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

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Posted on Nov 29, 2024 2:27 PM

Same here. Utterly annoying.


My M1 MBP works well with the 5k LG Ultrawide, and 3840x1620 is a splendid resolution (72Hz).

BTW, it shows HiDPI on my tool (BetterDisplay), it looks crisp.


While I can select the same resolution on my Mac Mini M4, it doesn't show HiDPI, and it (indeed) looks worse. De HiDPI settings available are 5120 x 2160 (way too small) and 3008 x 1270 (too big imho).


I'm glad I'm not the only one, so it isn't an issue on my device.

On the other hand, I'd rather have a DOA as I could return and switch.


It's quite odd that the latest and fastest (M4) processor and the same OSX version) isn't able to use my monitor as should be. And that it beats the M1 (??)



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Jan 9, 2025 11:43 PM in response to brandonfromsaint charles

My case may be the worst:


I paired the new Mac Mini M4 with the Arzopa 2.5K. At first, the monitor connects to the Mac Mini M4 quickly and easily, with no problem.


But then It's disappointing because the default resolution is quite low (I can't remember the exact number, but it's around 1800x800).


When I clicked on 2500x1440, which is the 2.5K resolution claim by Arzopa, on the scroll-down option, the screen immediately went dark, with a blinking warning "no support" and"no signal".


I can't see and do anything now.


It's the only monitor I have, so now I don't know how to make it back to the original/default resolution given by Mac Mini M4.


Please help!

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Jan 10, 2025 10:02 AM in response to brandonfromsaint charles

So I read some comments about people who are owning a Dell 4025qw (5k2k with 120 hz) and who are reporting that they have no issues to get a resolution of 3840 x 2160 with Macbook Pro M4 Pro --> so the whole case is very weird, and frustrating.


Can anyone who owns a Dell 4025qw confirm this? Thank you.

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Jan 28, 2025 12:53 PM in response to brandonfromsaint charles

I have a MacBook Pro M4 Max 16" ... and I have an LG which says it is running at 3440 x 1440 x 60hz... (from the information selection in the OSD)and an Astropad Thunderbolt connection back to my old 2017 iMac Pro 27" monitor... So has no-one gotten a credible response from Apple support yet? I need to consolidate these two externals into the Dell UltraSharp U4025QW, but obviously it's not going to be working well enough, and the 2017 is on its last legs... any information would be really helpful...

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Feb 9, 2025 11:53 AM in response to brandonfromsaint charles

Is this an issue ONLY with Ultrawides?


I'm staying with a regular 27" monitor. Questions for anyone successfully using a M4 mini (pro or otherwise) with a 27 inch monitor:


With a 27" monitor, do you always get more resolution options than the none pro version, or are you limited like brandonfromsaint charles to jumping from 3360 x 1418 all the way to the high res option at 5120 x 2160 without any options in between?


Does anyone have 'crisp' resolution on text with any non-Apple 27 inch monitor? If so, what model monitor are you using, at what resolution?


I have an old Apple Thunderbolt Display - anyone using that with the M4 mini? Hows the text crispness?


And does the Mac Mini Pro indeed always have more options for resolution than the non pro chip version?

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Feb 9, 2025 12:49 PM in response to smokestack salmon

smokestack salmon wrote:

I have an old Apple Thunderbolt Display - anyone using that with the M4 mini? Hows the text crispness?


That is a 27" monitor with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels.


It doesn't have Retina pixel density (like a 27" 5K iMac or 27" 5K Apple Studio Display would). Older Macs would have used sub-pixel anti-aliasing to make text look better on the screen, but current Macs do not do that.

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Feb 9, 2025 3:40 PM in response to brandonfromsaint charles

Thanks to the responses who set me straight on not wanting to use 5120x2160 at native 1-to-1 pixel resolution.


This situation is unbelievably frustrating. My personal Mac is still a Mid 2010 Mac Pro cheese grater. My Apple Cinema HD Display just died. In anticipation of buying a new Mac I bought an LG 34BK95U-W Ultrawide monitor (in retrospect, a mistake). I saved my pennies and it looked like my ship had come in with the M4 Macs …


Now I can’t buy an M4-based Mac mini because it has this 3840x2160 HiDPI problem, and it also has problems with the rear ports randomly disconnecting USB devices.


I can’t buy an M4-based MacBook Pro because of this 3840x2160 HiDPI problem. I don’t want to buy an M3-based MacBook Pro because it’s a year older, 15% slower and frankly, I’m not seeing much of a price differential between them and the current M4s.


Oy vey … I sure hope Apple fixes at least one of these issues soon. I don’t want to waste this big investment I made in the LG monitor.

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Feb 9, 2025 4:33 PM in response to neuroanatomist

neuroanatomist wrote:

FWIW, it's a great display. I've had mine for a bit over 4 years. It remains a significant annoyance that my 16" M1 Pro MBP (work Mac) can support my desired resolution but my 16" M14 Pro MBP (personal Mac) cannot.

Oh, I agree the display itself is nice. I just should have waited to buy a 2nd display until I actually got the computer to connect to it. I have a 2013 Mac Pro trash can that I use as a test system but it can only do 4K with black bars on the side with the LG. I have yet to see the screen completely filled! And now we have 6K displays coming out.

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Feb 25, 2025 2:02 AM in response to brandonfromsaint charles

I use 5120x2160 40" (75Hz) display also. Like all others its native DPI is 139. Running it at 3840x1620 causes DPI to be 104 which many people find quite comfortable.


I mainly use it for software development and really like my display space. I would like Mac to be able to render HiDPI virtual resolution of 4096x1728 (111dpi). This is equal to windows 125% scaling (which it is by the way able to handle quite nicely). This is something that no M-chip or macOS version has not been able to do.


I know that windows and macOS rendering paths are quite different, but also as an end user, I think that I should not be required to think such differences but instead just get the resolution I want.


BetterDisplay has a GitHub issue thread that discusses this and has some technical details: https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay/discussions/1268

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Mac mini M4 Pro Display Resolutions

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