generation QD-OLED technology is not a radical departure from what came before, but a concentrated refinement of the areas that matter most to PC users who spend long hours in front of a screen. The improvements focus on clarity, durability, HDR consistency and longevity – rather than chasing ‘headline numbers’ alone. In other words, this is not about 8K or 800Hz refresh rates as much as delivering the best possible experience for serious gamers in 2026.

The most important change is the move away from the previous Q-stripe sub-pixel layout towards a new V-stripe structure. While QD-OLED has long delivered excellent colour volume and contrast, earlier implementations could still show artefacts in fine text and UI elements, particularly in desktop use. The V-stripe layout is designed to improve sub-pixel alignment and light distribution, resulting in sharper text rendering, more consistent viewing angles, and fewer colour fringing issues across the panel.

Alongside this architectural change, Samsung and MSI have also addressed practical, real-world concerns raised by early OLED adopters. The panel surface itself has been hardened, moving from a 2H to a 3H rating, which should make it more resistant to micro-scratches during cleaning and day-to-day use. The screen coating has also been reworked, using a deliberately asymmetric texture rather than a uniform finish, allowing it to absorb and diffuse ambient light more effectively without introducing visible grain. The result is reduced glare without the heavy haze sometimes associated with aggressive matte coatings.

HDR performance is another major focus. The MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 is rated for peak brightness of up to 1,300 nits, while maintaining OLED’s (claimed) near-infinite contrast characteristics. Combined with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, this allows the panel to span an extremely wide dynamic range, from deep/detail-rich blacks to small, intense highlights. MSI has built this around a set of 14 user-selectable HDR profiles, giving users fine-grained control depending on content type, ambient lighting, and personal preference rather than forcing a single fixed tone curve.

Burn-in mitigation and panel longevity have also been expanded beyond previous generations. MSI’s OLED Care suite has evolved further, now supported by an AI Care Sensor that uses real-time image analysis and human presence detection. Key functions include real human detection (fake humans beware), wake-on-approach and ‘lock-on-leave’ behaviour. There’s also adaptive dimming for static elements, automatic brightness and colour temperature adjustment based on environment – as well as broad multi-platform compatibility including macOS. This was previously the realm of LG only. The aim here is not only to protect the panel over time, but to do so in a way that is largely invisible to the user.

Samsung, QD-OLED, and MSI: Context and Continuity

Samsung’s position in the display industry stretches back more than five decades, with the company producing its first television panels in the late 1960s. Commercial OLED displays arrived much later, with Samsung Display refining OLED for consumer use through the 2010s before introducing QD-OLED as a distinct platform in the early 2020s. MSI, meanwhile, has worked with Samsung as a panel supplier for well over a decade, long before OLED entered the gaming monitor space, and that relationship has deepened as display technology has moved upmarket.

Samsung’s internal framing of QD-OLED development is best understood in generational steps:-

• First-generation
  QD-OLED panels, introduced in 2022, established the core concept of blue OLED light combined with quantum dot colour conversion
• Second-generation
  These panels arrived in 2023 with improved efficiency and thermal behaviour, allowing higher sustained brightness
• Third-generation
  Refined uniformity and HDR handling, making QD-OLED viable across a wider range of gaming monitors
• Fourth-generation
  Increased popularity in 2025 pushed refresh rates to extreme levels, including 500Hz at QHD, while laying the groundwork for changes to sub-pixel structure.

The fifth-generation platform builds on all of this.

It introduces the V-stripe sub-pixel layout, higher usable brightness, improved anti-reflective coatings, increased panel hardness, and further reductions in burn-in risk, which Samsung estimates at around 30 percent compared to earlier implementations. Crucially, it is designed to scale these improvements to higher resolutions and larger panel sizes, enabling products like MSI’s 36-inch, 360Hz ultrawide display.

