4k vs 2k monitor for M1 MacBook Air?

[helloapple1]

I ordered a 28in 4K monitor (3840×2160) for my M1 Air but after researching realized that I probably should have gone for a 27in 2K monitor (2560×1440) since I'm mostly working with text and office work in general.

I read that the 4K monitor will show small windows/text unless I use the scaling feature. I'm thinking of returning it and getting a 2K monitor instead.

This is the 28in 4K monitor I bought: https://www.staples.ca/products/297...onitor-with-amd-freesync-technology-lu28r550u

And this is the 27in 2K monitor I'm thinking of getting if I return the 4K one: https://www.dell.com/en-ca/shop/dell-27-monitor-s2721d/apd/210-axko/monitors-monitor-accessories

What are everyone's thoughts on? Is this a good idea to get the 2K one instead?

I don't know a whole lot about this so I really appreciate any help.

 

[casperes1996]

What, no! Keep the 4K monitor. Especially if you mostly work with text, it’s going to be horrible on your eyes to use 2.5K at 27” compared to 4K.

Just use an @2x scaling factor and it’ll be the same size content on screen as the 2.5K (normalized for display size) but at much much much higher quality. At 2.5K you’ll see the pixels and you won’t see text, you’ll see dots representing text. At 4K@2x the dots just become text

If you’re using an iPhone or iPad or Apple Watch, you’re already using either an @2x or @3x scaling factor on those devices. It’s the recommended for hi-DPI displays

 

[Amethyst1]

I read that the 4K monitor will show small windows/text unless I use the scaling feature.

Correct. You'll be using scaling anyway, but even at non-integer scaling (when using the e.g. "looks like 2560x1440" setting instead of the default "looks like 1920x1080") it'll still look somewhat better than a native 2560x1440 monitor. I speak from experience.

 

[Kenjutsuz]

Correct. You'll be using scaling anyway, but even at non-integer scaling (when using the e.g. "looks like 2560x1440" setting instead of the default "looks like 1920x1080") it'll still look somewhat better than a native 2560x1440 monitor. I speak from experience.

I am also looking at Samsung monitors for recent M1 mini I have yet to receive. I looked at a recent post on MacRumours on monitors that seem to work. Decisions/Decisions = Headache.

 

[helloapple1]

What, no! Keep the 4K monitor. Especially if you mostly work with text, it’s going to be horrible on your eyes to use 2.5K at 27” compared to 4K.

Just use an @2x scaling factor and it’ll be the same size content on screen as the 2.5K (normalized for display size) but at much much much higher quality. At 2.5K you’ll see the pixels and you won’t see text, you’ll see dots representing text. At 4K@2x the dots just become text

If you’re using an iPhone or iPad or Apple Watch, you’re already using either an @2x or @3x scaling factor on those devices. It’s the recommended for hi-DPI displays

Thanks for helping me make a better decision. Seems like the 4K is that better option, but I was wondering would the 4K be more GPU intensive on the M1 Macbook? Would is decrease performance of the computer pushing those extra pixels compared to the 2.5K monitor?

Correct. You'll be using scaling anyway, but even at non-integer scaling (when using the e.g. "looks like 2560x1440" setting instead of the default "looks like 1920x1080") it'll still look somewhat better than a native 2560x1440 monitor. I speak from experience.

Thanks for reassuring me. Do you find it’s more intensive on your GPU pushing out the 4K pixels?

 

[Amethyst1]

Do you find it’s more intensive on your GPU pushing out the 4K pixels?

Yes, but my GPUs aren't quite as powerful as the M1's. I also run one 5K and two 4K monitors rather than just a single 4K, so that's a lot of pixels to push.

would the 4K be more GPU intensive on the M1 Macbook? Would is decrease performance of the computer pushing those extra pixels compared to the 2.5K monitor?

It would be more GPU-intensive, yes, but the M1's GPU should be able to handle that with ease. Non-integer scaling additionally hits GPUs but from what I've seen, you should be fine on the M1.

 

[casperes1996]

Yeah as Amethyst1 says, it is more GPU intense, but it's not too much especially not if you're not doing high intensity games

 

[helloapple1]

Thank you for this information. I'm going to keep the 4K monitor thanks to everyone's advice.

It has two ports: HDMI and Displayport. What would you recommend to connect by for best quality?

 

[Amethyst1]

It has two ports: HDMI and Displayport. What would you recommend to connect by for best quality?

Displayport. Less troublesome.

 

[casperes1996]

Displayport. Less troublesome.

What makes you say that?
As soon as both connectors are of a high enough version of their respective standards, and the cable is too, both can deliver full quality

 

[Amethyst1]

What makes you say that?

This for instance, and also the fact that macOS sometimes defaults to YPbPr instead of RGB output via HDMI. And EDID overrides to correct this seem to no longer work on M1.

Besides, a M1 MacBook Air has native DisplayPort 1.4 output (via Thunderbolt 3). Using HDMI would require an active converter - why go through all that hassle just to use an inferior connection?

 

[casperes1996]

This for instance, and also the fact that macOS sometimes defaults to YPbPr instead of RGB output via HDMI. And EDID overrides to correct this seem to no longer work on M1.

OK then, yep, those are good points