Using M1 Mac Mini or MacBook Air with 1080p screen really unpleasant?

[Spungoflex]

I’d like to pick up one of these devices, but options for 4K external displays under 27” are very limited.

While saving for the LG 24” 4K Ultrafine, I’d be using the Mac with a 21.5” 1080p display.

With the removal of subpixel antialiasing, just how bad does text look? I find text on Windows looks bad, so I can’t even imagine MacOS.

 

[thingstoponder]

Is this something exclusive to M1 Macs or just Big Sur? I have an Intel Mac with. 21.5 1080p screen and it looks the same on a Big Sur as past OSes.

 

[Spungoflex]

Is this something exclusive to M1 Macs or just Big Sur? I have an Intel Mac with. 21.5 1080p screen and it looks the same on a Big Sur as past OSes.

I believe High Sierra was the last OS that had subpixel antialiasing.

 

[jdb8167]

I’d like to pick up one of these devices, but options for 4K external displays under 27” are very limited.

While saving for the LG 24” 4K Ultrafine, I’d be using the Mac with a 21.5” 1080p display.

With the removal of subpixel antialiasing, just how bad does text look? I find text on Windows looks bad, so I can’t even imagine MacOS.

You can get a pretty good 24" 4K display for about $300. I use this one:
LG 24UD58-B 24-Inch 4K UHD IPS Monitor

Plan on buying a VESA mount though because the included stand is garbage. I bought a monoprice one for $25.

 

[Spungoflex]

You can get a pretty good 24" 4K display for about $300. I use this one:
LG 24UD58-B 24-Inch 4K UHD IPS Monitor

Plan on buying a VESA mount though because the included stand is garbage. I bought a monoprice one for $25.

I can’t seem to find it anywhere in Canada. I planned on getting the Dell P2415Q, but they’ve recently discontinued that model.

 

[nigelbb]

Until I got a 43" 4K screen I was using two Viewsonic 1920 x 1080 monitors with my Mac Mini. The display was sharp & clear. No problems at all apart from the swapping over of the screen arrangement after a reboot. https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...r-reboot.2298718/?post=29970941#post-29970941

 

[MacCheetah3]

It’s actually not bad. A tiny bit blurry. although, that’s subjective.

I’m not sure if this will give you a fair depiction:

I’ve been considering a 32” UHD, however, I’m not willing to pay $1,000 (USD) or more and I’ve come to prefer the curved monitors. There are some choices, though reviews aren’t helpful as all of the models I’ve found in searches have nearly 10% of 2 and 1-star ratings.

 

[jdb8167]

I can’t seem to find it anywhere in Canada. I planned on getting the Dell P2415Q, but they’ve recently discontinued that model.

Probably related to the ongoing electronic parts shortage. Too bad. I like mine enough that I sold my 27” Thunderbolt Display (which was somewhat blurry on Big Sur).

 

[Amethyst1]

I planned on getting the Dell P2415Q, but they’ve recently discontinued that model.

All 24" 4K screens have been discontinued AFAICS, with the two exceptions being the new LG UltraFine 4K... and this one.

 

[jdb8167]

All 24" 4K screens have been discontinued AFAICS, with the two exceptions being the new LG UltraFine 4K... and this one.

That one doesn’t seem to be available in the US. The LG 24” I posted above is still available on the US Amazon site.

 

[Spungoflex]

It’s actually not bad. A tiny bit blurry. although, that’s subjective.

I’m not sure if this will give you a fair depiction:
View attachment 1789011
I’ve been considering a 32” UHD, however, I’m not willing to pay $1,000 (USD) or more and I’ve come to prefer the curved monitors. There are some choices, though reviews aren’t helpful as all of the models I’ve found in searches have nearly 10% of 2 and 1-star ratings.

Thanks.

That does look quite a bit worse than my Windows PC, which I'm already having a hard time with after using my iPhone with retina display. It's hard to unsee the blurriness once you are used to high DPI screens.

 

[thingstoponder]

I believe High Sierra was the last OS that had subpixel antialiasing.

I’ve had the display since like.. Mavericks and never noticed any change in text clarity on that display or the built in non-retina MacBook Pro display.

 

[11235813]

The definite answer is: Yes! I'm writing this on a 1080p monitor attached to my M1 Air and all text is blurry. Since Apple removed sub pixel antialiasing, any monitor under 4K suffers from this problem and there is no solution. If you want your text to be crisp, you need to go 4K.