Choosing a display for eye strain - in over my head

[chris_tha_god]

Hi all,

I'm hoping to get some advice about choosing an external display for my 2019 16" MBP. Like most I've been spending more time on the computer during COVID. But recently after a full day and maybe a little more, my eyes have been KILLING me. I'm 35 so maybe it comes with the territory of getting older, or maybe I've always had this issue to a certain extent but now its crossed a threshold where I need to take action.

I currently have a 7 year old 27" 1080p samsung monitor that required an adapter to use it with a VESA mount and it's droopy and sad. I can see the pixels from my normal sitting distance and have to blow the fonts up to laughable sizes to use it comfortably, and even then it hurts my eyes. My MBP display does not give me the same problem, so I think it's related to text clarity.

In the last week I've bought and returned a Dell P4321W (34" Ultrawide, 1440p, ppi) and come up to speed (sort of) on the very confusing state of external monitors and MacOS. I'm especially discouraged after reading this article by Marc Edwards at Bjango, as I don't see a 5K option that fits in my budget (<= $1k) and I'd like to keep the 27" size I have curretly.

I'm a software developer and sysadmin and use my display almost exclusively for work and general browsing, no gaming or design/graphics intensive applications.

The frontrunner for me right now is the LG 27 Ultrafine Ergo (27BN88U-B, 163ppi). I'm just trying to get a sense of it's suitability given my situation, specifically with respect to text size and clarity. I figure it's gotta look better than the 1440p monitor I just returned. Also I really want that stand, haha. Am I correct in understanding that MacOS will set the "Default for display" as basically 1080p that's 4 times more dense than a normal 1080p? Will that make text a lot more clear?

If anyone has experience with this monitor or this scaling, how would you rate the text clarity and effect on eye strain relative to the LG UltraFine options that apple sells (4K 23.7", 5K 27")?

Hope this wasn't too long, thanks in advance for any thoughts!

 

[KaliYoni]

I have a few high level ideas that might help you narrow down your search since you say you feel like you're stuck in the weeds:

• Look at 4K monitors if text clarity is the most important attribute for you. As you've seen, lower resolutions mean it's easy to see pixelation or jagged characters at typical viewing distances. 5K probably would be overkill.
• Matte displays impede clarity (unfortunately, clear glass displays don't seem to be widely offered).
• I think the article you point to above is highly focused on specs that matter most to people who work extensively with graphics and video. For text clarity, you might want to pay the most attention to contrast ratio, viewing angle, and gray scale.
• You might want to consider business-class monitors over home-class monitors. Not only will you usually get a better warranty, the images tend to be sharper and more accurate.

Now, here are some non-purchase related things you can do right away:

• Take a critical look at your workspace, especially the placement of your external monitor relative to your laptop's screen. A day's worth of constantly changing head position or refocusing eyes will give anybody eye strain.
• Also take a critical look at the room lighting, sources of glare, how you're sitting, and your external monitor's settings (such as brightness and if you use macOS' Dark Mode).
• Most people's vision undergoes noticeable changes around the age of 40. It might be time to visit an optometrist and have your eyes checked (if the COVID-19 measures in your area allow, of course).

 

[chris_tha_god]

I have a few high level ideas that might help you narrow down your search since you say you feel like you're stuck in the weeds:

• Look at 4K monitors if text clarity is the most important attribute for you. As you've seen, lower resolutions mean it's easy to see pixelation or jagged characters at typical viewing distances. 5K probably would be overkill.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply! The advice to get 4K is music to my ears. I've been entertaining the idea of getting the 27" 5K monitor from LG that Apple sells, but that would seriously blow up my budget for this. My main concern is how MacOS will scale the 4K monitor, especially after not having a good picture from that 1440p Ultrawide I tried.

• Matte displays impede clarity (unfortunately, clear glass displays don't seem to be widely offered).

Although maybe this puts that 5K monitor back at the top of the list, as it's glossy and I'm not able to find much else in that category, as you mentioned.

• I think the article you point to above is highly focused on specs that matter most to people who work extensively with graphics and video. For text clarity, you might want to pay the most attention to contrast ratio, viewing angle, and gray scale.

What specifically about contrast ratio and gray scale? I've seen a contrast slider on monitor's OSD before but I don't really know what I'm looking for. I usually just leave it as the default.

• You might want to consider business-class monitors over home-class monitors. Not only will you usually get a better warranty, the images tend to be sharper and more accurate.

Good tip. So something in the Dell UP line perhaps.

Now, here are some non-purchase related things you can do right away:

• Take a critical look at your workspace, especially the placement of your external monitor relative to your laptop's screen. A day's worth of constantly changing head position or refocusing eyes will give anybody eye strain.

