Fuzzy/Blurry DELL U3818DW 38" using M1 Pro 16" MacBook

Question

Fuzzy/Blurry DELL U3818DW 38" using M1 Pro 16" MacBook

I got my new 2021 16" M1 Pro, replacing my 2019 16" Intel MacBook.

To my great disappointment, the DELL U3818DW 38" external monitor is extremely fuzzy and blurry (especially visible on fonts) on the M1 Pro compared to the Intel 16" MacBook which I was using up until now.

No monitor settings seem to be changed. When I plug it back to the Intel one, the image is crystal clear.

DELL U3818DW:

Resolution: 6720 x 2800

UI Looks like: 3360 x 1400 @ 60.00Hz

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Automatically Adjust Brightness: Yes

macOS version: 12.1

I've attached a picture, although it's very hard to judge a photo of a screen through another screen. Letters look like they drop a ghost shadow of some sort if I had to explain.

MacBook 16" 2019 Intel - crystal clear

MacBook 16" 2021 M1 Pro - fuzzy/blurry

Tried adjusting font smoothing - did not help.

Thank you for your help!

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Jan 5, 2022 1:23 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 6, 2022 4:13 AM in response to Missy5937

Hey Missy5937,

Thanks for the reply! Things I've tried (none of them restored the screen to 2019 Intel 16" MBP levels):

HDMI -> HDMI connection
USB-C -> USB-C connection
Changing resolution (fuzzy fonts and blurry edges are most prominent when the display is scaled)
BetterDummy resolution work-around
Forcing monitor RGB color profile by editing macOS .plist file (HDMI forces YPbPr, USB-C forces RGB - changing to the opposite makes the colors pinkish)
Changing font smoothing levels

M1 Apple Silicon MacBooks seem to have serious issues with ultra-wide displays.

A guy with a beautiful LG 38WN95C-W 38" ultra-wide monitor and base 14" MBP M1 Pro had the exact same issue.

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Answer 2

Jan 6, 2022 4:34 AM in response to MischievousChild

Here's a response from a forum, discussing the LG 38WN95C-W problem, which I think might be the issue here:

M1 and Intel scaling algorithms definitely differ, I noticed it as well when I switched. M1 seems to apply some kind of extra sharpening effect on scaled output which might be annoying to some and more pronounced on some color combinations and creates a mild halo around contrasting items (the effect is most noticeable when you invert the screen for example in Accessibility). I am not sure this is the same thing @tomre refers to.

Interestingly, this sharpening/fuzzy font thing is not visible on higher PPI monitors.

Here are some tests I've done using two DELL monitors (image crisp - good, or fuzzy - bad):

DELL U2720Q: 2019 Intel MBP crisp, M1 Air crisp, M1 Pro crisp (27", 3840x2160)

DELL U3818DW: 2019 Intel MBP crisp, M1 Air fuzzy, M1 Pro fuzzy (38", 3840x1600)

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Answer 3

Missy5937

Community Specialist

Jan 6, 2022 1:41 PM in response to MischievousChild

Hello MischievousChild,

Thanks for following up. Since you've tried all the suggested actions to correct this issue with your display, you might consider reaching out to Apple Support. They may have additional guidance to add or at least, have it reported for investigation.

Get Support

Best wishes.

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Answer 4

Jan 7, 2022 4:22 PM in response to Missy5937

I've submitted this as a bug to Apple https://www.apple.com/feedback/ with a link to this discussion.

Here's another response to my thread on a forum:

I have the same monitor and am using 14" MacBook M1 PRO connected to it via USB-C. Fonts are fuzzy. Be they at the native resolution (3840x1600) or scaled down a notch. Here's just one example:

Font smoothing ("defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 0") is turned off. When I connect my Windows laptop, the fonts are as crisp as they can get considering the ~110ppi pixel density.

Fonts are fuzzy on all scale settings (38" 3840x1600) with any monitor connection on M1 Apple Silicon MacBooks.

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Answer 5

Missy5937

Community Specialist

Jan 5, 2022 7:31 PM in response to MischievousChild

Hello MischievousChild,

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. We understand that the external monitor you're using with your MacBook Pro M1 isn't showing the clarity you'd expect. Have you tried connecting the monitor using a different port or different type of connection? Take a look at article, Use an external display with your MacBook Pro to review your various options.

Best regards.

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Fuzzy/Blurry DELL U3818DW 38" using M1 Pro 16" MacBook

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