Why is PCs laptops the display screen is inferior to Apple laptops?

[pshufd]

On laptops 4k (and beyond) is wasted in one sense because you cannot run a 4k display at native resolution on a 13"/14"/15" laptop. Everything will be too small.

4k on a 14 inch laptop at native resolution can be useful for graphics work. I don't think that people are reading text at that resolution.

I run my 27 inch 4k monitors at native resolution and I can read text at that resolution but I have to zoom things in for anyone else when I want to show something on my screen.

 

[maflynn]

4k on a 14 inch laptop at native resolution can be useful for graphics work. I don't think that people are reading text at that resolution.

I can't speak for graphic artists, but I would assume they generally work using larger displays not just on a 14" laptop screen.

I myself found the native resolutions of 4k on my thinkpad X1 E to be way too small to be useful.

I run my 27 inch 4k monitors at native resolution and I can read text at that resolution but I have to zoom things in for anyone else when I want to show something on my screen.

Of course because 27" is bigger then laptop screens. Personally, I still find the text too small on my 32" 4k monitor. I run that at 150% of native in Windows/Linux (2560 × 1440) and on macos the closest HiDPI resolution is 2048x1152

 

[pshufd]

I can't speak for graphic artists, but I would assume they generally work using larger displays not just on a 14" laptop screen.

I myself found the native resolutions of 4k on my thinkpad X1 E to be way too small to be useful.

Of course because 27" is bigger then laptop screens. Personally, I still find the text too small on my 32" 4k monitor. I run that at 150% of native in Windows/Linux (2560 × 1440) and on macos the closest HiDPI resolution is 2048x1152

Definitely better working on larger monitors but sometimes it's not an option when you're on the road.

I have a 17.3 inch portable monitor 4k that I sometimes bring with me and run that at native resolution. I've not taken that with me on trips since getting the 4k.

One feature that I'd really love in macOS and Windows would be having per-virtual desktop resolutions. So the resolution goes with the virtual desktop. When you switch virtual desktops, the resolution switches the resolution. So you can have super-high resolutions for graphics but go into normal mode for text in another virtual desktop.

 

[Steve Adams]

My main jam on my computers is creative work. I have never found the need to have a 4k/5k monitor. most all of my content is 1080 because 1. Space saving 2. 99% of the world is still using 1080 displays whether it be a tv, monitor, laptop etc. It's just a waste to take up 4 times the space in my server etc for stuff that 1 percent of the world views.

I edit hundreds of images per month, besides the past couple because of other commitments, sell those images. I don't spec race. I do work. Just like on the camera side of things. All the people arguing over specs. I tune it out and make money with my old cameras that produce results not pixel peeping images.

 

[pshufd]

My main jam on my computers is creative work. I have never found the need to have a 4k/5k monitor. most all of my content is 1080 because 1. Space saving 2. 99% of the world is still using 1080 displays whether it be a tv, monitor, laptop etc. It's just a waste to take up 4 times the space in my server etc for stuff that 1 percent of the world views.

I edit hundreds of images per month, besides the past couple because of other commitments, sell those images. I don't spec race. I do work. Just like on the camera side of things. All the people arguing over specs. I tune it out and make money with my old cameras that produce results not pixel peeping images.

Just watched Celtics - Thunder highlights in 4K and it's nice to have the option.

My main use for 4k is displaying real-time charts and I can glance at my monitor from across the room to get a quick look at the market and some segments along with my analysis charts to see how they are going. My chart setup is currently for two 4k monitors on the desktop which didn't translate to my M1 Pro MacBook Pro 16 so I had to set up two sets of charts, one for home and one when traveling. With a 4k laptop, I can have the same setup at home and on the road.

 

[Bubble99]

The text seems sharper and crisper on Mac for some reason than windows laptop?

The font is really clear and crisp on Mac compared to windows laptop.

 

[maflynn]

The text seems sharper and crisper on Mac for some reason than windows laptop?

Specifics please
What Mac, what PC laptop, what settings are you using for both?

 

[Steve Adams]

My text on my windows machines is just as crisp and sharp as my iPad. I have two 24 inch ultra sharp dells on my desk. One is touch screen for video and photo editing work. I am going to move to alogic or Kuycon 27 inch touchscreens for both for extra flexability and increased real estate.

 

[Bubble99]

On laptops 4k (and beyond) is wasted in one sense because you cannot run a 4k display at native resolution on a 13"/14"/15" laptop. Everything will be too small.

