M2 Pro Mini with 8k TV?

[Mac47]

So, do you think it will be possible for an M2 Pro Mac Mini to drive an 8k TV at its native resolution and use it as a display?

Also, it it likely that Apple will produce an 8k monitor? 8k at 40 inches would be 220 ppi, that is, exactly the same same ppi as the iMac 5k (27”), 4k (21.5”), and 4.5k (24”).

I have held onto my old 2017 iMac 27” because the 24” is too small for me and the Mini + Studio Display doesn’t scratch my itch for more screen real estate. But 8k would be fabulous.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

M2 Pro can drive “One display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz” via HDMI. So that should work fine, just be aware that with 8K it’ll be a solo display.

 

[xraydoc]

Also, it it likely that Apple will produce an 8k monitor? 8k at 40 inches would be 220 ppi, that is, exactly the same same ppi as the iMac 5k (27”), 4k (21.5”), and 4.5k (24”).

If they do, it'll be $8K as well...!

 

[Mac47]

Has anyone tried this? Can’t find any YouTube videos of it.

Does MacOS offered scaled HiDPI modes (say, “Looks like 4k”) for an 8k display?

 

[George Dawes]

Why on earth would anyone need an 8k tv , not like there's much stuff to watch on it is there ??

 

[XboxEvolved]

Why on earth would anyone need an 8k tv , not like there's much stuff to watch on it is there ??

because 8 is a bigger number than 4 so it must be better

 

[Mac47]

It's not about watching 8k video for me. It's about moar desktop space.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"It's not about watching 8k video for me. It's about moar desktop space"

Unless you get a tv with a screen that is (at the very least) around 80", running it at 8k "full resolution" is going to produce text that may be too small to read.

Seems like (for 4k), one needs a display around 43" or so in order to yield "full resolution" text in font sizes that can be read without a magnifying glass...
(at least for me)

Those dimensions would have to double at 8k...

 

[Spike77777]

OP wrote:
"It's not about watching 8k video for me. It's about moar desktop space"

Unless you get a tv with a screen that is (at the very least) around 80", running it at 8k "full resolution" is going to produce text that may be too small to read.

Seems like (for 4k), one needs a display around 43" or so in order to yield "full resolution" text in font sizes that can be read without a magnifying glass...
(at least for me)

Those dimensions would have to double at 8k...

I'm running a 2013 macbook pro on my 77" LG. At 4K/30Hz the text is really small.
My eyes aren't the best either but to read text easily I have to sit around 5 ft. instead of at the usual 10 ft from the couch. But sitting too close is like sitting on the front row at a movie theatre.

I was planning on getting the M2 pro mini for the 4k/120Hz on HDMI 2.1 but wondering if I'd ever use it since I set it to the 2nd or 3rd scaling at 3200 x 1800 and 2560 x 1440. Maybe just the base M2 would do at a max of 4k/60Hz.

 

[Mac47]

OP wrote:
"It's not about watching 8k video for me. It's about moar desktop space"

Unless you get a tv with a screen that is (at the very least) around 80", running it at 8k "full resolution" is going to produce text that may be too small to read.

Seems like (for 4k), one needs a display around 43" or so in order to yield "full resolution" text in font sizes that can be read without a magnifying glass...
(at least for me)

Those dimensions would have to double at 8k...

A 40” 8k screen would be 220 ppi, which is about the same as most Apple monitors (Pro Display XDR, Studio Display, iMac 21.5, 27, and 24).

I used a 43” 4k with my old trashcan Mac Pro. It was great. So I’m thinking a 65” or 75” 8k would be nice.

 

[asus]

Yes, same ting as you. I already have 65qn900b, it has something around 140PPI, same as 4 x 32" 4k screens stacked together.
Not really high enough PPI, but for a 65" and distance you need to be from it, pixels are not visible at all. But of course, I need HiDPi scaling, native scaling is "looks like 4k resolution", and no evidence so far it is possible, But it has to be, makes no sense if they gave us only native 8k .

And, yawn.. every resolution jump and some have to say "blah, why do you need that, no content" ... What content do you have in 1290 x 2796 resolution on iPhone? It's not about content but more pixels, sharper, nicer ..

I don't care about television and "content". I need 33 milion pixels

 

[asus]

I still haven't bought m2 pro. Not at home right now.

