Lg Ultrafine 4k Monitor Resolution And Scale Settings For Mac

Dec 22, 2016  If you can't connect LG UltraFine 5K Display to your Mac, must check out these helpful solutions to fix the issue right away. The 5120×2880 resolution and P3 wide color gamut add more muscle to its profile. You should use LG UltraFine 5K Display as a second monitor with Mac mini and Mac Pro because the display might not turn on until. LG UltraFine 5K/4K Displays Designed For Ultimate Mac User Experience 27 and 21.5-Inch Displays Offer Exceptional Performance, Convenience and Seamless Integration with MacBook and New MacBook Pro.

By Neil Hughes
Saturday, December 17, 2016, 09:13 am PT (12:13 pm ET)

While it isn't branded as an Apple display, the LG UltraFine 4K Display is quite Apple-like, featuring a minimalist design, high-quality ultra high-resolution screen, and dead-simple plug-and-play connectivity. It's a fantastic choice and a gorgeous display if you have a USB-C equipped MacBook, with a few caveats: it lessens the appeal of the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar and Touch ID, and it doesn't utilize Thunderbolt 3.

Dead simple, one-cable, plug-and-play

Once unboxed, setting up the LG UltraFine 4K display is about as simple as it gets.
In the box, there are exactly two cables: One USB-C to USB-C cable, and a power adapter. Simply plug the power adapter into the wall and the slot on the monitor, and connect the USB-C cable from your MacBook to the rightmost port on the back of the monitor.
That's it.

There are no buttons on this display— not even a power button. Everything works automatically, and if you need to tweak settings, you adjust the display through macOS itself.
Stereo speakers are embedded below the display, giving the front a clean look. There is no camera.
Apple's latest MacBooks with USB-C, including the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, allow power, data, display and audio to be transmitted through one cable. That means you no longer need to plug your MacBook into the wall, as the power is provided via the display itself over just one cable.
The included cable is also thick and high quality. It's not some cheap flimsy cable that you'll be afraid of fraying, or worse.
While we miss MagSafe in day-to-day use, testing the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and connecting just one cable for power, display and accessories eases some of the sting. This is as simple as can be.

USB-C, but not Thunderbolt 3

In a concession made presumably to allow the 21.5-inch LG monitor to work with Apple's ultraportable 12-inch MacBook, the UltraFine 4K Display transmits over the USB-C protocol, and not Thunderbolt 3.
This means that if you use this display with Apple's latest MacBook Pro lineup, you won't be tapping into the full potential of the Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports on your machine.
Confused yet?

Apple's 12-inch MacBook (both the 2015 and 2016 versions) features a single USB-C port for charging and data. Its USB-C port is not capable of Thunderbolt 3, which allows for faster transfer speeds, but remains restricted to the new MacBook Pro.
By transmitting video and data over USB-C, and not Thunderbolt 3, this does limit the capabilities of the 4K display somewhat. With less bandwidth available, the USB-C ports on the back of the monitor operate at USB 2.0 speeds— slower than even the full-size USB 3.0 ports on Apple's 2015 MacBook Pro.
For power users who need the absolute best, it might be best to make the jump up to LG's larger 27-inch UltraFine 5K Display, as that model's ports utilize Thunderbolt 3. Without standard USB-C video support on the 27-inch model, it's for MacBook Pro users only, as the 12-inch MacBook doesn't have the necessary Thunderbolt 3 hardware.

Considering how limited adoption of previous-generation Thunderbolt accessories has been, we doubt this concession will be of much concern to most users. If you're in the market for a display and the 27-inch model is too big or pricey, the USB-C-only connectivity of the 21.5-inch model will not likely be a hinderance.

A gorgeous wide color 4K display on par with Apple's own Retina display

When we say this display is an Apple-like product, we're talking mostly about the quality of the screen. This 4K panel is a stunner from the moment you turn it on, with brilliant, bright and vibrant colors that truly stand out.
We've been spoiled by years of using MacBooks with Retina displays, making it impossible to go back to lower-resolution laptop screens. Apple famously never gave its Thunderbolt Display the Retina treatment, but the LG UltraFine 4K Display fills in that role quite nicely.

The best compliment we can pay the LG screen is that you won't really notice any difference in quality jumping from the beautiful Retina display built in to the MacBook Pro to the 4K monitor.
LG's UltraFine displays support the P3 wide color gamut, again matching the capabilities of the gorgeous Retina display on Apple's 2016 MacBook Pro lineup. This means the display also matches the color capabilities of the iPhone 7 display and camera, making them a great pairing for mobile photography.
Around the borders, the LG monitor has a matte black look that's simple. The screen itself is glossy, which helps colors to pop, but may not be ideal for those who use it in a bright environment.

