Since Apple released the new M4 Macs, users have generally been very satisfied with the performance. If the picture was idyllic, it was without counting on a small shadow which arrives just before the new year. As several customers have noticed on the Apple forums And RedditM4 Macs, including the 2024 MacBook Pro and the 2024 Mac mini, don’t like ultra-wide monitors.
The problem
Indeed, there is a notable problem with so-called “5K2K” monitors (5120 x 2160 pixels). Specifically, M4 Macs do not support the correct resolution settings for these monitors, resulting in a blurry interface and text. Although these monitors work well with older Intel and Apple Silicon Macs up to the M3 chip, they do not work in HiDPI mode when connected to an M4 Mac.
The DELL U4021QW screen 2,000 euros on AmazonThe majority of comments seem to come from Mac mini users, but MacBook Pro M4 owners who have an accessory of this type also have the same problem. As a result, the display is less good than with old models, a shame for customers who paid the high price. Besides the 5120 x 2160 pixel resolution, it is also impossible to use the 3840 x 1620 pixel option, which is simply missing.
The solution
Workarounds exist, with some users using third-party tools like BetterDisplay to enable HiDPI, although this solution compromises by reducing the refresh rate from 75Hz to 60Hz.
Here is the official description of BetterDisplay, a utility that can help many of our readers in many situations.
BetterDisplay is a really great tool! It allows you to convert your displays into fully scalable displays, manage display configuration overrides, control brightness and colors, offer XDR/HDR brightness scaling (additional brightness beyond 100% for compatible XDR or HDR displays on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs – multiple methods available), go completely black, help you create and manage virtual displays for your Mac, create Picture in windows Picture of your screens and offer you a host of other features to easily manage your screen settings like display mode and color from the menu bar. It can even disconnect/reconnect screens on the fly!
Apple has not yet officially acknowledged this problem. Currently, the main solution is not to buy an M4 Mac if you have a 5K2K ultrawide display, or not to buy this type of display if you already have an M4 Mac. Besides, find our selection of the best screens for a Mac mini M4.
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