Why is 15" MBA default screen res 1710 x 1107

[Mike Boreham]

The native resolution of the 15" MBA screen is 2880 x 1864 so I would have expected the default resolution to be the optimum 4:1 scaling of 1440 x 932, but it isn't....its 1710 x 1107.

I have recently acquired an 15" MBA and after using it for a week find I prefer it at 1440 x 932. This is about text size rather than sharpness. The difference in text size is quite a step change to me.

I realise this is very much a personal choice thing and which is labelled "default" doesn't actually matter but it seems strange to make the less optimum scaled res the default.

 

[Stoianski]

I've got my first Apple Mac (15" MBA) a week ago and played yesterday for the first time. Found the text way too small and changed the text to 1440 x 932 as you suggested. Now it is way better. Thanks.

The default has more text amount per page (I suppose that is why it was chosen like this), but I simply don't feel comfortable and can not read it well. The same as you. Now is closer to the text of my very old MS Laptop PC.

 

[nmt1900]

Maybe it is a bit different on larger screen (as compared to 13"), but new higher default resolution can be utilized to give more screen real estate without sacrificing readability - it would be a good idea to turn off font smoothing and increase font sizes by 1 or 2 points.

I was trying to go back to 1280 on 13" but found these 2 tweaks to be a solution to get more screen real estate and not suffer from worse readability. If one does not want to bother with tweaking then previous default of 1440 can be used without any problems.

 

[Stoianski]

Maybe it is a bit different on larger screen (as compared to 13"), but new higher default resolution can be utilized to give more screen real estate without sacrificing readability - it would be a good idea to turn off font smoothing and increase font sizes by 1 or 2 points.

How do you turn off font smoothing? This one. https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/disable-font-smoothing-in-macos-big-sur/

As for the font size, one can change in in the Accessibility, right? Thanks

 

[throAU]

The native resolution of the 15" MBA screen is 2880 x 1864 so I would have expected the default resolution to be the optimum 4:1 scaling of 1440 x 932, but it isn't....its 1710 x 1107.

I have recently acquired an 15" MBA and after using it for a week find I prefer it at 1440 x 932. This is about text size rather than sharpness. The difference in text size is quite a step change to me.

I realise this is very much a personal choice thing and which is labelled "default" doesn't actually matter but it seems strange to make the less optimum scaled res the default.

View attachment 2467548

Because that looks about the right size for normal people, integer scaling doesn't matter and modern GPUs have been more than capable of scaling with basically zero performance hit for a decade or more.

 

[farmerabc]

Because that looks about the right size for normal people, integer scaling doesn't matter and modern GPUs have been more than capable of scaling with basically zero performance hit for a decade or more.

Normal people?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Welcome to the abnormal people club.

This abnormal asks why doesn't Mac taste better with ketchup on it instead of mustard.

 

[throAU]

Normal people?

Yes. “About the right size” for “normal people” with typical eyesight.

They had to pick a default and that is it because it’s the best fit for the most people.

You have options if you’d prefer something else.

As above in terms of scaling factors etc they don’t matter.

 

[nmt1900]

How do you turn off font smoothing? This one. https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/disable-font-smoothing-in-macos-big-sur/

As for the font size, one can change in in the Accessibility, right? Thanks

There are many ways to do that and all do the same thing.

Simplest is to use Terminal command and log out and in again after that

defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 0

For people less inclined in command line there is a single-function app available at https://www.fontsmoothingadjuster.com or you can use multifunctional TinkerTool. Both do same thing as that Terminal command.

 

[nmt1900]

The native resolution of the 15" MBA screen is 2880 x 1864 so I would have expected the default resolution to be the optimum 4:1 scaling of 1440 x 932, but it isn't....its 1710 x 1107.

I have recently acquired an 15" MBA and after using it for a week find I prefer it at 1440 x 932. This is about text size rather than sharpness. The difference in text size is quite a step change to me.

I realise this is very much a personal choice thing and which is labelled "default" doesn't actually matter but it seems strange to make the less optimum scaled res the default.

It was 1440 x 932 (and 1280 x 800 for 13") before - at least on Monterey. As of now I do not need to go back to old default, but still somewhat struggle in finding a good choice for font and size in terminal. Some webpages look strange as well if "minimum font size" is not adjusted properly in web browser settings.

 

[Wrong-Purchase-1500]

did you try the betterdisplay? give it a try and thank me later

 

[Mike Boreham]

did you try the betterdisplay? give it a try and thank me later

Thanks very much for that. I have been reading up about it and it does indeed sound a very powerful tool. This review implies it is mainly useful for external monitor display and resolution issues. It is not clear to me how it will help improve the very simple situation of the already very sharp built in display of the MBA, and looks like overkill. How would it improve the Apple default setting?

One very simple, one trick app I am finding useful is DisplayRes for one click switching to a higher res briefly for specific tasks.