Which display scaling setting do you use on your new 14" or 16" MacBoo...

I go back and forth between 4 and 5 on my 14" MBP.

I've been pretty content with the default scaling on the 14". I can comfortably have VS code open with 80 characters width and give a browser the near 2/3rds remaining screen.

One anecdote:

I'm really happy about the increased PPI on the new MacBook Pros. On the older MBPs when I switched out of the default 2x mode it was noticeably blurry. I think the denser pixels on the new MBPs makes it so that even when I switch out of an integer (2x) scaling mode I really can't see a difference in clarity.

I'd use the more space mode more often on the 14" but I think it makes the menubar look so ridiculous. Even coming from the 16" intel though I feel like I have plenty of real estate on the 14. I typically switch on demand when whatever I'm doing would benefit from smaller UI/more working space. Casual browsing I'm almost always on default.

UltimateSyn said:

I go back and forth between 4 and 5 on my 14" MBP.

Same here. I now use 5 for using it as a laptop and 4 when docked to my 34" ultrawide as my MBP is so far away that small text becomes difficult to read. Gladly macOS remembers the scaling based on where you set it.

fs454 said:

I'd use the more space mode more often on the 14" but I think it makes the menubar look so ridiculous. Even coming from the 16" intel though I feel like I have plenty of real estate on the 14. I typically switch on demand when whatever I'm doing would benefit from smaller UI/more working space. Casual browsing I'm almost always on default.

Imho the menu bar on Monterey looks so huge. The spacing makes it that most menu bar icons disappear. Bartender works fine, but still. Decreasing the spacing with Bartender makes it look too small.

Default for me

UltimateSyn said:

I go back and forth between 4 and 5 on my 14" MBP.

Same... on the 14" and 16".

16" using Default with Tru Tone turned off for an accurate picture.

I did that musical chair BS with the 14" - got so sick of it trying to gain more real estate. I went for the 16" and at default it is just sublime.

16” with more space. Standard is far too large and wasteful.

Default is sharp but unfortunately is difficult for my eyes for long duration usage

WilliamG said:

16” with more space. Standard is far too large and wasteful.

Fonts are way too tiny with that! I actually will run 16" with larger fonts (#3) relative to default (#4) sometimes on my 16" intel just to make it easier on my eyes, though default is OK. (glasses work better for me than contacts).

I can read the fonts with #5 fairly clearly but I just find them to not be as comfortable.

#5

Glad my eyes can still handle it.

nquinn said:

Fonts are way too tiny with that! I actually will run 16" with larger fonts (#3) relative to default (#4) sometimes on my 16" intel just to make it easier on my eyes, though default is OK. (glasses work better for me than contacts).

I can read the fonts with #5 fairly clearly but I just find them to not be as comfortable.

You can make fonts bigger if you need to. This is always going to vary by app/user.

WilliamG said:

You can make fonts bigger if you need to. This is always going to vary by app/user.

Changing font size without the main resolution always ends up with really weird UI/buttons/etc though. Not worth it.

nquinn said:

Changing font size without the main resolution always ends up with really weird UI/buttons/etc though. Not worth it.

I only change the font size in Safari. No issues for years this way.

WilliamG said:

I only change the font size in Safari. No issues for years this way.

Yeah, I'm using my 13" M1 at 1920x1200, which gives me much more space, but in safari I change the zoom to 115%, works great.

WilliamG said:

You can make fonts bigger if you need to. This is always going to vary by app/user.

hey ,how can you do that please ?

16", default res, but with contact lenses it can be a bit blurry/small for me. With glasses on my vision is a little sharper and works well.

avichou said:

hey ,how can you do that please ?

I use Command + or Command - and Safari remembers on a per-site basis.

WilliamG said:

I use Command + or Command - and Safari remembers on a per-site basis.

yes but then u have to do it on every little site you open ,quite annoying.

I mean how do u do system wise ,for any app but a browser ?

avichou said:

yes but then u have to do it on every little site you open ,quite annoying.

I mean how do u do system wise ,for any app but a browser ?

I don’t have that issue. Don’t think you can.

On my 14", I'm using 1 notch "bigger text" (#3) than default when using it in bed on my lap, and on default #4 when using on a desk. I found that when on lap in bed, because the screen is further away from my eyes, text felt a tad bit too small. Going up a notch was perfect - even though I lose "True pixel-doubling" HiDPI, I can't tell any difference in smoothness or image quality by being slightly off perfect pixel-doubled.

Maybe my eyes aren't what they used to be, but still only in my late-30s!

Do you guys now how can we do a 1920x1200 like scale on the macbook 14 inch? I'm used to that hack on my macbook air m1.