MacBook Pro 16 Max Native Resolution

[Hazmat401]

Can someone explain to me why the the 16" MacBook Pro max native resolution is 2048 x 1280 instead of the 3072x1920:

EDIT-UNSURE HOW I MADE TWO THREADS

 

[LoganT]

What does it say when you click “Default for Display?”

 

[Hazmat401]

What does it say when you click “Default for Display?”

The default is an abysmal 1792 X 1120

 

[wlossw]

Can someone explain to me why the 16" MacBook Pro max native resolution is 2048 x 1280 instead of the 3072 x 1920:
View attachment 877619

Because all the resolutions offered are scaled, it had been that way ever since retina was introduced. The pixels on the screen are always 3072 x 1920, they use rendering tricks to make the panel appear as different resolutions. There are utilities you can install to force native resolution, but you probably won’t enjoy the size of the text and icons.

you may want to read this:

How the Retina Display MacBook Pro Handles Scaling

www.anandtech.com

 

[poorcody]

The default is an abysmal 1792 X 1120

That's actually interesting, because the tech page for the laptop says it has the same resolutions as the 15":
https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-16/specs/

Retina display

16‑inch (diagonal) LED‑backlit display with IPS technology; 3072‑by‑1920 native resolution at 226 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
Supported scaled resolutions:

• 1920 by 1200
• 1680 by 1050
• 1280 by 800
• 1024 by 640

500 nits brightness
Wide color (P3)
True Tone technology
Refresh rates: 47.95Hz, 48.00Hz, 50.00Hz, 59.94Hz, 60.00Hz

 

[casperes1996]

Because 3072x1920 without scaling would be unusably tiny I would guess?

On the iMacs you can option-click the scaled button to get more options. Maybe that's available on the 16"

 

[LoganT]

I think I might’ve figured it out. 2048*1.5 is 3072 and 1280*1.5 is 1920. I’m not smart enough to figure this out but I think what it’s saying is you can fit as much as a 2048x1280 screen but it’s going to look a lot better because it’s been upscaled 1.5*. I think I might be in the ballpark but I’m not sure. I think if you want to run it at the native 3072x1920 you’ll leave to use a third party application to do it but your icons will be really small.

This should help you. https://thnkdev.com/QuickRes/

 

[Hazmat401]

I see what you guys mean... I just tested it on the Easyres app. I'm blessed with more than perfect eye sight but 3072 x 1920 is a little hard on the eyes

 

[Appledoesnotlisten]

I am running my on 4096x2560 now

 

[applesed]

Or SwitchresX

 

[Sanpete]

That's the max *scaled* resolution. The native resolution isn't scaled.

 

[woollers]

Just reading this and I'm having the same issue. I'm assuming you're running BigSur? I've had my MBPro16 since March and the resolution options are all there under Catalina, gone from BigSur. I can only imagine Apple removed it as part of the UI overhaul. I spent considerable time with the on support yesterday without resolution (no pun intended) to the issue.

Also - since BigSur - everything runs like crap. Warcraft Retail too went from a ****** 30fps down to a ******** 12fps..

 

[petvas]

I am using the 2x resolution, which provides less space, but renders everything much sharper. When I need the extra space, I just switch the resolution temporarily to a setting that gives me more space.
I find that the performance penalty of not using a 2x scaling is too much. Scrolling is not smooth and there are stutters. With 2x scaling everything is much better.

 

[casperes1996]

I am using the 2x resolution, which provides less space, but renders everything much sharper. When I need the extra space, I just switch the resolution temporarily to a setting that gives me more space.
I find that the performance penalty of not using a 2x scaling is too much. Scrolling is not smooth and there are stutters. With 2x scaling everything is much better.

