Quick question about brightness

[Glmnet1]

Apple advertises brighter screens on their MBP and iMacs, which is great, especially when using them in bright locations, but I was wondering how does the minimum brightness compare to the older screens? When I'm in the dark, even my old MBP seems already too bright for my eyes.

Sorry if it's already been asked, I couldn't find anything about this and I can't really see what I'm looking for in an Apple store either. Thank you!

 

[casperes1996]

As far as I'm aware, they change the curve for brightness mostly in the top end, so the minimum brightness should be pretty much the same

 

[plm2]

I've a 2007 which isn't working at all now, but my impression is of a noticeably larger step between lowest & off… enough that I can work on lowest in a low lit room adjacent to a window at 3-4 PM on a dim day in NH.

It was a pain at first, but I've mostly got used to it; and it's a case of having to… short of seeing if a fiddle with color profiles helps any.

**edit** this being a 2016 13" NTB

 

[casperes1996]

I've a 2007 which isn't working at all now, but my impression is of a noticeably larger step between lowest & off… enough that I can work on lowest in a low lit room adjacent to a window at 3-4 PM on a dim day in NH.

When you go up from off, do you go a full bar of brightness or 25%? If a full bar, here's a tip for you

Holding down both option and shift whilst changing brightness or volume changes it in smaller increments

 

[Glmnet1]

I've a 2007 which isn't working at all now, but my impression is of a noticeably larger step between lowest & off… enough that I can work on lowest in a low lit room adjacent to a window at 3-4 PM on a dim day in NH.

That's quite specific! Thank you for the information.

When you go up from off, do you go a full bar of brightness or 25%? If a full bar, here's a tip for you

Holding down both option and shift whilst changing brightness or volume changes it in smaller increments

Does this really work on the new ones? I read about it somewhere and tried it on mine, it worked but not on the first bar, exactly where that would have been useful...

 

[casperes1996]

Does this really work on the new ones? I read about it somewhere and tried it on mine, it worked but not on the first bar, exactly where that would have been useful...

Weird it didn't work for you on the first bar. I have not actually tested it on a MacBook Pro from 2016 or 2017 (obviously the Touch Bar ones are a different case entirely as your finger's precision is what matters), but I have tested it on a 2017 iMac where it worked. Also works perfectly on my 2014 iMac and rMBP. For both the top and bottom ends of the spectrum

 

[plm2]

An excellent tip, although as Glmnet1 mentions; for the lowest segment, it has no effect here beyond altering the on-screen brightness indicator. Display brightness does not reflect that change.

I bought the 2007 used in 2009. Certainly the maximum brightness got less & less over the years, but the lowest was never as bright as this newer one. Being able to use the computer in sunlight or outdoors has been of greater use than the minor annoyance in dim light.

 

[casperes1996]

Again, it at least does affect my iMac, but I acknowledge that it may not have an effect on all Mac models 🙂