The problem with using 2K external monitors with ARM Macbooks
And how to have a decent experience with your setup!
This article is for anyone who, like me, ended up with a MacBook and a non-Apple external monitor. Just so you know, my setup (above) is an M1 MacBook Pro connected to a Lenovo G27qe-20 27″ QHD Gaming Monitor.
Apple monitors: the fancy pants of the display world
Typically, Apple devices do not play well with non-Apple monitors. Cost adds another hurdle. For instance, the Studio Display will set you back at least $1600. To move the stand up and down will require an additional $400. Generally, if you want a decent experience with non-Apple monitors, you will have to ensure the monitor has a common aspect ratio, high DPI, and modern connectivity with your Mac. This leaves you with a very limited number of choices.
For those looking to buy a monitor for their Mac, it’s essential to examine the resolutions and physical dimensions Apple selects for their screens as a first step. Non-retina displays are set at 109 DPI, while retina displays double that to 218 DPI. This consistency is crucial because, unlike Windows or Linux, macOS doesn’t use UI scaling based on resolution. All UI elements are designed to look and function optimally at either 109 DPI or 218 DPI on retina displays.
The problem: blurry text and tiny icons
So, you already have the setup, but the text looks small and blurry (not sharp). When you connect your Mac to an external 1440p screen, you will notice that the text and items on your screen do not scale well. Yes, yes, very frustrating indeed.
The first step is to install the Better Display app. After loading it and allowing permissions, click on the icon in the menu bar, and select the settings icon. Under your external display, turn on “Edit the system configuration of this display model,” then check “Smooth scaling” and “Add near-native hiDPI resolution.” Apply the settings on the left, and pick whatever display resolution you want (or slide the Display Mode slider), and it will scale your display properly.
You will notice that your display gets about 25% sharper. Well, that is not enough. You still want better. Next, on the Better Display menu, reduce your external display resolution from 2560x1440 to 2048x1140. This takes you to the 80% you are looking for. That seems counterintuitive, but you are going to have a much better experience with your external monitor.
That's all for now! Let me know if this article was useful for you in the comments.