Really? That’s interesting cause I have a 2014 15” MBP and I’ve literally never noticed the performance difference. I find it so minimal that it is insignificant in all concerns. The improved sharpness of a integer scaling factor is the biggest draw to me of 2x scaling, but things just feel to crammed for me, so I prefer the 1680x1050 option

 

[petvas]

Really? That’s interesting cause I have a 2014 15” MBP and I’ve literally never noticed the performance difference. I find it so minimal that it is insignificant in all concerns. The improved sharpness of a integer scaling factor is the biggest draw to me of 2x scaling, but things just feel to crammed for me, so I prefer the 1680x1050 option

I have been using the default setting for at least 8 months and especially in Safari scrolling is not smooth. The old standard setting of 2x provides much sharper text, better scrolling and a smooth experience. Add to that the improved battery life too.
The caveat is of course the loss of desktop real estate, but this can be compensated in a variety of ways:
* Change the font size in Safari by using Cmd and - to adjust zoom
* Adjust zoom size in the app you are using
* Make the dock auto disappear, so that apps can use more space
* Reduce text size in preferences for side bars
* Use full screen mode when working on just one app

Of course the default setting will still give you more space to work with, but it is a shame to use it when knowing that the Macbook can display everything much sharper. It is now difficult to go back to any other setting.
I would also suggest to increase the available resolution when is really required, when you need to work with more space. For my kind of work this happens rarely..

I would like to see Apple increasing the native resolution of the display, so that we can use 1650x1050 with 2x scaling..

 

[Appledoesnotlisten]

I am running my on 4096x2560 now

Help needed!
I just bought a 2021 16" MBP and it only allows me to run at 3456x2234, which is like 15% lower than the 4096x2560 that 2019 16" allowed. I suspect it's because of the notch. The GPU is 4 times faster, the display has a HIGHER PPI, but the resolution is lower - does not make sense.

Can anybody help me setup a higher resolution on this better screen?

Thanks!

 

[casperes1996]

Help needed!
I just bought a 2021 16" MBP and it only allows me to run at 3456x2160, which is like 15% lower than the 4096x2560 that 2019 16" allowed. I suspect it's because of the notch. The GPU is 4 times faster, the display has a HIGHER PPI, but the resolution is lower - does not make sense.

Can anybody help me setup a higher resolution on this better screen?

Thanks!

That resolution is the native resolution of the display (minus the notch area, which I guess is just not included in the numbers). The laptop has a resolution of: 3456 x 2234

The old 16" had a native resolution of 3072 x 1920

 

[Appledoesnotlisten]

That resolution is the native resolution of the display (minus the notch area, which I guess is just not included in the numbers). The laptop has a resolution of: 3456 x 2234

The old 16" had a native resolution of 3072 x 1920

The old 16" was running at up to 4096x2560 with SwitchResX.
I am not getting why the 2021 16" can do only 3456x2160.
Even the 15" was generous enough to give me 3840x2400.

So the 2021 16" is the outsider despite having the best hardware: 4096x2560 (Old 16") > 3840x2400 (Old 15") > 3456x2160 (New 15").

 

[Sanpete]

The 2019 16" comes from the factory with 3072x1920 physical pixels, and there's no way to add more. I wonder what SwitchResX is doing when it reports more than that.

 

[Appledoesnotlisten]

The 2019 16" comes from the factory with 3072x2234 physical pixels, and there's no way to add more. I wonder what SwitchResX is doing when it reports more than that.

SwithResX does not just report, it actually gives you 33% more screen real estate.

 

[Sanpete]

You mean it makes everything smaller, as if the screen were larger than it is. There are other ways to do that with many programs, but I suppose that's a way to do it with all of them.

 

[Appledoesnotlisten]

You mean it makes everything smaller, as if the screen were larger than it is. There are other ways to do that with many programs, but I suppose that's a way to do it with all of them.

Tell us about those other ways and receive many kudos from us!

 

[jungleghost]

Help needed!
I just bought a 2021 16" MBP and it only allows me to run at 3456x2234, which is like 15% lower than the 4096x2560 that 2019 16" allowed. I suspect it's because of the notch. The GPU is 4 times faster, the display has a HIGHER PPI, but the resolution is lower - does not make sense.

Can anybody help me setup a higher resolution on this better screen?

Thanks!

Can you take a picture of the display scalling options?

 

[Appledoesnotlisten]

 

[Sanpete]

Tell us about those other ways and receive many kudos from us!

Ha, nothing special. Browsers, for example, allow you to shrink the size of what's displayed in a tab (Zoom Out in Safari), and you can make the windows whatever size you want. Many programs give you some control like that. But many don't.