And after almost 2 months, I found first case someone using it with 8k tv and confirming HiDPI (I didn't search for it every day, only occasionally )
..
here it is, third answer: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questi...question/71714a2f-a9b2-3804-a259-6f9b731c44c1

Not a direct answer, but I haven't seen any mention of 55" 8k Samsung TVs for their 2023 lineup and this appears to be the only 55" even for 2022 as far as I can tell. Really hope they keep a 55" 8k in the future because the pixel density is great. I'm really liking the 2022 QN700B with the M2 Pro Mac running in 4k HiDPI / 8K native. It's like a giant retina display with crisp text and images. love the pixel density.

 

[Mac47]

THAT is what I wanted to hear. This is gonna be fabulous.

 

[Pressure]

Has anyone tried this? Can’t find any YouTube videos of it.

Does MacOS offered scaled HiDPI modes (say, “Looks like 4k”) for an 8k display?

macOS absolutely do 4K HiDPI ("Looks like 4K") when using an 8K display. I've used it on my Intel Mac since at least 2019. The latest M2 Pro and M2 Max also supports the 8K Dell UP3218K out of the box for 4K HiDPI goodness.

279 PPI on a 32" monitor is fantastic to say the least.

 

[asus]

😊 😊😊

 

[Mac47]

😊 😊😊
View attachment 2174279

Looks fabulous.

Does it play well with the Mac Mini? Any problems with waking from sleep or recognizing the display or preserving settings?

 

[asus]

I don't know

It's from this video

He didn't test anything, just usual crap "there is no 8k content" :/

But finally it proves HIDPI modes work

 

[MikeDr206]

macOS absolutely do 4K HiDPI ("Looks like 4K") when using an 8K display. I've used it on my Intel Mac since at least 2019. The latest M2 Pro and M2 Max also supports the 8K Dell UP3218K out of the box for 4K HiDPI goodness.

is this from personal experience? I ask because my understanding is the Dell achieves 8K via two DisplayPort 1.4 connectors, which Apple had not previously supported. The 8K resolution on the Mac M2 Pro is limited to the HDMI Port, which the Dell does not have.

 

[Pressure]

is this from personal experience? I ask because my understanding is the Dell achieves 8K via two DisplayPort 1.4 connectors, which Apple had not previously supported. The 8K resolution on the Mac M2 Pro is limited to the HDMI Port, which the Dell does not have.

The Dell UP3218K works natively with M2 Pro and M2 Max using two USB-C to DP cables. It's annoying having it take up two TB4 ports but you can't argue with the sharpness and resolution at 32".

 

[MikeDr206]

The Dell UP3218K works natively with M2 Pro and M2 Max using two USB-C to DP cables. It's annoying having it take up two TB4 ports but you can't argue with the sharpness and resolution at 32".

this is great news! Now I’m tempted to buy.

 

[rumz]

this is great news! Now I’m tempted to buy.

Likewise— especially since the UP3218K doesn‘t have the hideous forehead that the upcoming U3224KB is supposed to have. (I wonder when that one will finally be released).

 

[asus]

How 280ppi looks in native scaling? Its' not too tiny?
40" 8k panel would be just right, at 220PPI, same as studio display and xdr 32" ..

I don't know for US, but in europe for this year we have Samsung 55" 8k (QN700c), there is also '22 model, and '20 model. Smallest 8k display you can get, except Dell.
But with viewing distance you have to maintain for such a large screen you kind of get 55 "retina" experience

 

[Pressure]

How 280ppi looks in native scaling? Its' not too tiny?
40" 8k panel would be just right, at 220PPI, same as studio display and xdr 32" ..

I don't know for US, but in europe for this year we have Samsung 55" 8k (QN700c), there is also '22 model, and '20 model. Smallest 8k display you can get, except Dell.
But with viewing distance you have to maintain for such a large screen you kind of get 55 "retina" experience

You wouldn't want to run 8K natively at 32" but 4K HiDPI looks wonderful.

Applications automatically scale content 1:1 with regards to editing photos and video so you can enjoy the full resolution with a readable UI.

 

[asus]

Yes, of course, I didn't mean native resolution, but native 4k HiDPI scaling.

Actually 280 ppi is ok, now I see my 14 inch MacBook has 254 PPI, and usually I keep my scaling one step above native 4:1 because it's kind of big. So 280 would be perfect.