Anyone using an m1 with the LG32UN880?

[andrewstirling]

I’m thinking about moving on my 2014 27” iMac and just getting this display to use with my MacBook. I’ve been Googling and there’s lots of old info on external display problems.

Just wondered if these issues were now resolved via firmware or macOS updates. Are there any downsides in using this monitor and how does it compare to the 27” iMac.

I’m anxious about blurry text etc.

 

[0906742]

I’m thinking about moving on my 2014 27” iMac and just getting this display to use with my MacBook. I’ve been Googling and there’s lots of old info on external display problems.

Just wondered if these issues were now resolved via firmware or macOS updates. Are there any downsides in using this monitor and how does it compare to the 27” iMac.

I’m anxious about blurry text etc.

I have been using my 32UN880-B with my Mini M1 for almost 4 months and it is great! There was some glitch with rebooting in Big Sur where it lost monitor and required power off > on monitor to get picture again but that was resolved in Monterey. Some sleep issues seems to be with Monterey that did not happen in Big Sur so often but other than that this monitor is great for Mini M1. Also all the issues have been possible to solve with just powering off > on monitor, so I have never needed to unplug cables or similar to get it working again, so I don't consider these small issues severe. I have been using USB-C > USB-C all the time. Probably using just DP or HDMI you could avoid even those small issues. Also I'm not sure whether there is firmware update for the monitor maybe solving this issue and I have been too lazy to use USB-C with my Windows PC to be able to see if there is FW update available because MacOS program LG offers has practically no option for that.

As far as fonts, it is great as any 4K monitor with Big Sur and Monterey. As long as you use HiDPI resolutions (up to 3008x1692) fonts will be great. Native resolution (3840x2160) fonts are of course worse since then HiDPI is not in use but that is the same with every 4K monitor. Just avoid getting under 4K monitor where HiDPI is no longer supported in OS and you will be fine with fonts.

 

[andrewstirling]

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like I might be purchasing one of those soon. Just one quick question……won’t 3008 x 1692 be a scaled resolution? I would have thought this would have resulted in some drop in image quality.

 

[0906742]

Just one quick question……won’t 3008 x 1692 be a scaled resolution?

Of course it is, just like in any other monitor when running under native resolution.

I would have thought this would have resulted in some drop in image quality.

This is a tricky question when it comes to MacOS obviously. I thought so too when I first got my Mini M1 and that was exactly the reason I wanted to use my trusty old QHD / 2560x1440 monitor so that font size would still be large enough at native resolution - about 10 seconds later I for the first time powered it up learned the hard way IT WAS TERRIBLE. So what works in Windows the best does not apply here!!! So with 4K monitor or 5K monitor, it is exactly the same issue if you insist running it at panel native resolution (1:1 without scaling). So if you want decent fonts, you need to use either scaled non integer resolutions, so 2x like 1920x1080 in 4K panel and 2560x1440 in 5K panel.

Again, I'm using my 32UN880-B at 3008x1692 scaled resolution and it is just great.

 

[hovscorpion12]

Yes. This is my exact monitor I use with my M1 Mac Mini. It does have some wake delay but overall a great 4K monitor.

 

[andrewstirling]

It’s full 4k isn’t it rather than qhd?

 

[hovscorpion12]

Typo. LOL. Just edited.

Yes. LG 4K monitors are ??.

 

[0906742]

Yeah, 32UN880-B is 4K monitor. I honestly would not even consider anything less than 4K monitor for new MacOS because only then you get HiDPI support. Sure there are some tricks you can get HiDPI for QHD too but I tested that and I did not find it usable because you have to accept some way under 2560x1440 resolution for that to get fonts even remotely good looking, and testing full 2560x1440 mode in HiDPI did not make much difference. But even using native resolution fonts are surely readable and such, so if your only requirement is 1:1 graphics then that might be worth to consider. Myself I appreciate fonts a lot even I hate non 1:1 graphics in scaling mode and I find night and day difference between QHD and 4K monitor in MacOS. For Windows use either one is perfect. Also scaling in graphics use is not really noticeable unless you need pixel perfect 1:1 for some reason.