That evolution matters because MSI’s previous-generation flagship, the MPG 321URX, set a very high bar. When we reviewed it in April 2024, we were struck by how well it combined 4K resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and the visual strengths of QD-OLED into a genuinely versatile high-end display. It spent months at the top of our Best Monitors chart despite its premium pricing, a clear sign that performance and image quality were strong enough to justify the cost.

The shift from Q-stripe to V-stripe is therefore not a minor footnote, but the key change that MSI and Samsung will be relying on to move beyond what was already an excellent panel.

The Economics of the Modern PC Displays

While market pressure on core PC components is increasing due to high demand for memory and high-performance CPUs and GPUs in the AI market, costs are driving higher. Yet the monitor market appears to be moving in the opposite direction.

Samsung estimates that out of roughly 130 million displays sold in 2025, around 29 million will be gaming monitors, rising to 31 million in 2026. Growth is strongest at the premium end, with monitors priced above $500 increasing from around 2.6 million units in 2024 to a projected 3 million units in 2025. Average selling prices in this segment peaked above $900 during 2024.

The implication is clear. Even as buyers become more cost-conscious about CPUs, GPUs and memory – many are still willing to invest heavily in large, high-quality displays that define their daily experience across work, gaming, and media consumption. High-end QD-OLED panels sit squarely in that category.

KitGuru Says: On paper, the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 represents a meaningful step forward rather than a cosmetic update. We've been fortunate enough to have one of these units in for review already, so if you want to see our full in-depth testing and results, you can find the review HERE. 

The post MSI shows off the MPG 341CQR X36 – its first 5th-Gen QD-OLED Monitor first appeared on KitGuru.

Today MSI has announced its latest QD-OLED monitor, the MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36. Built on a new 5th Gen panel from Samsung, this is a curved ultrawide with a 360Hz refresh rate, making it the fastest 21:9 OLED monitor to date. It's also packing a number of improvements to the sub-pixel layout and coating, alongside increased brightness for both SDR and HDR. There's a lot to talk about, so let's get into it.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:45 Key panel improvements
02:20 Design overview
03:23 Connectivity
03:51 New panel coating vs older QD-OLED + WOLED
05:51 Sub-pixel structure is also improved
07:12 Out of the box testing
09:20 sRGB mode + calibrated results
09:53 Response times, motion clarity
11:23 Real-world gaming experience
15:44 HDR issues ‘update’
17:12 Closing thoughts

Starting with the new 5th Gen QD-OLED panel from Samsung, this is packing in some key improvements designed to overcome known limitations of earlier QD-OLED panels. It's got a new RGB V-stripe sub-pixel layout, replacing the older diamond shape, AKA Q-stripe, layout that could cause some fringing around text. It also has a new and improved coating to help improve black depth in brighter conditions, designed to fix the issue where older QD-OLED panels would see elevated black levels depending on the ambient lighting. On top of that, the surface hardness has been increased from 2H to 3H, increasing scratch resistance.

Those appear to be the key improvements with the new panel, given the underlying EL 3.0 technology has not changed from 4th Gen QD-OLED. It still offers improved brightness compared to most other QD-OLEDs, though performance here is similar to the enhanced 272QP X50, with MSI claiming up to 1300 nits for HDR and 300 nits for SDR. And of course, as mentioned earlier, it's a new 360Hz refresh rate, too, up from the previous 240Hz limit for ultrawide QD-OLED panels.

In terms of pricing, MSI told us the MSRP is £999, or $1099, so it's not cheap, but about as expected for a new QD-OLED panel.

Specification:

• Model: MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36
• Panel size: 34″ QD-OLED
• Aspect ratio: 21:9
• Panel resolution: 3440 x 1440 (UWQHD)
• Pixel pitch (H x V): 0.2315 (H) x 0.2315 (V)
• Refresh rate: 360Hz
• Response time: 0.03ms (GtG)
• Viewing angle: 178° (H) / 178° (V)
• Brightness: SDR: 300 nits; HDR: 1300 nits
• Contrast ratio: 1,500,000:1
• DisplayPort: 1x DisplayPort 2.1a (UHBR13.5) (UWQHD@360Hz)
• HDMI: 2x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) (UWQHD@360Hz)
• USB Type-C: 1x Type-C (DP Alt Mode) with 98W Power Delivery
• USB Type-A: 2x USB 5Gbps Type-A
• USB Type-B: 1x USB 5Gbps Type-B
• ETD: 12/B-12/M
• MSRP: £999/$1,099

Firmware tested: FW.014

The post MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 Review (5th Gen Ultrawide) first appeared on KitGuru.

