Best MacOS 4K Monitor Size - 27", 28" or 32"

[hungryghosty]

I'm planning on buying a new 4K monitor to use with my Macbook Air and Windows Desktop PC. I'm trying to decide what size of monitor to purchase?

Any suggestions what size is best for image/text clarity. I'd likely be looking to run it at a scaled resolution (looks like ~1440p) as 4K native will be too small at 27-32".

For that purpose what monitor size would be best (27", 28" or 32")?

 

[PaulD-UK]

Apple has traditionally used the same visible pixel density across all desktop monitors, so if you have multiple monitors, windows don't change in size as you drag them from screen to screen.
This 218ppi means that for 1440p screens, like pre-2014 iMacs and the Thunderbolt Display, you had a 27" screen, Ana an apparent density of 109ppi - the same as the old 1440 Apple screens.

5K iMacs were 'retina' HiDPI 1440p with 5280x2880 pixel screens.

The XDR Pro Display was introduced, still 218ppi, so to be 6K it had to have a 32" screen.

A 4K screen, like the retina 21.5" iMac, still ~218ppi, has a 21.5" screen, and the 24" iMac is 4.5K.

So your proposed larger screen 4K monitor isn't going to have the Apple pin-sharp HiDPI performance that comes with Apple screens, when viewed at 1440p.

You take your pick as to which way you want to deviate from Apple's way of doing things.
A bigger screen further away from your eyes will give you acceptable sharpness, but bigger actual text/window size.
If you want to work closer to your monitor, then 27" will match Apple's text/windows size, but will not be as sharp as a 5K iMac was.

 

[hungryghosty]

Apple has traditionally used the same visible pixel density across all desktop monitors, so if you have multiple monitors, windows don't change in size as you drag them from screen to screen.

So your proposed larger screen 4K monitor isn't going to have the Apple pin-sharp HiDPI performance that comes with Apple screens, when viewed at 1440p.

I appreciate that it’s a compromise buying a 4k display however I need a monitor that works on both MacOS and Windows so I can’t purchase a monitor that only works with my Mac like the Apple studio display.

From talking to people on here most seem to feel that a 4k monitor scaled looks better in MacOS than a 27-32” 1440p display at native resolution? Would you agree with that sentiment?

In that context would a 28” or a 32” 4k display look better in MacOS? Or should I stick with a 27”/34” ultrawide 1440p monitor at native resolution?

 

[Fishrrman]

Depends on
- your eyes
and
- what resolution you want.

27" 4k (running at "looks like 1080p") works for me.

What I'd really like is 32" 5k (running at looks like 1440p), but no one makes a panel in that size/resolution combination).

 

[hungryghosty]

Depends on
- your eyes
and
- what resolution you want.

27" 4k (running at "looks like 1080p") works for me.

What I'd really like is 32" 5k (running at looks like 1440p), but no one makes a panel in that size/resolution combination).

Does the 4K 27" monitor look bad at "looks like 1440p" or do you just prefer the size of the text/etc at "looks like 1080p"?

 

[Fishrrman]

"Does the 4K 27" monitor look bad at "looks like 1440p" or do you just prefer the size of the text/etc at "looks like 1080p"?"

"Looks like 1440p" on a 27" display -- text is too small for my old eyes.

For this reason, the 5k iMac didn't appeal to me, as I wouldn't have used it at "retina resolution" (looks like 1440p).

I'm typing this on a MacBook Pro 14", and I don't even use this at "factory" resolution.
I use "one step larger"...

 

[gilby101]

Any suggestions what size is best for image/text clarity.

With a 4K monitor you will get best text clarity with 21.5" (but not looks like 1440p). It will steadily get worse as you go up in size.

You have to try different monitors - take your MBA to a shop and try them as none of the ones you suggest can be called best. A vote is not what you need.

 

[hungryghosty]

With a 4K monitor you will get best text clarity with 21.5" (but not looks like 1440p). It will steadily get worse as you go up in size.

You have to try different monitors - take your MBA to a shop and try them as none of the ones you suggest can be called best. A vote is not what you need.

That’s going to be a challenge as I don’t have any stores near me with a selection of computer monitors to try unfortunately so might be a case of having to order one based on feedback from this forum?

 

[Fishrrman]

27" with 4k resolution will be fine.
You'll just have to trust me on this.

Brand?
Dell
Samsung
LG
Viewsonic
Phillips
etc.

(go to amazon and check user reviews. PAY ATTENTION to the negative reviews as well as the favorable ones. To what issues were some folks objecting?)

 

[hungryghosty]

27" with 4k resolution will be fine.
You'll just have to trust me on this.

Brand?
Dell
Samsung
LG
Viewsonic
Phillips
etc.

(go to amazon and check user reviews. PAY ATTENTION to the negative reviews as well as the favorable ones. To what issues were some folks objecting?)

I guess the main issue some folk object to is the need to run a 27”+ 4k monitor at a scaled resolution and the text clarity not being sharp in MacOS as a result

 

[Fishrrman]

"I guess the main issue some folk object to is the need to run a 27”+ 4k monitor at a scaled resolution and the text clarity not being sharp in MacOS as a result"

Set the 4k display to "looks like 1080p".
Text will be scaled perfectly (as clear as it gets) and it won't put any "load" on the graphics processing.

If I'm not mistaken, this is the "default resolution" that the OS will choose when it detects a 4k display...

 

[hungryghosty]

"I guess the main issue some folk object to is the need to run a 27”+ 4k monitor at a scaled resolution and the text clarity not being sharp in MacOS as a result"

Set the 4k display to "looks like 1080p".
Text will be scaled perfectly (as clear as it gets) and it won't put any "load" on the graphics processing.

If I'm not mistaken, this is the "default resolution" that the OS will choose when it detects a 4k display...

That's the issue though in that a 27/28" 4K monitor running at "looks like 1080p" will be perfectly sharp but the text, fonts and other screen aspects will look quite large as you're running at the scale you'd normally have on a 1080p 24" monitor. On a 32" 4K monitor this would be even worse hence the need to run at “looks like 1440p”

 

[MikeDr206]

I have a 6k display (the Dell) running at the preferred ”looks like” resolution, and sadly with my aging eyes thinking of changing it to “looks like” 2560x1440.