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Scaling on macOS

Scaling on macOS works a little differently than it does on Windows.
Most users find 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) uncomfortable, as the icons and fonts are too small for them.
That’s why Apple has scaling set up so that even though the image looks like Full HD (1920 x 1080), the monitor receives a 4K quality signal.

In practice, it looks like this:

macOS reports “Looks like Full HD”

 

 

 

But realistically, the video signal is 4K

 

 

So the user can comfortably see the content of the monitor without losing image quality.

Of course, there is also the option to set the 4K resolution.

Just click on the “Looks like 3840 x 2160” icon or hold down the Option button on the keyboard and click on Scaled. You’ll then see a menu of resolutions.

 

 

 

If you click on “Show low resolution modes”, a menu of frequencies and “low resolution” resolutions will appear.