Computer cooling primarily happens with regular old fans blowing air through a fixed heatsink assembly. This has various complexities; fans need a relatively large amount of space, and they make a lot of noise due to the mechanical action by which they move air. YPlasma thinks it has a better way: micro-plasma actuators moving ionic wind that

Microsoft has seemingly disabled phone call activation for Windows 11, and perhaps older versions as well, making it impossible to activate Windows without an Internet connection. This is an unwelcome development for users that want to airgap their systems and enthusiasts who want to activate older versions of Windows on retro hardware.

There are FOUR lights!
But besides that, we have AMD news on Redstone, their B650 chipset and so much DDR pricing and related news that you'll platz.  Oh, Kohler has got a…

💾

The chorus of analysts and leakers crooning about a lower-cost MacBook coming to town is growing louder. Joining the fray is a fresh report by TrendForce, in which the market research firm outlined several reasons why it's downward adjusting its notebook shipment forecast for 2026. Those same reasons could compel to Apple to offer a cheaper

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UPDATE: Corsair has tweeted about this story, with an explanation and a promise to make the customer whole. Check out the company's response below: This is a perfectly reasonable explanation, as we expected there would be. Corsair isn't some fly-by-night operation, and it did seem absurd on the face of things. Kudos to Corsair for making

In a poignant reminder that some of a game's biggest fans are the people who actually work on them, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided voice actor Elias Toufexis sounded off about the lack of a Deus Ex sequel, after teasing some upcoming projects coming this year. Elias Toufexis, known best as the voice actor for the Deus Ex main

Security firm Koi has been busy lately. Its researchers have not only uncovered a sprawling spyware campaign, but they're also keeping tabs on the ever-evolving malware dubbed GlassWorm. In its latest form, GlassWorm has shifted from exclusively targeting Windows users to targeting macOS users as well, and it has a dangerous new trick up its

Samsung Display has officially announced the mass production of its next-generation 34-inch QD-OLED panel. Aimed directly at the long-standing complaints regarding text fringing, the new panel introduces a “V-Stripe” pixel structure that abandons the traditional triangular sub-pixel arrangement of previous generations.

By aligning the red, green, and blue sub-pixels vertically, Samsung is promising a true RGB-stripe experience that finally brings OLED text rendering into parity with standard LCD monitors. This move follows closely behind LG Display's own announcement of a 27-inch RGB-stripe WOLED panel, signalling a broader industry-wide push to make OLED technology viable for serious productivity work like coding and document editing.

Image credit: Samsung

The technical specifications of this new panel are a significant leap forward for the ultrawide category. Operating at a native 360 Hz refresh rate, the display offers a substantial upgrade in motion clarity over previous 240 Hz models, while maintaining the cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio and a subtle 1800R curve. Samsung has also pushed the luminance envelope, citing a peak HDR brightness of 1,300 nits and VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification. To achieve these figures on a high-refresh ultrawide, Samsung used a new top-emission structure and improved organic materials under its EL 3.0 implementation to maximise efficiency and longevity.

While the announcement comes from the panel manufacturer, the hardware is already in the hands of major partners. Samsung Display confirmed that it has been supplying these V-Stripe panels to seven global brands, including Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte. With CES 2026 set to kick off in Las Vegas on January 6th, both Asus and MSI are expected to unveil the first retail monitors using this technology.

KitGuru says: With both LG and Samsung now preparing RGB-stripe panels, OLED/QD-OLED panels could become the go-to solution for gaming and working on a single display.

