External monitor for M1

[alstorm]

Hello everyone!

So I just got the new Macbook Air with M1. This is my first personal MacBook ever! I'm pretty happy.
I decided to buy an external monitor for convenient usage, so I also got Dell U2520D. The resolution is QHD (2560 X 1440), and everything is quite small for me. So, I decided to change the resolution to 1080p. And then, problems began!
1. After changing the resolution, I found out the fonts become too foggy. Not cool. I googled and found out it is because not supporting HiDPI.
2. I tried to use scaling solutions like RDM. Nothing works on the new M1 processor!
3. RDM shows there is no any HiDPI resolutions I can choose (even like 1280 x 720, it is 2x smaller than the native display's resolution)

Well, it looks like I need to return the display. Maybe I can choose another one? Maybe even 4k 27".
So, here I need your help, guys.
Can you recommend to me any good display which will work scaled to 1080p on new M1 Macs? I really want to see great sharp fonts cause I read a lot.
For example, will the display Dell U2720Q works for me?
Can someone who has this display confirm it can be scaled to 1080p with HiPDI?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Captain Trips]

I am not sure how well this will meet your needs, although there are plenty of positive reviews so you can do some research if desired.

I have an AOC CU34G2X ulntawide 34" monitor. I am currently using it with my 2014 Mac mini (Intel) and to a lesser extent with my M1 MacBook Pro.

I have connected both Macs to the monitor using HDMI and DisplayPort cables. In all cases I get the full resolution of 3440 x 1440 at 60 Hz refresh rate. The monitor can go up to 144 Hz, so my replacement for the Mac mini (likely an Apple Silicon mini, either M1 or whatever else subsequent models may get) will be something that can drive a higher frequency than the 60 Hz I currently get.

This is my second AOC monitor and I have been very happy with both. Solid build (including the stand), adjustable, good number of HDMI & DisplayPort ports, and they look nice.

 

[alstorm]

Thanks!
So can you confirm your monitor supports HiDPI?
So if you choose like 1720 x 720, the fonts won't be blurry, just bigger?

Anyway, this display is too big for me

 

[Captain Trips]

Thanks!
So can you confirm your monitor supports HiDPI?
So if you choose like 1720 x 720, the fonts won't be blurry, just bigger?

Anyway, this display is too big for me

I don't think it supports / is HiDPI.

When I searched for "hide" I found this as a definition: "HiDPI (High Dots Per Inch) displays, also known by Apple's "Retina Display" marketing name, are screens with a high resolution in a relatively small format. They are mostly found in high-end laptops and monitors."

Based on the specs I can fid, the AOC monitor I mention has 109 ppl (pixels per inch) - I don't think that is as good as a Retina display.

I am at my 2014 Mac mini running Catalina (10.15.7), and here are scaled resolutions I can select:

• 3440 x 1440
• 2560 x 1080
• 2048 x 858
• 1600 x 670
• 1080p
• 1080i

I tried 1600 x 670, since that is closest to the 1720 x 720 you mention. Not blurry at all - very sharp. But definitely displays less than I like seeing at 3440 x 1440.

 

[alstorm]

Well, this is how fonts look like on my 1440p to 1080p scaled monitor:

really blurry even if there are enough pixels to make them sharper.
I know they could be sharper if I enable HiDPI resolution.

 

[Captain Trips]

Well, this is how fonts look like on my 1440p to 1080p scaled monitor:

View attachment 1692523
really blurry even if there are enough pixels to make them sharper.
I know they could be sharper if I enable HiDPI resolution.

Oh yeah, that isn't good.

Here is what I see at 1600 x 670 on my monitor connected to the 2014 Mac mini:
==================================================

 

[alstorm]

Can you check it with your M1? Will it scale normally like on Mac Mini?

 

[Captain Trips]

OK, so here are the resolutions and a screen shot at a lower resolution when I connect the same AOC Ultrawide 34" monitor to my M1 MacBook Pro (8 GB / 256 GB).

Resolutions on external monitor:

• 3440 x 1440
• 2560 x 1080
• 2048 x 858
• 1920 x 1080
• 1600 x 670

When I set the resolution down to 1600 x 670, here is what a section of this web page looks like:
============================================================

 

[Captain Trips]

For both of the screen shots I posted (2014 Intel Mac mini and M1 MBP), in both cases I was using a Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable.

I have also used HDMI to HDMI for the mini and Thunderbolt to HDMI for the M1, and I get the same default resolution (3440 x 1440) at 60 Hz. I haven't examined the scaling options for the HDMI connection, but I expect them to be similar.