The 21.5-inch panel packs in a resolution of 4,096 by 2,304 pixels. With the default scaling of macOS, fonts are readable and UI elements are all at a comfortable size. And with real estate much larger than a MacBook can provide, tasks both basic and complex are more comfortable to manage.
We tested the LG 4K display exclusively with Apple's new 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. Our system is a maxed-out model, featuring the fastest Intel processor available and 16 gigabytes of RAM. The horsepower was more than enough to drive both the monitor and the MacBook's display with no noticeable slowdown or issues.

Of course, Apple's 12-inch MacBook offers significantly less performance than then MacBook Pro to achieve its svelte design. Considering video is done over USB-C to allow compatibility with the 12-inch MacBook, Apple obviously feels it's good enough for this screen, but we didn't have the opportunity to test with a lower end system.

Stand it, slide it, tilt it, mount it

The LG UltraFine 4K Display comes with the stand already attached. The base is flat and metal, heavy and solid. Even on a slightly wobbly desk, the LG monitor feels secure on this base.
The stand itself has a clever design that allows it to be easily slid upwards or downwards without any need to lock or unlock any moving parts. Simply apply pressure to the monitor and it will slide upwards and downwards as needed.

At its highest position, we measured the bottom of the monitor at 8.5 inches from our desk. At the lowest, it shrinks to about 4.25 inches off of the desk.
It also tilts upward and downward, and has a very slight left to right rotation. And it's wall mountable, if you prefer.
As is standard with Apple's IPS displays, the LG 4K monitor has a viewing angle of 178 degrees.

All USB-C, all the time

Some USB-C-based monitors and hubs have taken the opportunity to allow users access to legacy ports, including full-size USB ports and other inputs like an SD Card slot or HDMI input.

The LG UltraFine 4K Display, however, makes no apologies for the switch to USB-C. It connects to Apple's MacBook Pro with a USB-C to USB-C cable, and includes four USB-C ports on the back. There are no full-size USB ports or any other types of inputs on the monitor.
And, as we mentioned before, these ports run at the slower USB 2.0 speed, despite featuring USB-C connectivity. This means that devices connected to the MacBook through the monitor will be slower than if they were connected directly to the MacBook.

For most devices, and for most users, this concession probably won't make much of a difference. Just be aware that opting for the smaller, cheaper LG UltraFine monitor means you're not tapping into the full potential of your MacBook.

Touch Bar or Touch ID fanatics need not apply

Unless you plan on using the LG UltraFine 4K Display as a second monitor with your MacBook Pro opened up, using the notebook and display as a desktop-style replacement with external mouse and keyboard means users will lose easy access to two of the most-touted features on the new MacBook Pro: the Touch Bar and Touch ID.
We can't knock LG for this, but prospective buyers should at least be aware that Apple does not sell any external wireless keyboards with Touch Bar or Touch ID. For now, those features remain exclusive to the chassis of the new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro.
If you find yourself using these features on a regular basis, you'll probably want to use the LG UltraFine 4K Display as a second monitor to complement the Retina display on your MacBook Pro. In this scenario, the monitor does sit a few inches higher on a desk or table than the MacBook Pro display. We didn't find this to be a major issue on our testing.

Using the second monitor also defeats some of the convenience of the Touch Bar, even when equipped as an extension of your desktop. One of the advantages of the Touch Bar is the fact that it's at the top of the keyboard, so close to the Retina display on the MacBook Pro, easy to see and to use. When you're looking at a second monitor that's not atop the Touch Bar, some of the convenience is lost.
Personally, we prefer to close our notebook and stow it away with a large, gorgeous monitor of this size, allowing the best of both worlds between desktop computing while docked, and an ultraportable notebook on the go. As a result, it would be nice to see Apple offer a high-end Magic Keyboard with its own integrated Touch Bar and Touch ID. This way, we wouldn't have to sacrifice two key features on the new MacBook Pro while using the notebook in desktop mode.
But if you have a 12-inch MacBook, or a new 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar, or you simply don't care that much about the Touch Bar or Touch ID on your high-end MacBook Pro, this isn't an issue.

A word about Apple's defunct Thunderbolt Display, and pricing

It's dead. Time to move on.
Apple signaled back in October that it had permanently exited the standalone monitor business. That means the legacy Thunderbolt Display, which has been discontinued and was priced at a hefty $999, will not make a return.