The post Samsung Display fires back at LG with “V-Stripe” 360Hz QD-OLED ultrawide first appeared on KitGuru.

Thermalright is expanding its already vast cooling catalogue with a rare entry into the slim 140mm fan market. The newly unveiled TL-B14015 series targets the growing niche of Small Form Factor (SFF) enthusiasts who require the surface area of a 140 mm fan but lack the clearance for standard 25-mm-thick fans. Measuring just 15 mm thick, these fans are designed to slide into tight gaps behind front panels or beneath bottom-mounted radiators where traditional blowers won't fit.

Currently available in a stealthy black finish, the standard TL-B14015 (via CowCotland) operates at a modest 1600 RPM, delivering 62.8 CFM of airflow and 1.0 mmH2O of static pressure while keeping noise levels very respectable at 24.6 dBA.

For those who prioritise raw performance over acoustic stealth, Thermalright has also introduced the TL-B14015 Extrem. This “Extrem” variant is distinguished by a structural gold ring connecting the blade tips. Moving away from standard plastics, the Extrem model utilises Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) blades. The performance jump is significant, with the Extrem pushing up to 2600 RPM, doubling the static pressure of the base model to 2.01 mmH2O and increasing airflow to 92.3 CFM. However, as one might expect from a slim fan spinning at such high velocities, the noise level climbs to 34.2 dBA.

Both versions of the TL-B14015 use a dual-row ball bearing system, which generally offers a longer lifespan than sleeve or fluid-dynamic bearings. Thermalright also includes a fairly robust accessory bundle for a standalone fan, including a protective metal grille with a colour-matched centre, mounting screws, and a PWM splitter for dual-fan configurations. This launch effectively positions Thermalright as a direct competitor to the few premium slim 140mm options on the market, likely at a price point that makes it the default choice for budget-conscious SFF builders.

KitGuru says: Thermalright continues to be a menace to the high-priced cooling establishment. Bringing LCP blades and a 2600 RPM ceiling to a 15mm-thick 140mm fan is an impressive technical feat, provided you don't mind the turbine-like acoustics at full power.

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LG is raising the bar for ultra-light computing ahead of CES 2026, unveiling a refreshed laptop lineup that aims to solve the age-old compromise between weight and structural integrity. The 2026 collection is defined by the debut of “Aerominum”, a proprietary magnesium-aluminium alloy inspired by aerospace engineering.

The new Aerominum chassis is achieved by fusing the low density of magnesium with the rigidity of aluminium. LG claims to have reduced the weight of the latest models while increasing scratch resistance. The result is a premium metallic finish that is more durable without the “flimsy” feel sometimes associated with ultra-light devices.

On the performance side, LG is leading with the US-exclusive Gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR), which the company is touting as the world's lightest 17-inch RTX laptop. Designed for creators who need a lightweight workstation, it squeezes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 (8 GB GDDR7) into a frame roughly the size of a traditional 16-inch laptop. This model features a 17-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS panel.

As the lightest 16-inch laptop in its class with both on-device and cloud-based AI, the LG Gram Pro 16 (16Z90U) establishes a new benchmark. For both professional and creative tasks, the 16-inch WQXGA+ (2,880 x 1,800) OLED display provides a high-end, immersive visual experience with high PPI. For graphics, it seems the laptop will depend on the iGPU of the Intel Core Ultra series CPUs powering it.

The 2026 lineup also marks the debut of LG's Advanced Dual AI strategy. By combining Microsoft Copilot+ capabilities with LG's Gram Chat On-Device AI, these laptops can perform complex tasks such as document summarisation, search, and translation without an internet connection. This is powered by the upgraded Exaone 3.5 small LLM, ensuring user data stays private on the local hardware. A new “Time Travel” feature even allows users to revisit and restore past workflows or deleted data through an intuitive AI-driven timeline. Connectivity-wise, the new laptops are getting Gram Link, which now supports seamless file sharing and screen mirroring across Android, iOS, and even webOS-based LG devices like TVs and smart monitors.