Well I use it in clamshell about 95% of the time so I don't think I have that specific problem, but I do tend to sit up and lean back throughout the day and I'm usually adjusting the external monitor as I do that. I've just recently tried keeping my eye level at the top 3rd, so that's the height I'm going for.

• Also take a critical look at the room lighting, sources of glare, how you're sitting, and your external monitor's settings (such as brightness and if you use macOS' Dark Mode).

I don't use dark mode, but glare might be part of the problem. I have 2 windows to the right of my desk at a 90 degree angle that I usually have open during the day. I read about bias lighting behind the monitor recently, and that seems like something I'd like to try. I want to settle on the monitor I'm definitely going to keep first however, because those all seem to be adhesive. I have 2 lamps in my office, at the top and bottom of the right wall where I sit somewhere in the middle of the room. The thing is, I don't get the sense that there is glare when I look at it. Also it's a bit of a pickle between reducing glare and a glossy screen, isn't it?

• Most people's vision undergoes noticeable changes around the age of 40. It might be time to visit an optometrist and have your eyes checked (if the COVID-19 measures in your area allow, of course).

I had a 2 year LAISK check up about 6 months ago. I did discuss with my optometrist getting some sort of expensive "computer glasses" that may help my eyes feel less tired, but having just ditched glasses after 25 years I'm in no hurry to go back to them. I haven't completely ruled it out, so if I can't figure out a solution by tweaking my setup that will bubble towards the top of next steps.

 

[KaliYoni]

What specifically about contrast ratio and gray scale?

Wirecutter (a review website) has some good articles about monitors. In particular, several of the reviews have actual measurements of contrast ratio and gray scale of each recommended monitor. I think for ease of reading on-screen you will especially value a high contrast ratio.

 

[ght56]

For me, reduction of strain is most accomplished through reducing blue light and reducing blurry text. Over about 125 PPI and I am good, over 160 and I am great.

 

[Masteranza]

@chris_tha_god my story actually goes the other way around!
I've ordered LG 32UN880 and returned it, because the USB-C port got shaky and the compatibility with my M1 Air was pretty low. Usable, but barely.
I've learned that those monitor arms are not really such a great idea.
On the other hand, recently I've purchased DELL P3421W with the idea that I'll probably return it, because I was quite sceptical about ultrawides.
Why P3421W? Because it's cheaper than U3421WE. Also I don't need all the extra ports or the speakers.
I had a few issues though.

Problem 1. The colors where a bit off.
Solution: I've decreased greens and reds by 2% in the settings and the second issue was fixed.

Problem 2. Over USB-C I only get 24bit colors, 30bit over HDMI but only 30Hz due to my cheap cable.
Solution: I've learned that this issue can be fixed with thunderbolt 3 cable from apple or in future MacOS updates. Actually I've tried 60Hz 30bit version using a half resolution PIP window (monitor option), but recognized that it didn't fix my biggest issue - problem 3. Decided to wait a little bit, because I'm not a graphics designer - plus outputting 24 bit colors will surely put less stress on the GPU.

Problem 3. This is super important for anyone using MacOS. The text appeared somewhat blurry. It was really strange, because when I looked closely it appeared sharp, but then when I began coding the letters would blur! Insane isn't it? I was starting too loose it. I began looking after higher res monitors again.
Solution: Reading some Mac oriented monitor review threads I've learned that it's actually not a good idea to have font smoothing turned on in MacOS when using sub-retina displays. I've played with the settings a bit not able to pick up the difference immedietely as changing the setting requires logout-login in Big Sur, however since disabling font smoothing my problem is gone! All fonts appear super smooth (I have near perfect eyesight) and I no longer need a 4K display.
You should definitely try it out if you're having problems with eye strain.

Bonus: Short review of P3421W
After fixing the above issues, my only request would be higher brightness, say 350 nits as I like working in very bright rooms. Really minor compatibility issues are definitely M1 and Apple's fault.
Dell has done fantastic work with this monitor.
- Built quality is 10x better than LG 32UN880.
- P3421W can go both lower and higher than LG,you can easily move it around the desk or house if you really need to. So in reality it's more ergonomic than LG.
- Ultrawide is a productivity jackpot. Both for VS CODE (I have 3-5 windows simultaneously open) and things like remote work, e.g. I can screen share only the left part of the screen and have the rest to myself.
- The resolution (3440x1440) is perfect. 2560 would be too little, 4K could be nice, but it would imply a standard (non-ultrawide) format - at the moment ultrawide is what I need.