BetterDisplay Pro

[etaleb]

guys - I currently mistakenly bought a 2011 27" Thunderbolt that doesn't have a big enough font size at native resolution. At native 2560x1440, I'm constantly increasing font sizes on websites and on 2048x1152, it's too big and graphics are poor quality. I've been told if I change to 1920x1080 it'll make text blurry. I've played around with accessibility and increased font size too which helps in different windows and menu bars but not while browsing or spreadsheets, etc. Is this a use case for BetterDisplay Pro and if I buy it, what setting would you change? Would you keep it at native 2560x1440 and simply set UI scaling to 150% - or is it best to buy a new monitor for me and what kind? Thanks

Lastly, I have a Mac MIni M2 and only 8GB RAM - hopefully this program doesn't use more than 100mb - Thanks

 

[Bigwaff]

The Apple 27" TBD is native 2560x1440 resolution which is perfect match for macOS. How far away are you sitting from the display? About 2.5-3 feet is the sweet spot for this resolution. I have a TBD and it is bright and graphics and text are sharp. Perhaps the issue is the display, not software.

Edit: I am assuming you are connecting the TBD to the M2 Mini using Apple's TB3 > TB2 adapter?

 

[etaleb]

2ft away and he’s using the TB3 adaptor. I tried this software called better display and set flexible scaling to 88% and now I think I am reading better.

 

[ignatius345]

guys - I currently mistakenly bought a 2011 27" Thunderbolt that doesn't have a big enough font size at native resolution. At native 2560x1440, I'm constantly increasing font sizes on websites and on 2048x1152, it's too big and graphics are poor quality. I've been told if I change to 1920x1080 it'll make text blurry. I've played around with accessibility and increased font size too which helps in different windows and menu bars but not while browsing or spreadsheets, etc. Is this a use case for BetterDisplay Pro and if I buy it, what setting would you change? Would you keep it at native 2560x1440 and simply set UI scaling to 150% - or is it best to buy a new monitor for me and what kind? Thanks

You don't need the Pro version of BetterDisplay to just try out the different resolutions. I would download the non-Pro version and play around with it. There's a nice slider that changes the resolution, and you'll quickly find out what works best for you.

 

[etaleb]

Got it but after trial expires, I have to purchase right? It seems Flexible HiDPI scaling is a paid feature here

List of free and Pro features

Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more! - waydabber/BetterDisplay

github.com

 

[cmsj]

Hey folks

Is there anyone out there with a brand new M3 Ultra Mac Studio, and a Pro Display XDR? I would really love to know how far BetterDisplay is able to push the scaled resolution (ideally to 3840x2160). The M4 chips seem to have a weird limitation where they really don't want to go very high, presumably because they're all specced for multiple 6K displays and scaling to 3840x2160 makes it technically be an 8K display, and I'm really hoping the M3 Ultra is still able to do this like the lower M3s can.

Thanks!

 

[cmsj]

(The easy way to tell would be to see if BetterDisplay offers a HiDPI 3840x2160 mode, or if the scaling slider can go to 125%)

 

[xraydoc]

Since no one yet has one in hand (other than a few YouTube reviewers), I suspect it'll be another couple of weeks before you get a good answer...

 

[cmsj]

I managed to find someone on Reddit with M3 Ultra and an XDR and apparently it works!

 

[kikote]

Interesting - I have exactly this combination and it is not showing this resolution (HiDpi 3840x2160) out of the box in better display for the XDR display. I have posted a screenshot of better display...You can select it without HiDpi, but it looks like crap.
It seems that the XDRwill only work with HiDpi at that resolution if you create and use a virtual display in better display

 

[goodLuckWithYourUSBhub]

Is it just me or did BetterDisplay just completely torch the UI by making display resolution a ****ing SLIDER? Jesus christ. What's next, a range input for phone numbers?

 

[whwang]

Any other news about this? I just got my M3 ultra and Pro Display XDR. No 3840x2160 in the system setting and better display. The 3200 resolution is a bit too low for me.

 

[kikote]

Any other news about this? I just got my M3 ultra and Pro Display XDR. No 3840x2160 in the system setting and better display. The 3200 resolution is a bit too low for me.

You can get it working to 3840x2160. with better display.
You just have to go in better display to the options menu, choose theProDisplayXDR and enable flexible scaling.
After that you will be able to choose 3840x2160 in HiDpi

 

[whwang]

You can get it working to 3840x2160. with better display.

You just have to go in better display to the options menu, choose theProDisplayXDR and enable flexible scaling.
After that you will be able to choose 3840x2160 in HiDpi

hmm.... looks like it's a pro feature. That means I will have to purchase it before I know whether it really works.

OK. I will give it a try. Thanks.

 

[kikote]

hmm.... looks like it's a pro feature. That means I will have to purchase it before I know whether it really works.

OK. I will give it a try. Thanks.

I have been using it for some days now. Works flawlessly...
But it is too small for my eyers so I have chosen to go for a 106% scaling (3200x1800).
BetterDisplay is a great piece of software and worth the money it costs

 

[whwang]

I have been using it for some days now. Works flawlessly...
But it is too small for my eyers so I have chosen to go for a 106% scaling (3200x1800).
BetterDisplay is a great piece of software and worth the money it costs

Thank you for pointing that out to me. I upgraded to pro and have used it for a few days. I settled with 3360x1890 for the Pro Display XDR. At home, I have another 32" 4K monitor. I also use it at 3360x1890. (Interestingly, this one doesn't require BetterDisplay. MacOS provides this resolution.) I feel it's about right for my current eyesight and distance to the monitor.