KitGuru says: LG Gram laptops have always been exceptionally light, but there still seems to be room to make them lighter. Is the weight of a laptop a critical factor to you?

The post LG enters a new era of ultra-portability with ‘Aerominum’ laptops first appeared on KitGuru.

The SilverStone Lucid 05 is a bigger brother to the Lucid 04, being able to fit an ATX board vs. MicroATX, besides more potent liquid cooling. As such it is better suited for a larger target audience, while also improving on some functional aspects. While losing the small-form-factor appeal, these advantages make the Lucid 05 not just better value, but also more useful.

Astronomers have detected a massive, lonely world drifting through the darkness without a star to call home. This Saturn-sized rogue planet was discovered by an international team of scientists using the gravitational microlensing technique. Free-floating planet gravitationally microlensing a distant star in the Galactic center. (Credit:

Reflecting back on a year of gaming, Steam's final hardware and software survey of 2025 indicates a couple of interesting trends as 2026 gets underway. One of this is AMD's ability to continue chipping away at Intel's lead, and on the software side, Windows 11 is adding even more distance between itself and Windows 10, at least among Steam

China has completed construction of the world’s most powerful hypergravity machine, a device designed to compress space and time to simulate extreme events like dam and earthquake disasters. The machine, officially known as CHIEF1900, was delivered to Zhejiang University on December 22. Built by the Shanghai Electric Nuclear Power Group,

LG is getting ready to launch an updated line of lightweight Gram laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next week, and the upcoming models will debut a new Aerominum material that promises to meld ultra-light construction with premium aesthetics and military-grade durability. This paves the the way for what LG claims is the world's

One of the most iconic gaming consoles of all time is the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) that released in the United States way back in 1985. Now a little over 40 years later, Acemagic is using the original NES as inspiration for its Retro X5, a powerful mini PC "designed for players who love the charm of classic games and thrill

The new year brought about some unfortunate news for Sony's security team. The BootRom key for PS5 consoles has leaked, enabling a new wave of jailbreaking, along with the ability to allow homebrew software to run. 

The BootRom is crucial to the security of consoles. With the key, modders will be able to decrypt the bootloader and from there, it will become possible to run unlicensed software and install custom firmware, which could lead to a new wave of piracy-enabled ‘hacked' PS5 consoles.

As pointed out by HotHardware, this could also enable emulator developers to get PS5 emulation up and running, as they will be able to simulate the PS5 booting process and decrypt game loaders.

Unfortunately, there is no magic way for Sony to put the genie back in the bottle here. However, Sony can always take legal action against attempts to share these keys online, as well as attempts to ship emulators. As Nintendo managed to get Switch emulators shut down a few years ago, Sony may also have success stamping out publicly available emulators for PS5 initially as well.

KitGuru Says: It was possible to ‘hack' a PS5 before this but the addition of BootROM keys will open up additional possibilities. Due to the high risk of legal action though, we would expect anyone in possession of the keys to keep it private for the foreseeable future. 

The post BootRom keys for PS5 leak, enabling custom firmware, emulation and piracy first appeared on KitGuru.

One of 2025’s biggest indie hits was Dispatch – an episodic superhero adventure title from developers who previously worked at Telltale Games and Night School Studio. Released in chunks, the game saw its final episode arrive in November; receiving high praise across the board and helping to push the game past 2 million copies sold. Since then, interest has not yet slowed down, with the title having now officially sold over 3 million copies in total.

Taking to BlueSky to release their ‘2025 Dispatch Wrapped’ the team at AdHoc Studio shared a bunch of different player statistics, including but not limited to the total number of shifts completed; the amount of calls answered and players’ overall romance choices.

By far the most interesting stat however was the confirmation that Dispatch has sold 3 million copies – a little over a month since its last major milestone.

Currently, Dispatch is only available on PlayStation 5 and PC. With the game confirmed to be landing on both the Switch and Switch 2 later this month however, it is likely that Dispatch will only continue to grow in popularity. It will be interesting to see how big the game winds up being on Switch.

