Why is my Mac mini M4 Pro display resolution low and how can I adjust it?

I was eventually able to get BetterDisplay to work if I created a Virtual screen with 3840x1620 resolution and then mirror it to my actual display. However, my mouse keeps getting stuck and using a corner of the screen to enter sleep mode doesn't work so it's not a good solution.

Yes, it seems this feature only works with the Dell 4025QW. Interestingly, some people have even sold their LG 40" monitors to switch to the Dell 4025QW. I’m currently using an LG 40" with the M4 Pro and have no plans to sell it for another 40" monitor, especially one that’s already a year old since its release. Many of us have submitted feedback to Apple and are now waiting for a fix for the M4.

Oh interesting. I have the Dell U4021QW, and I don't see HiDPI 3840x1620 as an option in BetterDisplay on my M4 Max. Whenever I choose 3840x1620, I get the low DPI version. On the M1 Max MacBook I had 3840x1620 HiDPI.

Greg Earle wrote:

As someone who also has the LG 34" 34BK95U-W UltraFine display (but no M4 Mac), I have to ask - if you think 5120x2160 is "too small", then why did you buy a 5K2K display? You could've just bought a smaller 30" WQXGA 2560x1600 display or something and use the full resolution rather than upscaling.

Not saying that Apple shouldn't fix this of course, but I'm curious. 🤷🏼

Speaking for myself, because 3840x1620 is a lot more screen real estate than 2560x1600. The highest available scaled option on the M4 with the current macOS is 3360x1418, which is noticeably (to me) less than 3840x1620.

Also, WQXGA is a 16:10 aspect ratio and that would completely defeat the purpose of choosing an ultrawide monitor like the ones under discussion that have a 21:9 aspect ratio. 5K:2K is like a 4K display that’s 1/3 wider.

Also, everyone has said the M1-based Macs are fine - what about M2 or M3? No one out there in thread-land with any of those who can chime in?

Reports elsewhere indicate M2 and M3 Macs support 3840x1620 (I haven’t tried myself but could connect my wife’s 14” M3 Pro MBP). Seems this issue is specific to M4 chips.

I wrote:

Now I can’t buy an M4-based Mac mini because it has this 3840x2160 HiDPI problem […]

I can’t buy an M4-based MacBook Pro because of this 3840x2160 HiDPI problem. […]

Oops … I had 2160 on the brain. I meant 3840x1620 HiDPI here. Sorry.

Since Apple has not done anything (even in Sequoia 15.3.1), I doubt there are any newer experiences.

I personally would not buy an M4 Pro Mac mini until this is sorted out. I also have an LG 5K2K Ultrawide (34") display and this situation frustrates me no end.

I have even been considering buying an M3 Pro or M3 Max MacBook Pro to avoid this problem, which I'd really rather not have to do. (Additionally, remember that M4-based Mac minis also have the problem of USB-C devices randomly disconnecting when connected to the back-side ports.)

@MZGERM There is no news from any of us or from Apple. Apparently Apple does not consider it a problem, as there have been several point releases of macOS Sequoia released since this issue was first posted (both on here and on the Macrumors forums) and no fix has been forthcoming. I have the same LG monitor you have and I have balked at buying a new M4-based Mac (of any kind) because of this issue.

Just to confirm -- you are using 3840x1620 with BetterDisplay, but it's NOT HiDPI mode right? The HiDPI 3840x1620 is what's missing with the M4 chip.

That’s correct. I have the exact same monitor connected over Thunderbolt. The “looks like” 3840x1620 option is missing going from M1 to M4. You’ll get the option of 3360x1418 instead.

I just got the new Mac mini M4 Pro, same issue with the same monitor. I have my MBP M1 Pro plugged in, and the 3840x1620 is the best resolution for me since the 5120x2160 makes things very small.

I'm trying to look for a fix for this, unfortunately if nothings comes up, I will return the Mac mini. I had bought the regular Mac mini and had the same problem, I thought it could be the non-pro chip, unfortunately it wasn't.

I'm in the same boat, I had a 3424 x 1926 120hz setup on my MBP M1 Pro.

On my M4 Pro, I can only do 3840 x 2160 or drop down to 3360 x 1890.

It might not sound drastically different but on a 27k display it's rather noticeable, and weird that Apple (it seems) either had oversight or intentionally gimped it

Absolutely have this issue as well. LG 34BK95U-W worked amazingly well on my old 2017 iMac Pro and now has the same problems you go through, either the text is unreadable or it's way too big in HiDPI. Don't have much to add, just really want to hear if anything is added to this thread.

As someone who also has the LG 34" 34BK95U-W UltraFine display (but no M4 Mac), I have to ask - if you think 5120x2160 is "too small", then why did you buy a 5K2K display? You could've just bought a smaller 30" WQXGA 2560x1600 display or something and use the full resolution rather than upscaling.

Not saying that Apple shouldn't fix this of course, but I'm curious. 🤷🏼

Also, everyone has said the M1-based Macs are fine - what about M2 or M3? No one out there in thread-land with any of those who can chime in?

So I am planning to get a new Macbook Pro M4, connecting it to my Dell U4021QW over thunderbolt - with my Macbook Pro M1 I used a resolution of 3840 x 1620 - so that's for now not possible anymore. Is that right?

I have a 34" Samsung QWHD Widescreen Curved Monitor and I can't activate HiDPI, even using BetterDisplay. When I try to activate HiDPI with BetterDisplay, the resolution goes to 2048x858. When I go to 3440x1440 it deactivates HiDPI. This is happening with a Mac mini M4.