LG Ultrafine 6K announced

[etc]

apple deciding to normalize scaling macOS to 220 ppi has become one of the most significant anti-user decisions for desktop

today, people that want 220 ppi are stuck purchasing monitors that are massively inferior in technology while the rest of the lcd-led monitor market continues to comes down in price.

This scaling changed in 2010 when Apple LED Cinema display with 110 PPI came out, so 15 years ago. PPI was lower (like 96) in previous display generation. And any WQHD 27" display has the same 110 PPI.

UI physical size hasn't changed on desktop screens since then, we just have 2x PPI now, except modern MBP for example - they got 270.

PS: XDR has 2560x1440 as lower resolution. It makes everything pretty blurry.

 

[MikeDr206]

Thank you. Which Mac do you have, and when you get a chance to check can you tell us the actual 2XXX resolution you are using? Also, do you get HiDPI resolution options between 3072x1728 and 6144x3456?

People with the M4 Mac mini are saying that with the Apple Studio Display 5K, they are missing the 3200x1800 resolution option. This is available with the M4 Pro and Mac Studio.

OK, I may have lied! Here are the ones I have, and I'm indeed running at 2560x1440. 3072x1728 is perfect pixel doubling, because the Dell has a slightly different resolution than the XDR.

These are all HiDPI resolutions.

I have a Mac Mini M2 Pro, with 19 GPU cores.

 

[EugW]

OK, I may have lied! Here are the ones I have, and I'm indeed running at 2560x1440. 3072x1728 is perfect pixel doubling, because the Dell has a slightly different resolution than the XDR.

These are all HiDPI resolutions.

View attachment 2470785

Oh, that's disappointing. I guess even with the third party screens if we want something in-between 2560x1440 and 3072x1728 (or 3008x1692), we'll have to use custom resolutions with third party software.

Is anyone in this thread using a third party app with the 6K XDR or Dell U3224KB for custom resolutions? If so, any glitches?

 

[v0lume4]

I’m seeing no bezel on that thing. Like, literally zero when zooming in on that photo. That is nuts.

 

[v0lume4]

OK, I may have lied! Here are the ones I have, and I'm indeed running at 2560x1440. 3072x1728 is perfect pixel doubling, because the Dell has a slightly different resolution than the XDR.

These are all HiDPI resolutions.

I have a Mac Mini M2 Pro, with 19 GPU cores.

View attachment 2470785

I watched a video last night that said that Macs don’t do well with some resolutions (I can’t remember exactly which ones but 1440p was one of them). How does 1440p look for you? Do you notice any weird blurriness?

 

[Chancha]

I watched a video last night that said that Macs don’t do well with some resolutions (I can’t remember exactly which ones but 1440p was one of them). How does 1440p look for you? Do you notice any weird blurriness?

Most of the videos on this topic have wrong assumptions / went to the wrong conclusion. It is not that macOS doesn't do well with some resolution, there are instead issues only when you want to use a certain non-integer scaling. 1440p is both the vintage Apple Cinema Display native res, and also the iMac 5K / ASD 5K native retina UI res, Macs do more than well with 1440p. But if you want 2560x1440 UI on a generic 27" 4k display, then you are using non-integer scaling, that's what those people are trying to say.

 

[EugW]

Most of the videos on this topic have wrong assumptions / went to the wrong conclusion. It is not that macOS doesn't do well with some resolution, there are instead issues only when you want to use a certain non-integer scaling. 1440p is both the vintage Apple Cinema Display native res, and also the iMac 5K / ASD 5K native retina UI res, Macs do more than well with 1440p. But if you want 2560x1440 UI on a generic 27" 4k display, then you are using non-integer scaling, that's what those people are trying to say.

macOS does not do well with 27” 1440p displays. Text quality is poor even with no scaling at all (1:1 rendering), because macOS no longer supports sub-pixel anti-aliasing.

Ironically, old versions of OS X look better than current macOS versions on 27” 1440p displays. IOW, if you want to use a vintage Apple display, then in terms of text quality, you are better off using a vintage version of OS X too.

BTW, IMO the 1440p setting looks significantly better on non-integer scaled 27” 4K displays than it does on 27” 1440p displays. If you’re wondering about my experience here, I own:

30” 2560x1600 Cinema HD Display (101 ppi)
27” 2560x1440 iMac (109 ppi)
27” 5120x2880 iMac (218 ppi)
28.2” 3840x2560 Huawei display (163 ppi - same ppi as 27” 4K)

 

[Chancha]

macOS does not do well with 27” 1440p displays. Text quality is poor even with no scaling at all (1:1 rendering), because macOS no longer supports sub-pixel anti-aliasing.

Ironically, old versions of OS X look better than current macOS versions on 27” 1440p displays. IOW, if you want to use a vintage Apple display, then in terms of text quality, you are better off using a vintage version of OS X too.

BTW, IMO the 1440p setting looks significantly better on non-integer scaled 27” 4K displays than it does on 27” 1440p displays. If you’re wondering about my experience here, I own:

30” 2560x1600 Cinema HD Display (101 ppi)
27” 2560x1440 iMac (109 ppi)
27” 5120x2880 iMac (218 ppi)
28.2” 3840x2560 Huawei display (163 ppi - same ppi as 27” 4K)

In that case, Macs doesn't just handle text that way with 1440p, but it has issues with any 1:1, "LoDPI" output.

