If a display’s PPI is lower, text and the macOS user interface will be larger. If a display’s PPI is higher, text and the macOS user interface will be smaller. MacOS has been designed to be legible and usable with a pixel density of about 218PPI (pixels per inch) for “Retina” class desktop displays. With that in mind, what are the criteria for a good external Mac display in 2022? Pixel density # The Studio Display hits an incredibly important target, and it can now be the default choice for discerning Mac designers and developers. It’s definitely true the Studio Display could have included local dimming, HDR, 120Hz refresh rate and other niceties, but I think that would have been the wrong choice if it meant a higher price. The Studio Display is precisely what I and many others have been asking Apple for - an iMac without the computer. Spec wise, it’s incredibly similar to LG’s 5K UltraFine, and the display of the now discontinued 27-inch iMac, even though it’s not using the same panel.

Thankfully, Apple’s new Studio Display now provides a great option. It’s unclear to me if the product still exists as a going concern.

Not only that, but the LG 5K UltraFine has been going in and out of stock globally. This effectively left the market with a single option - the LG 5K UltraFine. The Pro Display XDR surpasses the specs many Mac users need, which unfortunately also puts it out of reach for many financially.Ģ019 also saw an update to LG’s 4K UltraFine display, increasing its size from 21.5-inch to 23.7-inch, but lowering its resolution pixel density. In 2019, Apple announced their return to the display market, with an incredible product carrying an incredible price tag. LG, Dell, Samsung, and other display makers have either never catered for the specs many Mac designers and developers want, or they’ve reluctantly produced products that have been short-lived or compromised. Since writing about Mac external displays in 2016, not much has changed. Mac external displays for designers and developers, part 2

Aspect ratio apple computer monitors