KitGuru says: Have you played through the game? What did you think? How well will the game sell throughout 2026? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Dispatch has officially sold over 3 million copies ahead of Switch launch later this month first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the past few years Bloober Team have made a name for themselves in the horror space. While their earlier projects were far from masterpieces, the team have proven themselves with time – culminating in the successful release of Silent Hill 2 Remake. With multiple projects currently in the works at the studio, Bloober Team have started to tease something mysterious.

Taking to Twitter, Bloober Team shared a curious URL alongside the message “Dare to peek into the darkness…”

In going to the link, users are met with what appears to be a random string of letters, then leading to a countdown timer which will last for 44 days – seemingly ending on the 14th of February 2026.

The letters in question are as follows: RemosdNeulSerorehsoOvamCeyerd; though what this means exactly is currently unknown.

For the uninitiated, Bloober Team are currently developing a number of different projects. Alongside their ongoing work on the Silent Hill 1 Remake, Bloober also previously announced Project M – an exclusive being developed for the Nintendo Switch / Switch 2.

Considering the fact that Nintendo has hosted various Directs during the month of February in previous years, it is quite possible that Bloober Team are teasing their Switch exclusive. We won’t have to wait too long to find out.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this teaser? Could it be related to project M? What do you think the message spells out? Let us know down below.

The post Bloober Team teases mysterious project with new website and countdown first appeared on KitGuru.

MSI has expanded its 32‑inch 4K QD‑OLED gaming monitor lineup with two new models, the MPG 322UR QD‑OLED X24 and MAG 321UP QD‑OLED X24. Both displays use MSI’s latest 5‑layer Tandem OLED architecture with EL Gen 3 technology, designed to improve luminous efficiency and extend panel lifespan across the company’s 32‑inch 4K range.

The monitors introduce several upgraded display technologies aimed at delivering stronger visual performance and durability. MSI’s new DarkArmor Film enhances light absorption to eliminate the purple or red tint often seen on standard QD‑OLED panels under ambient lighting. It increases perceived black depth by up to 40% and raises surface hardness from 2H to 3H, offering significantly better scratch resistance for everyday use.

Uniform Luminance is another key addition, addressing the inconsistent brightness shifts common in HDR content. The feature allows users to fine‑tune the HDR brightness curve by mapping brightness levels to different window sizes, ensuring smoother and more stable luminance across varied scenarios.

The MPG 322UR QD‑OLED X24 serves as the flagship option, adding MSI’s AI Care Sensor for automated panel protection. Powered by an NPU‑based IC, the system uses real‑time human‑detection algorithms to manage power states and trigger protective measures based on user presence. This allows the monitor to safeguard the panel without interrupting gameplay or requiring manual intervention.

With these updates, MSI aims to deliver higher durability, improved HDR consistency, and smarter long‑term protection for players seeking premium 4K QD‑OLED performance. We'll get a closer and more detailed look at all of this next week as CES gets underway.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to the next generation of QD-OLED panels? We've been getting steady improvements over the past few years and prices have been coming down too.

The post MSI introduces DarkArmor and Uniform Luminance Reshape for new QD-OLED displays first appeared on KitGuru.

In a sea of small form-factor keyboards, it’s sometimes easy to forget that full-size boards still exist. The Epomaker TH108 Pro is exactly that – a full-size, gasket mounted mechanical keyboard which features a TFT screen and rotary dial for added functionality. With a chassis made from ABS plastic and a price tag of roughly £75, is the TH108 Pro any good?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:51 Pricing and key details
01:25 Design and appearance
02:27 TFT display + dial
03:20 RGB lighting and other details
04:32 Build quality
05:42 Typing feel + acoustics
06:35 Soundtest
06:57 Day to day use
08:24 Battery life
08:53 Web software
09:37 Mat’s closing thoughts

Specifications

The post Epomaker TH108 Pro Keyboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.