Again, it is important to note none of the issues is exclusive to a certain resolution.

 

[bushman4]

Don’t expect LGs 6K monitor to be cheap
LG makes a good product that’s why Apple uses them for different parts
LG = QUALITY

 

[Algr]

apple deciding to normalize scaling macOS to 220 ppi has become one of the most significant anti-user decisions for desktop

Yes. They did this to make things difficult for anyone who doesn't buy overpriced Apple monitors.

 

[MikeDr206]

I watched a video last night that said that Macs don’t do well with some resolutions (I can’t remember exactly which ones but 1440p was one of them). How does 1440p look for you? Do you notice any weird blurriness?

None at all. It’s no different than non-integer scaling on a MBA or MBP (and I couldn’t even tell you what the integer doubling resolution of those are).

I think the issue is incredibly overblown. 1440p on a 1440p display on Mac looks awful by comparison.

 

[MikeDr206]

Most of the videos on this topic have wrong assumptions / went to the wrong conclusion. It is not that macOS doesn't do well with some resolution, there are instead issues only when you want to use a certain non-integer scaling. 1440p is both the vintage Apple Cinema Display native res, and also the iMac 5K / ASD 5K native retina UI res, Macs do more than well with 1440p. But if you want 2560x1440 UI on a generic 27" 4k display, then you are using non-integer scaling, that's what those people are trying to say.

I disagree with that. On another display that’s 4k I do 1440p resolution and think it’s fine. Native resolution on a 1440p resolution is awful.

 

[bear_in_mind]

You can get a rough idea. It's 218 ppi and has a thin bezel.

LG also manufactures 6016 x 3384 and 6144 x 3456 218 ppi panels for Apple and Dell respectively, so it's likely to be one of these two panels.

So the screen is probably about 27.6-28.2 inches by 15.5-15.9 inches. Add perhaps about 1/8" of bezel around the perimeter.

I'm guessing it's 6016x3384 since that's what both Apple and Asus use, so total dimensions of the screen with bezel would be roughly about 28"x16". Note that the Apple Pro Display XDR is 28.3"x16.2".

Here's hoping your guess about it running natively at Apple's 6016x3384 resolution is correct!

 

[OkC-Imagination-8580]

How am i supposed to set the HIDI for the fonts?

 

[Chancha]

I disagree with that. On another display that’s 4k I do 1440p resolution and think it’s fine. Native resolution on a 1440p resolution is awful.

Again, if we are talking about 1:1 text blurriness, it has nothing exclusive to do with that screen being 1440p native, but about macOS handling text on lower DPI screens while doing 1:1 output. Try it, on your 4k screen, output 3840x2160 1:1, you can see similar text blurriness (UI is much smaller notwithstanding)

My original point is to say, again, the macOS issues are compounded for certain resolution + screen size combos, it does not mean only one or few resolution suffers from it. Therefore broad statements like "Macs don’t do well with some resolutions like 1440p" without specifics is just not correct. In fact your reply confirms that, 1440p *UI* works well on your 4k screen, for you.

 

[Lava Lamp Freak]

I believe this is the first picture showing the back of the monitor.

Source: https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/lg-ultrafine-6k-monitor32u990a/701718

 

[iSandrotto]

I believe this is the first picture showing the back of the monitor.

Source: https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/lg-ultrafine-6k-monitor32u990a/701718

Thanks for sharing! Wonder if the will offer a range of colors other than silver/blue.
I went with the 27” Studio Display and will use that until a 32” display from Apple will be released. Either a larger Studio Display 2 or the Pro Display XDR 2.

 

[EugW]

I believe this is the first picture showing the back of the monitor.

Source: https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/lg-ultrafine-6k-monitor32u990a/701718

Looks decent. I wonder when we'll get pricing and a release date.

 

[colodane]

Is it just me, or does this thing look like it could easily tip over backwards?

 

[EugW]

Is it just me, or does this thing look like it could easily tip over backwards?

Probably not that easy, since the centre of gravity is forward.

 

[Chancha]

Probably not that easy, since the centre of gravity is forward.

Yea displays are typically *very* front heavy, especially if it uses glass.

 

[seggy]

Is it just me, or does this thing look like it could easily tip over backwards?

no, but it is probably quite easy to tip sideways

 

[Pezimak]

I believe this is the first picture showing the back of the monitor.

Source: https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/lg-ultrafine-6k-monitor32u990a/701718

Oh thank God it's got more than just Thunderbolt ports on it. Right this IS going to be my new monitor. Just need the price now.....

Anyone want to guess? 2k or more! Think I’ve got it set in my head now how I will change my setup. This monitor will the centre piece.

 

[etc]

Oh thank God it's got more than just Thunderbolt ports on it. Right this IS going to be my new monitor. Just need the price now.....

Anyone want to guess? 2k or more! Think I’ve got it set in my head now how I will change my setup. This monitor will the centre piece.

2k is for Studio Display. I guess this one will be around 3.5k

 

[Pezimak]

2k is for Studio Display. I guess this one will be around 3.5k

Why would it cost more then the Studio display? It isn’t Apple after all. I think looking at the Dell which uses the same panel it’ll be around 2500, I hope. Otherwise it’ll be a lot of saving for me lol.