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hajime

macrumors G3
Original poster
Jul 23, 2007
8,087
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Hi, on the product specs 3456x2234 is listed as the machine's native resolutions. How do I get that resolution set on the laptop's screen? Under Display->Scale, the default resolution 1728x1117 is selected. When I checked the next option on the right (expand space), the maximum resolutions is 2056x1329. Shouldn't the default resolution be 3456x2234? Unlike previous generations, choosing Scale while pressing the Option key does not list additional resolutions.
 
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Hi, on the product specs 3456x2234 is listed as the machine's native resolutions. How do I get that resolution set on the laptop's screen? Under Display's size adjustment, the default resolution 1728x1117 is selected. When I checked the next option on the right (expand space), the resolutions is 2056x1329. Shouldn't the default resolution be 3456x2234?

No, it won't display native resolutions, the whole point of retina was moving beyond a straight resolution into HiDPI for higher visual fidelity. The natural retina resolution is the pixel doubled HiDPI of 1728 x 1117 - the others are interpolations beneath or above it.

Back in the day you could use a tool like SwitchResX to configure just about any resolution you wanted, including native, but at such a high DPI, esp. these latest machines, visually elements would be incredibly small and hard to see.
 
Another way to look at it, the OS is always utilizing the full resolution. If you look at photos and video, plus other content, no matter what scaling options you pick, low or high, the detail is all there as if running full native.

For the internal screen, display settings and scale more or less help determine the size you want the OS interface, icons and apps, for usability and create razer sharp interfaces where pixels disappear. For example, if you open Photoshop and make a new image 100pixels by 100pixels, at 100% zoom, it should be small, using that exact amount of pixels of the screen.

Windows laptops also come default with UI scaling for internal high-res screens, but they let you turn it off if you need to.

Only time this all might not be true is running a game full-screen and choosing native or lower resolutions within the game, then content actually match the chosen resolution, and the internal hardware or OS will just upscale it to fill the screen.

I wish my external 38" display, 3840x1600, was actually double the resolution, that way pixels disappear, text looks sharp as printed text, but set the scaling so everything appears the same size as if it was 3840x1600.
 
By setting it at 1728x1117 you are getting all the sharpness and detail the screen can deliver; you are not getting "cheated" on anything.
Whether I set my 5k iMac to 2560x1440 or 5120x2880 (the native screen resolution), everything is displayed with exactly the same detail and sharpness.
 
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Hi, on the product specs 3456x2234 is listed as the machine's native resolutions. How do I get that resolution set on the laptop's screen? Under Display->Scale, the default resolution 1728x1117 is selected. When I checked the next option on the right (expand space), the maximum resolutions is 2056x1329. Shouldn't the default resolution be 3456x2234? Unlike previous generations, choosing Scale while pressing the Option key does not list additional resolutions.
Not sure if it is an option for the new MBPs but I use an program called RDM (Retina DisplayMenu) and it lets you pick specific resolutions. I'm currently using the one from avibrazil.
 
Another way to look at it, the OS is always utilizing the full resolution. If you look at photos and video, plus other content, no matter what scaling options you pick, low or high, the detail is all there as if running full native.

For the internal screen, display settings and scale more or less help determine the size you want the OS interface, icons and apps, for usability and create razer sharp interfaces where pixels disappear. For example, if you open Photoshop and make a new image 100pixels by 100pixels, at 100% zoom, it should be small, using that exact amount of pixels of the screen.

Windows laptops also come default with UI scaling for internal high-res screens, but they let you turn it off if you need to.

Only time this all might not be true is running a game full-screen and choosing native or lower resolutions within the game, then content actually match the chosen resolution, and the internal hardware or OS will just upscale it to fill the screen.

I wish my external 38" display, 3840x1600, was actually double the resolution, that way pixels disappear, text looks sharp as printed text, but set the scaling so everything appears the same size as if it was 3840x1600.
Hey, you seem to know what you're talking about. None of this makes any sense to me. Maybe you can help explain something.

I just upgraded to a m1 16 inch mbp from a 2013 16 inch mbp.

The default setting this thing came set to was:
  • "looks like 1728 x 1117".

With that setting on. . . a webpage with text set to a 14px font-size. . . is rendered. . . smaller than 14px font-size

Q1:
Am I correct there?

Q2:
When did this happen? It's total anarchy.

Q3:

What is the point of having a higher resolution screen if they just make everything smaller with the increased pixel density / whatever the heck the new screens have?

Q4:

Has the definition of "higher-resolution" changed?

Doesn't it mean: "view a webpage with 14px text. . . at the same size, but with much more clarity and sharpness?"


I'm going crazy dude.





Like technically speaking, my old
 
Here are the options with RDM on a 16" MBP Max
 

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the High DPI or lightning bolt version. depending on which build you grab. the git hub is probably the newest. but if you want to use "every pixel" you want the 3456 x 2234.
 
Thanks so much man.

Just to verify I'm not insane:

The default display setting that comes on the 16 m1 mbp indeed does make the text on all webpages "smaller" than the actual size each webpage's .css file specifies the text to be rendered at. . .

Right?

EG, in a way, you could say apple is "disregarding" every css file on every website in existence?
 
the High DPI or lightning bolt version. depending on which build you grab. the git hub is probably the newest. but if you want to use "every pixel" you want the 3456 x 2234.

In Windows, we can adjust the font size independently from the resolutions. Under Mac OS, we still cannot do it?
 
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