 

[andrewstirling]

Thanks. What was confusing me I think was I connected my m1 to my LG Oled via airplay to the Apple TV. All the scaled resolutions looked horrible. The only resolutions which looked sharp were 4k and 1080p which I understand is still being output at 4k if I select the non scaled version.

I’m guessing air playing via the Apple TV might not be a true representation though?

 

[0906742]

Thanks. What was confusing me I think was I connected my m1 to my LG Oled via airplay to the Apple TV. All the scaled resolutions looked horrible. The only resolutions which looked sharp were 4k and 1080p which I understand is still being output at 4k if I select the non scaled version.

I’m guessing air playing via the Apple TV might not be a true representation though?

I haven't tried that way, so not sure but I think it is the reason for what you saw.

Also when you plug display straight to Mac, it will always output display native resolution and scaling is done in Mac. So for example 4K monitor with 3008x1692 "looks like" desktop is output to display in 4K (but scaled in Mac to what ever you selected), so basically however good or bad internal scaling in display is, it does not affect picture sharpness since all the scaling is happening in Mac.

 

[mosylvestre]

Is there any performance problem when you use the monitor with scaled resolutions? It seems like half of the internet is complaining about Macs getting slow when they have to render scaled resolutions, but I am not sure how far this applies to a m1 Mac...

 

[0906742]

Is there any performance problem when you use the monitor with scaled resolutions? It seems like half of the internet is complaining about Macs getting slow when they have to render scaled resolutions, but I am not sure how far this applies to a m1 Mac...

I'm pretty sure complaints are about Intel based Macs. I haven't had any issue using scaled resolution with my 32UN880-B.

 

[mosylvestre]

I'm pretty sure complaints are about Intel based Macs. I haven't had any issue using scaled resolution with my 32UN880-B.

Thanks!

 

[andrewstirling]

Just got the monitor up and running and it seems to be working well. Also downloaded monitor control so I can use my Mac keyboard keys to control volume and brightness. Any tips with regards to settings, picture modes etc? I’m used to apple taking care of all that!

 

[0906742]

Just got the monitor up and running and it seems to be working well. Also downloaded monitor control so I can use my Mac keyboard keys to control volume and brightness. Any tips with regards to settings, picture modes etc? I’m used to apple taking care of all that!

Congratulations on your new monitor!

I'm using picture mode DCI-P3 and brightness 37 in monitor menu and Display P3 profile in MacOS Monitor menu. That gives pretty much the same look as my MBA M1 has but actually monitor setting for DCI-P3 is not using correct gamma (it gives darker more saturated colors correct for P3 cinema) and even Display P3 profile in MacOS is not really the right but it looks very good and colors and gray scale are pretty accurate using these settings. You could also use LG provided display profile if you like and it probably gives more accurate results and still seems to pass P3 colors based on webkit gamut test patterns.

Also you could use just sRGB setting in monitor and monitor profile but then no P3 colors of course and not "Mac like" picture but it gives very accurate sRGB colors.

BTW. Did you download some third party app to control volume and brightness?

 

[andrewstirling]

Thanks for that. I have been using dci-p3 on the monitor but have been using the lg profile on the Mac. Will try adjust that and see how it goes.

I downloaded monitor control for that keyboard buttons and it works a treat.

Edit: tried the p3 profile on the MacBook and I genuinely can’t see any difference compared to the LG. Seems like I had things set up very like your settings.

 

[bsmr]

Hi.

For me it’s quite confusing.

I do have an old 24“ 1920 x 1200 display and really need a new display.

Tried the LG and was struggling between 2560 x 1440 and 3008x1692

I do love the bigger text with 1440p, but with 3008x1692 it’s looks better at all.

What’s the best resolution to go for with the LG?

 

[andrewstirling]

I guess it’s down to personal preference. I’ve went for 3008 x 1692

 

[bsmr]

Thx for your feedback.