What apple does is make 1 logical point on the screen, 4 pixels.

So why don’t Microsoft make windows 1 logical point on the screen, 4 pixels like what Apple does for higher resolution.

Why can Apple pull it off but not windows?

 

[Bubble99]

My text on my windows machines is just as crisp and sharp as my iPad. I have two 24 inch ultra sharp dells on my desk. One is touch screen for video and photo editing work. I am going to move to alogic or Kuycon 27 inch touchscreens for both for extra flexability and increased real estate.

Because the iPad is smaller screen that why it is so sharp.

To calculate PPI, you must first use the monitor's resolution and screen size. One measurement cannot be more important than the other because they serve their own purpose and rely on each other. Also everybody has their own preferences for screen size based on what they're doing.

For example, a 4k 28" monitor has the same PPI as a 1080p 14" laptop screen. Different resolution and screen size, same PPI. One is intended for desktop PC use, the other is intended for school/work.

If the PPI is higher at the same screen size, then it will always be the sharper one in terms of pixel density.

 

[Steve Adams]

Because the iPad is smaller screen that why it is so sharp.

To calculate PPI, you must first use the monitor's resolution and screen size. One measurement cannot be more important than the other because they serve their own purpose and rely on each other. Also everybody has their own preferences for screen size based on what they're doing.

For example, a 4k 28" monitor has the same PPI as a 1080p 14" laptop screen. Different resolution and screen size, same PPI. One is intended for desktop PC use, the other is intended for school/work.

If the PPI is higher at the same screen size, then it will always be the sharper one in terms of pixel density.

I am saying my larger monitors are just as sharp as my iPad, not the other way around.

 

[maflynn]

So why don’t Microsoft make windows 1 logical point on the screen, 4 pixels like what Apple does for higher resolution.

Because Windows offers actual DPI scaling and is a lot more flexible.
You basically only have 5 options to scale the display (Unless you select a specific resolution or use BetterDisplay)

What is Display Scaling on Mac, and why you (probably) shouldn't worry about it | AppleInsider

Display scaling makes the size of your Mac's interface more comfortable on non-Retina monitors but incurs some visual and performance penalties. We explain these effects and how much they matter.

appleinsider.com

Where as I have the opportunity to scale from 100% to 350% and the crispness is there at every setting

 

[Steve Adams]

Because Windows offers actual DPI scaling and is a lot more flexible.
You basically only have 5 options to scale the display (Unless you select a specific resolution or use BetterDisplay)

What is Display Scaling on Mac, and why you (probably) shouldn't worry about it | AppleInsider

Display scaling makes the size of your Mac's interface more comfortable on non-Retina monitors but incurs some visual and performance penalties. We explain these effects and how much they matter.

appleinsider.com

View attachment 2617036
Where as I have the opportunity to scale from 100% to 350% and the crispness is there at every setting

View attachment 2617037

Not only that, we have infinite scaling where you can goto advanced options and enter any value to see what works best.

 

[Bubble99]

Because Windows offers actual DPI scaling and is a lot more flexible.
You basically only have 5 options to scale the display (Unless you select a specific resolution or use BetterDisplay)

What is Display Scaling on Mac, and why you (probably) shouldn't worry about it | AppleInsider

Display scaling makes the size of your Mac's interface more comfortable on non-Retina monitors but incurs some visual and performance penalties. We explain these effects and how much they matter.

appleinsider.com

View attachment 2617036
Where as I have the opportunity to scale from 100% to 350% and the crispness is there at every setting

View attachment 2617037

So why don’t Apple use DPI scaling if it better? Why can Microsoft come up with DPI scaling that better than what Apple has?

 

[eltoslightfoot]

So why don’t Apple use DPI scaling if it better? Why can Microsoft come up with DPI scaling that better than what Apple has?

It has to do with subpixel font rendering and how they do the entire approach to scaling. It is what it is. It looks great at certain resolutions and blurry AF at others.

It's been this way for well over a decade. It ain't changing now.

