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Which resolution do you use on your 13" rMBP?

Which resolution do you use on your 13" rMBP?

  • Default (1280x800)

    Votes: 20 58.8%

  • 1440x900

    Votes: 7 20.6%

  • 1680x1050

    Votes: 7 20.6%
  • Total voters
    34
JerTheGeek

JerTheGeek

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 15, 2014
1,993
487
Hello all,
So last week I upgraded from a 13" MBA to a 2015 13" rMBP. I love it, especially the screen which I still am not over. Really is amazing. Anyway, I've been switching back and forth between the default resolution and the 1440x900 resolution. One looks super sharp and the other provides more real estate. I was just curious what other rMBP owners use for their everyday screen resolution.
 
The default is so much more crisp. Before I got a 4k monitor I would use 1440 x 900 but it bothered me how it wasn't as sharp as 1280 x 800.
 
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Reactions: Krissee
BenTrovato said:
The default is so much more crisp. Before I got a 4k monitor I would use 1440 x 900 but it bothered me how it wasn't as sharp as 1280 x 800.
Click to expand...
I notice it too. I think I'll be sticking with default for most stuff except video editing, then the 1440p is better.
 
I can't deal with anything other than default. Text is just night and day blurrier in any mode other than default. IMO, if you want more real estate - get an external monitor, 15", or desktop.
 
Coming from a MacBook Air, the 1440x900 seemed like it would be better for me, but the crispness is significantly better on default, that's for sure.
 
I run my 2012 at 1680x1050. I do notice that it is not quite as tack sharp as the default, but it is still incredibly sharp and gives so much more real estate to work with.
 
Wait I'm confused. Doesn't the retina MacBook Pro 13" have a 2560x1600 display? Does OS X not run at that resolution or something? I've never used OS X extensively but I'd LOVE to get a 13" rMBP for my next computer (whenever it is refreshed...) but this is making me nervous. I've been drooling over the 2560x1600 resolution and how crisp it must look. I've heard something about how it's scaled and blurry from my friend so I'm nervous.
 
XTheLancerX said:
Wait I'm confused. Doesn't the retina MacBook Pro 13" have a 2560x1600 display? Does OS X not run at that resolution or something? I've never used OS X extensively but I'd LOVE to get a 13" rMBP for my next computer (whenever it is refreshed...) but this is making me nervous. I've been drooling over the 2560x1600 resolution and how crisp it must look. I've heard something about how it's scaled and blurry from my friend so I'm nervous.
Click to expand...
It does have a resolution of 2560x1600. However, OS X runs at a "looks-like" resolution of 1280x800 by default. So, basically it fits the same amount of content as a 13" cMBP but everything is crisp and sharp because its twice the pixels. You can use third party utilities to actually use the full 2560x1600 resolution, but everything would likely be super tiny and would probably be hard on the eyes. OS X supports scaling of 1440x900 and 1680x1050, so you can use those also, but it doesn't look as crisp at those resolutions; however, it does give you more screen real estate to work with.
 
JerTheGeek said:
It does have a resolution of 2560x1600. However, OS X runs at a "looks-like" resolution of 1280x800 by default. So, basically it fits the same amount of content as a 13" cMBP but everything is crisp and sharp because its twice the pixels. You can use third party utilities to actually use the full 2560x1600 resolution, but everything would likely be super tiny and would probably be hard on the eyes. OS X supports scaling of 1440x900 and 1680x1050, so you can use those also, but it doesn't look as crisp at those resolutions; however, it does give you more screen real estate to work with.
Click to expand...
Oh, that's kind of annoying, I've got to say. I doubt it's much of an actual issue, though. Next time I go to an Apple Store I will mess with this to see how I feel about it after seeing it in person. I can see myself being a freak about how crisp it would look at the default resolution even though I get less room, but we'll see. I will be sure to bring my glasses so I get a real idea about how it looks in the different resolutions :p
 
XTheLancerX said:
Oh, that's kind of annoying, I've got to say. I doubt it's much of an actual issue, though. Next time I go to an Apple Store I will mess with this to see how I feel about it after seeing it in person. I can see myself being a freak about how crisp it would look at the default resolution even though I get less room, but we'll see. I will be sure to bring my glasses so I get a real idea about how it looks in the different resolutions :p
Click to expand...
Have to say I'm kinda the same way, like i kinda want to use the 1440p, but the default does look crisper, and despite having less space I still find myself using it most. At least i can always switch back and forth when I need more space.
 
JerTheGeek said:
Have to say I'm kinda the same way, like i kinda want to use the 1440p, but the default does look crisper, and despite having less space I still find myself using it most. At least i can always switch back and forth when I need more space.
Click to expand...
Yeah flexibility is definitely good. Glad that Apple offers that moreso in OS X unlike iOS..
 
I had to switch to 1440x900 today cause for whatever weird reason it can't run iTunes and notes side by side in full split screen, and i needed it for work, so I changed it and am pretty happy. It's really nice to have the space and i dont really notice the sharpness difference, which is kinda negligible i think
 
I always use native Best for Retina 1280x800 HiDPI. It sometimes feels a little small like when using Photoshop, but even then I don't bother to change it.
 
Anyone turn font smoothing off? Does it make the scaled resolutions a bit better do you think? I turned it off and noticed it changed the look of some text, but didnt make a huge impact for me so i turned it back on.
 
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