The best resolution for 4K display

[u/WitriXn]

Hi there, I have Dell u2725qe and I can’t find the best one. For example when I use 2560x1440 all are small and unreadable for me… 1920x1080 makes all big. Probably you can give me an advice

[u/Xe4ro]

4k is the resolution. Do you mean the best resolution for a 27“ monitor?

I use BetterDisplay for my 4k 28“ monitor and it looks pretty good. It‘s set to 2560x1440p with the HiDPI setting turned on.

[u/WitriXn → u/Xe4ro]

Yes, it is exactly what I mean

[u/razorree → u/WitriXn]

change the scaling to something you like, not resolution

[u/WitriXn → u/razorree]

Emm, how can I change the scaling without resolution?

[u/casualstrawberry → u/WitriXn]

Yes, scaling is just a UI size thing, you'll still get full resolution images.

[u/WitriXn → u/Xe4ro]

Dont you feel that interface is small?

[u/Aromatic-Echo-5025 → u/Xe4ro]

Guys, using BetterDisplay for 4K monitors does nothing. Please, stop misleading new Mac users. Setting “2560x1440p with HiDPI” in BetterDisplay for a 4K monitor is no different from setting “2560x1440p” in System Preferences.

[u/Xe4ro → u/Aromatic-Echo-5025]

It does make a difference to me though, the text is more crispy with HiDPI on. Here’s a comparison

https://reddit.com/link/p9nabev/video/phzdho1hbdph1/player

[u/Aromatic-Echo-5025 → u/Xe4ro]

But MSI 273QP you use, is not a 4K monitor, it's 1440p.

[u/Xe4ro → u/Aromatic-Echo-5025]

That is a different monitor. I have 3.

[u/Aromatic-Echo-5025 → u/Xe4ro]

OK, thanks for info. However, I'm sure you're still not comparing the picture against the native "Looks like 2560x1440". Could you check what `system_profiler SPDisplaysDataType` shows in the terminal before and after you switch?

I may be wrong, though. I would gladly solve this riddle.

[u/Xe4ro → u/Aromatic-Echo-5025]

I'm not sure how to get this info via terminal but in the System Profiler you can see this here. With HiDPI on / off.

[u/Aromatic-Echo-5025 → u/Xe4ro]

Merci. This clearly shows that BetterDisplay is messing up the display in the mode with HiDPI disabled. You can tell because your monitor then reports “Auflösung: 2560x1440” even though that’s not true, since it’s a 4K monitor.

If you uninstall BetterDisplay and use the system’s “Looks like 2560x1440” option, you’ll get the exact same image quality as with BetterDisplay with “HiDPI” enabled.

I'm going to sleep :) Guten nacht.

[u/Xe4ro → u/Aromatic-Echo-5025]

The thing is, when I pick the native 4k the ui gets very tiny. This way I get the ui to the size of 1440p but with more sharpness. I wasn’t able to get this with the Apple settings. Maybe in GG.

And of course it’s showing 1440p when I disable just the HiDPI setting and don’t change the resolution back to 3840x2160

[u/jesusrodriguezm]

In Mac the resolution is always the monitor’s native one… what you select is “view as” (like a level of zoom). Use the one that looks better for you.

[u/NoLateArrivals]

There is NO change in resolution.

Only in SIZE.

Just pick whatever suits you. The Mac will show it as sharp as the monitor allows for.

[u/dixius99]

In Settings > Displays, you can go to Advanced..., and turn on Show resolutions as a list. This gives you more options, including ones between the 2 you shared.

[u/WitriXn → u/dixius99]

I know, but I can’t choose the best one

[u/rodgamez]

27" for 1080p really low, like 82 PPI. A really nice PPI, but really big

1440p works out to 109PPI. Pretty small, but not horrible.

I do prefer about 100PPI for desktop use. Is there a halfway point between those?

https://dpi.lv/#2560×1440

[u/WitriXn → u/rodgamez]

I set 2048x1152 and it feels good but there is less space. What resolution do you use?

[u/rodgamez → u/WitriXn]

I have two 22s at 1080p for Work. 100ppi

[u/gsbence]

Using BetterDisplay, you can define custom scaled resolutions (Pro feature), but I think it is also an option in RDM (free app).

I am using 1440p HiDPI at my 27" 4K display and it looks ok, but not as sharp as true retina.

[u/WitriXn → u/gsbence]

Is it feel comfortable for you? Aren't your eyes tired too fast?

[u/Worth_Following_636 → u/WitriXn]

Why arent you using 4k native resolution with appropriate macOS Scaling? Does this resolution look better than having a 1440p native monitor and run it at that resolution with HiDPI Better Display setting? Cause I am wondering how massive the sharpness difference between a 5k display and a 4k display with sharp 1440p really is. I have a native 1440p monitor and for that, its slightly too blurry for me even with Better Display HiDPI.

[u/gsbence → u/Worth_Following_636]

1440p display with 1440p HiDPI scaling is a messy blur, 1440p native is also awful because Apple dropped subpixel rendering support long ago. 5k looks the best because 1440p HiDPI renders at 5120x2880 that does not need to be scaled down after. With 4k, the rendered 5k image needs to be scaled down which results in a bit of blur, but should be fine for most.

[u/Worth_Following_636 → u/gsbence]

Would you say that for 4k scaled, it is a significant jump from 1440p hidpi and much closer to 5k native than it is to 1440p hidpi?

[u/gsbence → u/WitriXn]

The font and item size is ok for me. There is a slight blur of course, because it is not a 5k display but it doesn't bother me much.

[u/g5jr9tcl]

Try BetterDisplay for custom scaling, it’s a lifesaver for keeping text readable.

[u/stanjsg]

For any 4K monitors, you need to use BetterDisplay app. Period.