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I'm surprised at just how much of a difference there is between the 2 for each resolution.
Macs and dpi issues
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Yeah text much clearer at the HiDPI resolutions.
I'm running two 27" 4K displays with my M4 Mac Mini, both set to "like 1440p" UI scaling. I believe at this resolution/UI scale setting, the Mac is rendering both displays at 5K then scaling it down to a 4K output. This means if I look closely at the screen I see a very slightly sheen/blur around text, which particularly affects the white text on the default blue OCUK forum theme. However, sat back at normal seating distance it's really not that noticeable, with even small text looking fine, though I know it'd look amazing if I had two 5K ASDs instead 
Those using 1080p or 1440p monitors will find it looks bad as macOS no longer does sub-pixel scaling. Apple are obviously expecting people to have Hi-DPI monitors and so don't care about you plebs at more... *ahem* legacy resolutions
in that case, the Better Display app comes in handy, forcing the Mac to render it at 4K/5K, then scale back down for the correct output.
Those using 1080p or 1440p monitors will find it looks bad as macOS no longer does sub-pixel scaling. Apple are obviously expecting people to have Hi-DPI monitors and so don't care about you plebs at more... *ahem* legacy resolutions
in that case, the Better Display app comes in handy, forcing the Mac to render it at 4K/5K, then scale back down for the correct output.How does it look if you set the display size to 4K HiDPI "looks like 1080p? Is that sharper (with 4K being an exact 2:1 scale of 1080p) or does it make text/fonts too large on a 27" monitor?
Yep, it's sharper on the text, but it's also hilariously jumbo sized. I ran like that for a while as I didn't like the blur from the fractional scale, but now I've got a new desk sitting a little differently from the monitors it's bearable. Plus I haven't got £3k to spaff on two Studio Displays
Unless you’re sitting right up against the display and/or have 20/20 vision then a 4k monitor at “looks like” 1440p is absolutely fine.Yep, it's sharper on the text, but it's also hilariously jumbo sized. I ran like that for a while as I didn't like the blur from the fractional scale, but now I've got a new desk sitting a little differently from the monitors it's bearable. Plus I haven't got £3k to spaff on two Studio Displays
Yeah even my Windows 11 machine scales my 4K monitor down to 2560 x 1440 and it looks fine. I find MacOS handles it better enabling me to run it at 3008 x 1692 UI with HiDPI scaling, rendering at 6016 x 3384 internally.
I assumed all 4K monitors would have this option but it appears not to be the case. There maybe be a cheapish 4K monitor out there perhaps running at 60 Hz that will allow you to run at 3008 x 1692 HiDPI rendering at 6016 x 3384 internally.
You’d have to do some research but mine definitely does but it’s £940 not cheap especially if you need two!
See I have terrible eyesight, but overall after playing with my screen last night I prefer 4k over the rather odd resolution that keeps getting bandied about here.
3008x1692 is such an odd resolution. lol I think it's fair to say that not all 4k monitors are created equally
It’s 3K but runs at 6K internally, which massively improves the text clarity. True 4K resolution is far to small for my eyesight.
Long sightedness coming in cluth for me then I guess. lol
Yep, it's sharper on the text, but it's also hilariously jumbo sized. I ran like that for a while as I didn't like the blur from the fractional scale, but now I've got a new desk sitting a little differently from the monitors it's bearable. Plus I haven't got £3k to spaff on two Studio Displays
That's the problem really. I'd actually consider buying an Apple Display but the lack of connectivity options for devices other than Mac's puts me off. If I'm spending that much on a monitor I'd at least expect to be able to connect all my devices (Macbook, Windows Desktop, Playstation, Nintendo) to it! But the connectivity and odd resolution of the Apple Displays make that impossible so it's a case of going with the next best option that supports all those things.
I have that weird res as an option, but only on the monitor plugged in with a USB-C to DisplayPort cable. The same model monitor plugged in HDMI-HDMI doesn't offer it.
I have got the option of 4K I just don’t use it. In both Windows without any scaling and MacOS set to 4K everything is too small for me. It’s not just my current monitor my old LG 27” 4K 144 Hz was the same at 4K.
Changed monitors because I wanted 240 Hz and an OLED screen with HDMI 2.1 inputs.
I get that. I'm the opposite...Scaling it like that does a number on my vision
It’s not a weird resolution it’s 3K, not as well known as 4K but is an official resolution. There are 5K, 6K and 8K resolutions as well.
Niel, i'm not arguing, I'm just saying for me that's a pretty weird resolution.
I thought the same thing at first, especially as I’d never heard of 3008 x 1692 and immediately tried 4K when I first booted my new Mac mini. However as it was too small went down to the next available option 3008 x 1692 and that looked good.
Since found out it’s not a weird resolution at all, it even runs internally at 6K you could say better than 4K.
Ran my resolution and monitor size through the PPI Calculator...
https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/technology/ppi-calculator
Comes back with a PPI of 107.85 which is in the Good for non-Retina range...
https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/technology/ppi-calculator
Comes back with a PPI of 107.85 which is in the Good for non-Retina range...
Soldato
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We’ve just bought two Dell U4025QW’s, panel wise they’re great and the MacBook Pros (M2 Pro and M4 Pro) can drive them over thunderbolt at 3840x1620 hi-dpi 120hz. Downside is that both monitors have coil whine when on standby and the dell logos on both are stuck on wrong, which is mildly irritating considering the price!
Annoyingly I’d hoped to run my older Samsung J791 34” as a daisy chained monitor but connected this way the M4 Pro Mac can’t do the combination of 3840x1620 120hz and 3440x1440 100hz on the Samsung. Only options even with 3rd party tools like displaymate seem to be stuck on 60hz on the Dell and either 5k resolution or one lower than 3840x1620, which is odd and not hi-dpi.
Annoyingly I’d hoped to run my older Samsung J791 34” as a daisy chained monitor but connected this way the M4 Pro Mac can’t do the combination of 3840x1620 120hz and 3440x1440 100hz on the Samsung. Only options even with 3rd party tools like displaymate seem to be stuck on 60hz on the Dell and either 5k resolution or one lower than 3840x1620, which is odd and not hi-dpi.
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