Mac mini M4 Pro Display Resolutions

I have a MacBook Pro M1, and a 5k LG monitor with 5120 x 2160 res. When I use it I can use the "default" setting which is 3840 x 1620 and it is perfect for me.

I just got a new Mac mini M4 pro. Its default for the same monitor is 3360 x 1418, and the resolution kinda sucks. But there is only one high res option at 5120 x 2160 which is way too small to see things.

Is there a way around this that I am not aware of? would the same issue be on the studio? I do not understand where the limitation comes from unless it has something to do with the MacBook Pro m1 having a certain res on the built in display. But that would make me think the mini should be able to do that res no matter what because there is no built in display.

both are using same thunderbolt cable.

Also both are using same OS version.

here is the options :

Thanks,

Brandon

Posted on Nov 14, 2024 6:58 PM

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

50,365 points

Posted on Nov 25, 2024 2:31 PM

Servant of Cats wrote:

So I'm guessing it is a LG 40" UltraWide (40WP95C) WUHD 5K2K Nano IPS Curved Monitor

In my case, it's an LG 34" 34BK95U-W UltraFine (flat panel), but I see the same issue. As one who used the 3840x1620 setting routinely and now finds it unavailable on my new 16" M4 Pro MBP, it's annoying. It's even more annoying because I frequently switch back and forth between that Mac (my personal one) and my work Mac, a 16" M1 Pro MBP, that does support 3840x1620. So now, the text sizes are different between the two every time I switch. Major PITA.

FWIW, my LG display is Thunderbolt 3 and connected as such, so it seems unlikely this is a cabling/bandwidth issue. Especially since older Macs had no problem in the same setup, obviously.

For what it's worth, "like 3840x1620" would imply the use of an internal canvas that had 7680x3240 pixels. A 32" Apple 6K Pro Display XDR has a native resolution of 6016x3384 pixels. So the mode which you want to use would require a canvas with about 22% more pixels than the total number of pixels on a 32" 6K display.

As you said in your other reply, the M4 Pro should have no problem with that...the M1 Pro doesn't, nor does the 2019 16" Intel Core i9 MBP that is my prior personal Mac.

Your supposition about the internal canvas is correct. When taking a full-screen screenshot with either of those other Macs connected to the display, the output is a 7680x3240 image.

I've submitted feedback to Apple on this, and suggest anyone else with this issue does the same:

Feedback - MacBook Pro - Apple

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31 replies

Jan 3, 2025 8:01 AM in response to MatNeh

Thank you for confirming this issue - I am new to this "discussion panel"; is there anyone from Apple who will respond to this problem?

Mac mini M4 Pro Display Resolutions