How to get text clarity on the external monitor connected to macbook pro

Question

Level 1

4 points

How to get text clarity on the external monitor connected to macbook pro

I have ordered a Dell monitor 23 inches(Full HD). It is a second hand monitor. I know when we connect external monitors to macbook pro, we see text blurr issues on external display.

I know I can also face this problem, hence asking the question and looking for suggestions well in advance.

Should I buy a goodHDMI to USB C cable? Will it make any difference?

Or should I continue using HDMI cable which I currently have. I have HDMI port in my macbook, so HDMI cable can connect to my macbook and also to external monitor.

If above is not a solution, should i download external apps like better display or disable font smoothing? what should I do?

Thank You

Posted on Apr 7, 2025 6:31 AM

Reply

Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

119,801 points

Apr 7, 2025 7:33 AM in response to lakshay201

I happen to use a 32-in LG 4K UltraFine display with my M4 Mac Mini Pro. The text is ultrasharp because the dot pitch on this LG display is purposely small, and it is anti-glare. I have the macOS Sequoia v15.4 Display settings configured for More Space. The display is connected via a Belkin Ultra High-Speed HDMI 4K cable.

The other factor is that my optometrist prescribed eyeglasses purposely for arm-length focus to a computer display.

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 7, 2025 2:25 PM in response to kaz-k

kaz-k wrote:

Hi,

I suppose your Dell monitor is not "retina" monitor which super clear monitor like your MacBook Pro has.

No "suppose" about it. 1920x1080 spread out over a 23" diagonal works out to 95.8 PPI.

The OP hasn't told us which MacBook Pro he or she has, but a 27" 5K Apple Studio Display or a 24" M4 iMac has a Retina screen with 218 PPI. The screens on 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pros have 254 PPI and so have pixels spaced closer together even than those on other Mac Retina screens.

Another way of putting it is that, within a given square inch, a 27" 5K Apple Studio Display will have over 4.5 times as many pixels as that 23" 1920x1080 pixel display.