Apple instead partnered with LG to make this the premier external USB-C monitor for the MacBook Pro. And currently priced at $524, it's a steal compared to what Apple used to charge for the non-Retina Thunderbolt Display.
The current pricing on the 21.5-inch LG UltraFine 4K display is a temporary 25 percent discount, intended to appease users who are upset over Apple's switch to USB-C. Starting Dec. 31, the price will go back up to its usual $699.
At $524, it's also considerably cheaper than the $974 ultra high-resolution 5K model, which boasts a screen size of 27 inches. That larger monitor will return to an MSRP of $1299.95 starting in 2017.
With only a few weeks left to lock in a 25 percent discount, those who are on the fence should probably buy now. This is a gorgeous display with a lot to offer, and if you want a USB-C monitor with 4K resolution in this size, the price is right.

Conclusion

If you're looking for an external display and you have Apple's 12-inch MacBook, we feel like the LG UltraFine 4K Display is the obvious choice. The 21.5-inch size may be too small for some, but it's substantially bigger than anything in Apple's notebook lineup.
We also think this display is a great fit for the 2016 MacBook Pro sans Touch Bar.

Using the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar with this display, however, gives us some pause.
Depending on a user's workflow, and depending on how frequently they find themselves using the Touch Bar, it's ultimately going to be a personal decision of what works best.
If you're running the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, it's harder to recommend the LG UltraFine 4K Display. Sure, the jump from 15 inches to 21.5 inches is significant, but the sacrifices made to send video over USB-C rather than Thunderbolt 3 start to weigh heavily.

Consider also that the 15-inch MacBook Pro has a dedicated graphics card capable of pushing more pixels, making the larger 27-inch LG 5K display— with Thunderbolt 3— a much more attractive option. If you can fit it on your desk, at least.
On the surface, however, LG's UltraFine 4K Display is as simple as it gets in terms of aesthetics and performance. On the whole, we view that as a good thing.
And the fact that the display offers all of the quality, clarity and performance of Apple's own Retina display means there's no downgrade or tradeoff— at least, as far as the picture is concerned.

Score: 4 out of 5

Where to buy

The LG UltraFine 4K Display is available exclusively through Apple. It carries a reduced price of $524 through the end of 2016, after which it will increase to $699.

Mac cracked font for windows. By Andrew O'Hara
Sunday, June 09, 2019, 09:12 am PT (12:12 pm ET)

LG's 24-inch 4K display is a great option for prosumers who are looking for a forward-thinking monitor that tightly integrates to their Mac with superior quality.


We are always on the lookout for great monitors so we were excited when LG released a more capable 23.7-inch 4K UltraFine display that also supports daisy-chaining over Thunderbolt 3. This new 23.7-inch 4K display is replacing the outgoing 21-inch 4K display that was previously sold by Apple and builds on it in a number of ways.
Included in the box is a Thunderbolt 3 cable, a USB-C cable, and a power cable alongside the monitor itself. Let's check out how it stacks up.

Excellent third-party hardware

The gold standard of hardware and monitor design is often held by Apple. Not just with standalone monitors, but the displays and build structure of the iMac line. This is a lofty bar to hold LG against and one that isn't entirely fair. Still, it is all but impossible to not draw comparisons between LG's 23.7-inch monitor and any of Apple's displays.
Apple has stringent guidelines for third-party accessories and ones LG must abide by in creating its for-Mac monitor line. If you have tried out LG monitors in the past or that aren't destined for Apple stores you see a different approach.
For example, the 23.7-inch UtlraFine display doesn't have an external power supply of any sorts, and instead, like all of Apple's desktops, has the power supply integrated into the monitor. This is far preferable to the hefty external power brick that LG normally uses.

As for the hardware itself, it is either just OK or excellent depending on who you are comparing it to. Comparing it to Apple and it is decent —but not amazing. Compare it to the larger swath of terrible mass-market monitors, LG has knocked it out of the park.
The body is very dissimilar to the previous UltraFine displays. Primarily made of plastic with a black metal base. Unlike the other UltraFine monitors, this one comes assembled out of the box requiring just a power cable to be ready to go. The plastic that the body is made of doesn't feel cheap. It feels strong and solid —but still plastic.

There are slightly chunky bezels around the monitor, all symmetrical in size. They are larger bezels than on the LG UltraWide display we reviewed but still smaller than on Apple's iMacs.
The screen of the monitor is somewhat adjustable with similar degrees of motion to the other UltraFine displays. It can tilt down roughly five degrees and can tilt up about 25-degrees. It can move up and down about five inches. There is no horizontal rotation to be found, so in that case just rotate the base.

