BenQ's 5K monitor offers options for Mac users
If you want the crispiest text, that is
It’s one of those baffling things you never really pay attention to. Until you notice it, then you can’t unsee it.
I’m speaking, of course, about how Apple’s Macs and MacBooks in general require very specific monitor resolutions in order to show you crispy text. Basically, you’ll have no issues if you’re just using a MacBook’s display, but if you want to hook it to external monitors, I recommend not settling for a standard 1080p screen.
Basically, macOS requires a pixel density of around 220 PPI (pixels per inch), and MacBooks such as the 14-inch MBP come with 254 PPI, while the 15-inch MacBook Air skirts it a little with just 224 PPI.
But if you’re connecting that MacBook to an external 24-inch 1080p monitor? Well, that’s just 92 PPI, which will make your screen look fuzzy. So what happens if you get a 4K display? Well, it’s not too bad, though you may feel it won’t be as sharp compared with a proper 5K. You also may notice some shimmer when scrolling, and this is really obvious on 1080p screens.
Ironically, 27-inch 2K monitors — those with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels — are fine. They have a pixel density close to 110 PPI, which works well with macOS’ native scaling. But if you want the sharpest of text, a 5K monitor is your best bet. With LG’s 5K UltraFine displays not readily available anymore, you have to go with Apple’s own Studio Displays if you want the best Mac experience, which can be pricey.
Thankfully, if you want to save quite a bit of moola, Taiwan’s BenQ now sells monitors designed for Macs, especially one with a 5K display. The MA270S, which I recently reviewed, matched the Apple Studio Display in colours and sharpness, and comes with 450 nits of brightness and Thunderbolt 4 for daisy chaining.
That said, it’s not a perfect comparison, as the S$2,199 Apple Studio Display comes with 600 nits of brightness and Thunderbolt 5. There’s also a matte display option, which costs an additional S$400.
But when you look at the price, which can dip as low as S$1,450 with vouchers on Shopee or Lazada, well, it becomes a no-brainer. Factor in that LG’s almost-impossible-to-get version can retail for more than S$4,000, and you’re looking at a really good deal.
BenQ also has a bunch of 4K monitors for Macs, and while they may not feature the desired PPI to satisfy your eyes, they will still look fine, and they also support the P3 colour gamut to accurately match the MacBook’s screen.
This week, we take a look at Honor’s iPhone doppelganger, Huawei’s all-rounder earbuds, and a fun turn-based roguelite that has you playing as a skull.
Not only does it look almost identical, the Honor 600 Pro also comes with an AI button that’s similar to the iPhone’s Action button, as well as a Liquid Glass look and feel for the UI. But it does have its own unique deepfake detection features, and a huge 7,000mAh battery in its slim frame for just S$1,099.
Huawei’s S$240 FreeBuds Pro 5 comes with lots of control options, including head gestures, and offers pretty good noise cancellation, with a natural-sounding transparency mode as well. It’s competitively priced, especially against premium models, where this pair of earbuds compete.
Demon Lord: Just a Block offers fun turn-based rougelite gameplay where enemies only move as you move, with bosses to beat, and plenty of weapons to unlock and use. You play as the Demon Lord’s skull, and move around with just the arrow keys. Sounds simple, but the game can feel quite difficult until you get the hang of it.