 

[pshufd]

Because Windows offers actual DPI scaling and is a lot more flexible.
You basically only have 5 options to scale the display (Unless you select a specific resolution or use BetterDisplay)

What is Display Scaling on Mac, and why you (probably) shouldn't worry about it | AppleInsider

Display scaling makes the size of your Mac's interface more comfortable on non-Retina monitors but incurs some visual and performance penalties. We explain these effects and how much they matter.

appleinsider.com

View attachment 2617036
Where as I have the opportunity to scale from 100% to 350% and the crispness is there at every setting

View attachment 2617037

One thing to emphasize is that Windows provides you with multiple display resolutions like macOS (though Windows usually provides more) AND you can scale those individual resolutions from 100% to 350%. These are the available resolutions on my Lenovo Yoga and all of these can be scaled 100% to 350%.

 

[maflynn]

So why don’t Apple use DPI scaling if it better? Why can Microsoft come up with DPI scaling that better than what Apple has?

That's more a Tim Apple question - only those people who work at apple can address that.

 

[salamanderjuice]

So why don’t Apple use DPI scaling if it better? Why can Microsoft come up with DPI scaling that better than what Apple has?

Apple was trying to do that back in the Tiger days ("resolution independence"). They scrapped it. It's more work than what they ended up doing and it requires more buy in from devs, which is why Windows sometimes has blurry apps.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Apple was trying to do that back in the Tiger days ("resolution independence"). They scrapped it. It's more work than what they ended up doing and it requires more buy in from devs, which is why Windows sometimes has blurry apps.

Man, I'll be honest. I haven't seen a blurry windows app in years. I guess I don't use really outdated programs though either.

Then again, I haven't seen a blurry app in Mac either because I always use 4k minimum on my external displays.

 

[salamanderjuice]

Man, I'll be honest. I haven't seen a blurry windows app in years. I guess I don't use really outdated programs though either.

Then again, I haven't seen a blurry app in Mac either because I always use 4k minimum on my external displays.

Yes, it's not as common anymore. It's mostly just older apps (and occasionally very infrequently used parts of Windows).

 

[Steve Adams]

Man, I'll be honest. I haven't seen a blurry windows app in years. I guess I don't use really outdated programs though either.

Then again, I haven't seen a blurry app in Mac either because I always use 4k minimum on my external displays.

I have been on Windows since windows was windows. I have NEVER seen a blurry app. Just as I have never seen a blurry app on all the apple devices I owned except my white crackbook. But at the time it was not suppported anymore and I was running ElementaryOS on it. So I gave it a pass.

 

[salamanderjuice]

I have been on Windows since windows was windows. I have NEVER seen a blurry app. Just as I have never seen a blurry app on all the apple devices I owned except my white crackbook. But at the time it was not suppported anymore and I was running ElementaryOS on it. So I gave it a pass.

Well, you have to be using a HiDPI display with display scaling above 100% to ever see blurry apps. Plus you have to run some app that is blurry...

An example that's still built into Windows 11 is the ODBC Data Source Administrator. Here's a screenshot I blew up about 200%. Notice that the title bar text (that says ODBC Data Source Administrator) is noticeably sharper than the app text. That's because this control panel still doesn't support display scaling for whatever reason.

 

[Steve Adams]

Well, you have to be using a HiDPI display with display scaling above 100% to ever see blurry apps. Plus you have to run some app that is blurry...

An example that's still built into Windows 11 is the ODBC Data Source Administrator. Here's a screenshot I blew up about 200%. Notice that the title bar text (that says ODBC Data Source Administrator) is noticeably sharper than the app text. That's because this control panel still doesn't support display scaling for whatever reason.

View attachment 2617116

See how the

Not really, 2 24 ultrasharp dell monitors and various monitors before that. My laptop is a 14 inch 1080 monitor. My surface 2 was a little higher dpi. As I stated. I do not see ANY "blurry" apps.

 

[salamanderjuice]

Not really, 2 24 ultrasharp dell monitors and various monitors before that. My laptop is a 14 inch 1080 monitor. My surface 2 was a little higher dpi. As I stated. I do not see ANY "blurry" apps.

I mean it could be your eyesight too...

You can just open ODBC Data Source Administrator. It's very noticeably blurry at 200% scaling on my Surface Pro 11.

 

[maflynn]

An example that's still built into Windows 11 is the ODBC Data Source Administrator. Here's a screenshot I blew up about 200%. Notice that the title bar text (that says ODBC Data Source Administrator) is noticeably sharper than the app text. That's because this control panel still doesn't support display scaling for whatever reason.

In all honesty that is an extreme example. You're taking an app that has not been since probably windows XP, and its still using a windows 3.1 dialog box

Of course its not going to use the scaling. Also who in 2026 is still using ODBC drivers?