Everything looks tiny in 4k instead of 1080p

[Applɘ Aꙅylum]

I have a 32" LG Ultra HD monitor 32UD59-B (with 2 HDMI 2.0 & one DP 1.2 port) and just got an used 2018 space gray Mac mini off ebay a couple of weeks ago which already had Ventura installed. When I change the resolution from 1080p to 4k, everything looked tiny! Browsers looked small but can be scaled to fit, and apps in the dock can be made bigger, except for the bar at the top - barely readable fonts! There's no way to scale that as I've learned. (No problem in Windows 10.) While this monitor have adjustable refresh from 24 to 60 hz in Windows, it's not possible in MacOS - stuck at 30 hz and lower.

Same thing goes for Sonoma developer beta which I upgraded recently. How is this possible? I thought that by upgrading to Sonoma would fix the problem as described but I was wrong.

I find it frustrating so I leave 1080p on. Any tips on how to make it 4k and 60hz useable?

 

[Fishrrman]

"I find it frustrating so I leave 1080p on. Any tips on how to make it 4k and 60hz useable?"

If you want "true" 4k resolution (that is, "pixel-for-pixel" and NOT "HiDPI"), then get a display that's 43" or larger. Maybe even 50".

You might also try "looks like 1440p" (2560x1440).
But be aware that scaled resolutions can have slightly "fuzzier" text and may impact overall performance (due to the higher graphics "load").

 

[DarkPremiumCho]

4K looks tiny in sub 40 inch monitors. That's a physical limit. I always use 1080P HIDPI for my 4K monitor.

Your Mac and the monitor should work at 60Hz. Maybe the port(s) and/or your video cable is the culprit.

 

[Applɘ Aꙅylum]

4K looks tiny in sub 40 inch monitors. That's a physical limit. I always use 1080P HIDPI for my 4K monitor.

Your Mac and the monitor should work at 60Hz. Maybe the port(s) and/or your video cable is the culprit.

Physical limit? Apple have been in the computing business for a long time and yet this is a Mac problem? (No problem with Windows.) The video cord is Amazon Basic HDMI 2.0.

"I find it frustrating so I leave 1080p on. Any tips on how to make it 4k and 60hz useable?"

If you want "true" 4k resolution (that is, "pixel-for-pixel" and NOT "HiDPI"), then get a display that's 43" or larger. Maybe even 50".

You might also try "looks like 1440p" (2560x1440).
But be aware that scaled resolutions can have slightly "fuzzier" text and may impact overall performance (due to the higher graphics "load").

I am typing this while in 2k. Looks okay so far. Thanks for the tip. I don't want ANOTHER monitor - I already have several of them, and this 32" is the only one that's in 4k.

 

[dmccloud]

Physical limit? Apple have been in the computing business for a long time and yet this is a Mac problem? (No problem with Windows.) The video cord is Amazon Basic HDMI 2.0.

I am typing this while in 2k. Looks okay so far. Thanks for the tip. I don't want ANOTHER monitor - I already have several of them, and this 32" is the only one that's in 4k.

Amazon Basic cables rate somewhere below Insignia (Best Buy's house brand) in terms of quality. Most likely that HDMI cable lacks the bandwidth necessary for 4K30, which is why you can't go above 30 Hz. As far as small text goes, that's going to happen when you're running 4K resolution on a small (under 40") display, as it's literally a function of the smaller screen size to begin with.

 

[Applɘ Aꙅylum]

Amazon Basic cables rate somewhere below Insignia (Best Buy's house brand) in terms of quality. Most likely that HDMI cable lacks the bandwidth necessary for 4K30, which is why you can't go above 30 Hz. As far as small text goes, that's going to happen when you're running 4K resolution on a small (under 40") display, as it's literally a function of the smaller screen size to begin with.

I tested Amazon Basic HDMI 2.0 on my other small PC - Intel NUC. It shows 59hz. Huh? So I searched for more information on this monitor and found this. It showed me where to enable 60hz was a button under this monitor. I moved the button toward Game icon and clicked FreeSync. There were 3 choices: Extended, Basic and Off. Then in Setting/Display on this Mac and bingo! I can see more hz options. (It works in either Extended and Basic) So I clicked 60hz and the monitor went black for few seconds and came alive with 60hz! I feel much better.

Yet those tiny fonts at top bar still there in 4k. I went back to 2k and it's all good.

 

[Nermal]

Can you please post a screenshot of your Displays preferences? It sounds like you're not using a HiDPI mode.

 

[Applɘ Aꙅylum]

Here's the screenshot of this

I see no HiDPI in that list?

 

[Nermal]

Oh, it's all changed since OS 12. I don't know what to click on in 13/14

Edit: "sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist DisplayResolutionEnabled -bool true" may be what you need, but I'd like someone else to confirm that beforehand, in case it does more harm than good.

 

[MrWeenus]

Here's the screenshot of this

View attachment 2218265

I see no HiDPI in that list?

All resolutions that DO NOT have (low resolution) in their names are HiDPI - ok besides the 3840x2160 at the top.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I see no HiDPI in that list?"

1920x1080 (default) is the HiDPI setting.

 

[Applɘ Aꙅylum]

All resolutions that DO NOT have (low resolution) in their names are HiDPI - ok besides the 3840x2160 at the top.

"I see no HiDPI in that list?"

1920x1080 (default) is the HiDPI setting.

Interesting... I am learning something new since getting that Mac mini last month, coming from being a longtime Windows user.

 

[zevrix]

Yet those tiny fonts at top bar still there in 4k. I went back to 2k and it's all good.

maybe you need to enable Large menu bar size in Accessibility > Display? (will require to log out to take effect I think)

 

[Applɘ Aꙅylum]

maybe you need to enable Large menu bar size in Accessibility > Display? (will require to log out to take effect I think)

This only enlarged the menu bar by a couple of pixels or so while in 4k. Doesn't help much. But thanks for the tip.

 

[redheeler]

I had the same issue with an LG external monitor, Monterey → Ventura completely broke HiDPI. I finally managed to fix it by messing around in the free trial version of BetterDisplay and it works in HiDPI mode again.