LG has achieved quite a bit of smoothness to the monitor movements though they aren't as smooth and effortless as they are with the iMac or Apple's new —and expensive —Pro Display XDR. When you adjust the display up or down, there can be a bit of a jump right at either end and the springs help offset the weight and pop into place.

Mac integration

A quick survey of the monitor will reveal five Type-C ports. Two of these ports are Thunderbolt 3 and are denoted by a white ring around them and the Thunderbolt logo. The remaining three are all USB Type-C. This port selection feels very much designed for the Mac, and for the future. Three surplus USB-C ports is quite generous and for those looking to the future is what is needed rather than legacy USB-A.
It may be helpful for some to have a USB-A port or two around back, but in a year or two as everyone continues moving to USB-C most will be yearning for more Type-C ports rather than the already DOA Type-A. We've already taken our workflow all USB-C by opting for new cables as to not be hampered by dongles.

Thunderbolt 3 is particularly advantageous for users, allowing an unprecedented amount of flexibility. In our workflow, we are able to daisy chain several devices together with only a single cable getting plugged into our MacBook Pro. From our Mac, the Thunderbolt 3 cable goes into the first LG UtlraFine followed by a second LG UltraFine, then into our Akitio Node Lite with a 1TB Intel Optane SSD followed by our LaCie 20TB 2Big drive.

Not only does all of that get powered and connected over a single Thunderbolt 3 cable —of which a two-meter version is included in the box —but it powers our Mac as well. It will deliver 85W of power which is two watts short of the maximum input our 15-inch Pro can take.
Also missing from this display is any form of button. Yes, there are no buttons to these displays. That is very 'Apple' in design in that there is nothing to do or configure. No settings to deal with. It is as simple as plug it in and you are good to go.
This display also supports both Apple's Night Shift technology as well as True Tone. Both features that are seldom seen in third-party displays. To adjust the brightness, you can do that through the Mac as well instead of some hidden buttons on the display.

A better option than the discontinued 21-inch

LG introduced this monitor soon after discontinuing the 21-inch 4K UltraFine display. That is fine by us as the new 23.7-inch is a far better value.
This monitor gives you a couple extra diagonal inches of screen real estate for the exact same price. The new monitor can also output 85W of power compared to only 60W on the outgoing version.

One way the 21-inch does win out though is in pixel density. Both the 21-inch and 23.7-inch monitors are 4K displays, but since the latter has a larger physical size, the pixel density is slightly reduced. It has gone from 219 to 186 PPI. When we look at it from a normal distance, this change isn't much apparent. Because of the larger screen size, you should naturally be sitting slightly further away anyway which makes the PPI a moot point.
A huge factor for most will be the second Thunderbolt 3 port found on this machine which allows such easy daisy chaning of additional Thunderbolt 3 devices or additional displays. Without that port, they would either need two ports on your machine or require an adapter or hub. Simply put, the second Thunderbolt 3 port is crucial for a pro workflow and monitor.

An incredible display

The physical dimensions of the monitor sit at 3840 x 2160 60Hz UHD. By default, macOS scales to 1920 x 1080 running with pixels doubled. There are other resolutions available and you can run at its native resolution but on-screen objects will be quite small and uncomfortable to manipulate.

It also covers the P3 wide color gamut and touts 500 nits of brightness —same as Apple's MacBook Pro displays.
We tested the monitors out for a few weeks before forming any full opinions but were largely impressed with the capabilities of the display. Everything looked sharp and the colors popped excellently. Color accuracy seemed spot on out of the box with no additional correction needed, contrast seemed great and the viewing angle was also wide enough when a group gathered around the monitor to look over our content.

You can find other competing 4K monitors in the $300 range but there is a pretty drastic difference in features, macOS integration, and build quality. A quick look at the alternatives you see a lot of thin, glossy, cheap feeling plastic with giant bezels and gaudy logos.
They have buttons that are necessary to turn the monitor on and off as well as to adjust the brightness. They have external power bricks that are large and inconvenient. And they use HDMI or DisplayPort rather than Thunderbolt 3. There is no support for the P3 wide color gamut. They don't deliver power to your Mac and they certainly don't have a built-in hub of USB-C ports and can't be daisy chained together.

There are going to be plenty out there that are okay with the trade offs for a cheaper price, but as Mac users we tend to place more importance on the integration, the design, and quality of the monitor. It may not live entirely up to the bar set by Apple's hardware but it still stands far above the rest of the market.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Where to buy

The new LG UltraFine 4K Display (24MD4KL-B) can be ordered from Apple for $699.95.