But from all the previous posts I’m not sure if 2560 x 1440 is a ‚good‘ resolution to use?? I am a little unsettled

 

[andrewstirling]

Any of the scaled resolutions which are indicated as ‘looks like’ are good resolutions to use. Essentially the Mac is still outputting them as 4K but it’s internally scaling them. You get smooth fonts on all of these options. I think 2560 x 1140 is more like the 27” iMac I had so I like it. But right now I’m liking the bigger canvas I get with 3008 x 1692. I might drop down if I’m working for longer periods and start to get eye strain. I’m 47 now so things are deteriorating a little in that department!

 

[bsmr]

Thx for the feedback.

So in general this is better than a resolution like 3.440 x 1.440 with 110PPI (34" Wide Screen)?

That would be native and sharp - but also big pixels on a desk? What would you prefer?

 

[0906742]

Thx for the feedback.

So in general this is better than a resolution like 3.440 x 1.440 with 110PPI (34" Wide Screen)?

That would be native and sharp - but also big pixels on a desk? What would you prefer?

Trust me, native and sharp does not work in MacOS! Surely that is a good choice for Windows but terrible for MacOS. I was shocked when I got my M1 Mini and connected it to my QHD (2560x144o) old monitor thinking fonts would look excellent like in Windows on my PC's connected to it - few seconds later after testing my Mini for the first time I was stunned why it looked like crap, actually worse than dog poop. After struggling with it for couple of months, I gave up and I bought 4k monitor (LG 32UN880-B) and using scaled resolution (3008 x 1692, also 2560x1440 is excellent too) I finally got fonts looking just like they do on real Apple machines with build in displays (identical to my MBA M1). I even tried tricking MacOS give me HiDPI resolution for QHD but it was only marginal improvement on full 2560x1440 looks like resolution.

 

[0906742]

I downloaded monitor control for that keyboard buttons and it works a treat.

OK. I change settings so rarely I did not bother. I tried however LG Onscreen Control for possibility to check if there is firmware update but it does not work on my M1 Mini. It only allows to split desktop but all other menu items disappear in few seconds after first time starting the app. Anyone got it working on Mac? That app should also allow changing monitor settings and picture modes but it does not work for me either.
I've been too lazy testing it on my Windows machine where it likely would work.

Edit: tried the p3 profile on the MacBook and I genuinely can’t see any difference compared to the LG. Seems like I had things set up very like your settings.

It is true that difference between the two profiles is small but it can be seen with certain test patterns or colors while flicking between the two profiles at the same time. Some colors are a little more muted on LG profile but all in all the difference is so small that if you just switch between them and use machine normally it would be almost impossible to tell the difference. It is just that some colors are a little more saturated in Display P3 profile but likely LG one is a little bit more accurate (you need a proper meter to measure difference). Each one however give natural gray scale very much identical to Apple build in displays.

 

[andrewstirling]

Monitor control can be found here:

GitHub - MonitorControl/MonitorControl: 🖥 Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. Use Apple Keyboard keys or custom shortcuts. Shows the native macOS OSDs.

🖥 Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. Use Apple Keyboard keys or custom shortcuts. Shows the native macOS OSDs. - MonitorControl/Moni...

github.com

It’s a tiny little programme that enables brightness and volume controls. I’d far rather stick with this than install some bloated manufacturers app. It’s really slick.

Anyway…thanks for the feedback. I’ve got the monitor set up how I like it so will just get on with enjoying it now.

 

[bsmr]

Trust me, native and sharp does not work in MacOS! ... using scaled resolution (3008 x 1692, also 2560x1440 is excellent too) I finally got fonts looking just like they do on real Apple machines with build in displays (identical to my MBA M1)... I even tried tricking MacOS give me HiDPI resolution for QHD but it was only marginal improvement on full 2560x1440 looks like resolution.

Did you also try https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDummy ?

And do you think, that the described LG32 4K display is far better than the 34" Wide screen with 3.440 x 1.440 |110PPI

Sorry for asking that much - but I cannot afford it to buy several displays to try it...