Some higher HiDPI resolutions do not work with high refresh rate modes in Seqouia on some Apple Silicon Macs (+ additional limitations with HDR enabled)

[goodnotgreat-ai]

updated to macos sequoia using m2 macmini and the monitor is lg cx48,it doesn't work with HiDPI mode selected at 2550x1440 and 120hz refresh rate

[teodoradriann]

mine doesnt work either

[waydabber]

Sequoia introduces stricter limits for M1 and entry level Macs especially in HDR mode. Try to disable HDR, reduce refresh rate or go for a lower resolution.

[goodnotgreat-ai]

HDR is not turned on. Under the conditions of 120 Hz and HiDPI, only 1920x1080 mode works normally. Does this mean that it can only be downgraded to macOS Sonoma?

[rchybicki]

same here, m3 max mbp, had 4k 120hz hidpi on sonoma, now can only do 60hz, huge downgrade

[rchybicki]

Yes exactly, that's what I used on Sonoma

[rchybicki]

Hi @waydabber, were you able to test if 4k 120hz HiDPI is working on your M3 Max on Sequoia? I'm still stuck on 60hz to get HiDPI.

[rchybicki]

I'm not sure what changed, but I can now select HiDPI 4k 120hz again. Came with a BetterDisplay update? I'm not sure, but I'm happy :-) Needs configuration protection to stay on.

[waydabber]

Strange. These options do not appear in the proper system mode list but only in the unexposed refresh rate list. Not entirely sure why that is though. Some more investigation might be needed.

Do you have 120Hz in System Settings/Displays?

[rchybicki]

Sadly, this was some sort of fluke. Selecting HIDPI on 120hz is dropping the resolution again now. With HIDPI on I can only select 60hz in Settings.

[MrUltimate]

Same here, before Sequoia, I was able to run 3440x1440@240hz and HiDPI. Now when I try to do that, I'm forced to a lower resolution. Clearly the hardware can support it, I don't see why Apple would enforce something like this?

[MrUltimate]

I had to drop to 120hz to achieve 3440x1440 with HiDPI. Clearly the hardware can support it so there's absolutely no reason why Apple would be enforcing something like this. @waydabber I hope you're able to find a way around this!

[kelvin-du]

I used to have 3840x1600@144hz with HiDPI. But now this option is gone. I can only use 3840x1600@144hz in LoDPI.
This happened right after I upgraded to MacOS 15.0

[dmehlmann]

@kelvin-du Hey, I wanted to ask what monitor you are using? I am using a 34" 3440x1440@144hz with a 14" M1 MBP Max. I am only able to achieve 100hz with HiDPI, so I am wondering if it's also possible to achieve HiPDI 3440x1440@120hz through a multiport adapter or a thunderbolt docking station?

@teodoradriann Are you connecting your Macbook through a docking station, multiport adapter or via a cable directly?
Thanks in advance :)

[kelvin-du]

@dmehlmann I use a 38” 3840 x 1600 @ 144Hz. After a update, I couldn’t set 120hz anymore. I have to use 100hz just like you are

[dmehlmann]

@kelvin-du Thank you very much for your response. I've tried literally everything. Now I know for sure it's due to Apple being awkward and I can't do anything against it. :)

[Brachacz]

I can't even get 3840x1600 with HiDPI, no matter the refresh rate, no hdr. MPB M4 Max, 15.5 Sequoia, monitor is LG 38GN950
It worked on M1 Max, also with 15.5 Sequoia.

No luck with this?

[Brachacz]

Waited for macos 26.2 in hopes something will change but still no luck for 3840x1600 AND HiDPI.
I also have refreshing set to 120Hz, color range to 10bit full.
I connect it via Belkin DisplayPort -> Thunderbolt.

It's really annoying that MBP M1 Max had zero problem running HiDPI and M4 Max somehow is unable to do this.

What else can I try?
I tried virtual screen but refresh rate is a deal breaker there.

[openclosure]

Same thing here. After update to 15.0 I'm stuck at 3840x2160@95hz HiDPI instead of the previous 3840x2160@144hz HiDPI I was getting on Sonoma. Using an LG 27GN950-B. Tried creating a custom EDID with 120hz, 110hz, etc refresh rates but it seems it doesn't like anything except 95hz. This is all SDR-only on an M1 Mac. @waydabber would you have any suggestion for getting it to 120hz? Above you seem to imply that this does work for your M3 Max which gives me hope 🙏

[openclosure]

FYI to anyone frustrated with this issue on M1, I found a more acceptable tradeoff between refresh rate and scaling by doing the following:

• The big issue for me was that my monitor only offers 95hz or 144hz.
• Choosing 144hz means I'm stuck with scaling at 3008x1692 or 4K LoDPI, which is too big of a compromise for me.
• Choosing 95hz means I get full 4K w/ HiDPI but is also not ideal, for me the refresh rate is perceptibly worse.

Finding a Better Tradeoff

• Using AW EDID Editor and Video Timings Calculator, I created some new EDID with 120hz, 110hz, etc. (Use CVT-RB column on video timings).
• I enabled Enable flexible scaling in the BD menu (I had forgot about this setting).
• I found that with 110hz I get the max scaling of 3584x2016 or 187%. This is pretty good - actually not very noticably different from the full 200%. I also don't notice the refresh rate drop as much compared to 95hz. I think unless I played with it side by side, I don't notice.
• Set EDID to auto-apply

This issue is pretty annoying/frustrating, something that worked fine for several years now disabled by Apple. I submitted feedback and emailed tcook@apple.com about it, you should too. But hopefully this satisifies until I get M4 or whatever.

@waydabber just to check, using M3 Max, is it possible to get the original 144hz back? Or are ALL models now capped at 120hz?

[taninke]

Same issue with the same monitor.

For me though, the M1 Pro would output my desired resolution 3424 x 1926 @ 120hz, but the M4 Pro I have now can't do it.

It's either 4k native or down to 3360 x 1890.

Hoping it gets resolved soon, but I won't hold my breath

[tpstevens]

I'm running into a similar issue with Sequoia on an M2 Pro Mac Mini, a 3440x1440 display, and SDR. I used to be able to get HiDPI with a variable refresh rate of 60-165 Hz, but now I have to scale it to 98%.

I can still get HiDPI at 100% resolution scale and a static 144 Hz, but switching to a variable refresh rate (like 60-144 Hz) results in a display bug where the 80% of the expected image gets stretched across my monitor and I have to reset the resolution from the system settings menu.

[inexplicablysane]

I had this exact same issue on Sequoia 15.2 on an M2 Pro Mac Mini with a new 3440x1440 display connected via USB-C. I could not get HiDPI to enable without BetterDisplay dropping the resolution to enable it, and putting the resolution back up to native turned off HiDPI.

Following one of the comments below I changed my refresh rate to 120hz, then was able to enable HiDPI. After it was enabled that first time, I was able to change my refresh rate back up to 144 and even 180 and keep the HiDPI enabled. Hope that helps.

[MetinYalcinkaya]

Same issue, M3 Pro, 4K 144hz + 1440p 144hz. Could use HiDPI before the update, now I have to drop to 60hz to be able to use HiDPI at native

[waydabber]

Hmm. That is very interesting. On an MBP with M3 Pro chip? How are the displays connected?

[MetinYalcinkaya]

Yup MacBook Pro w/ an M3 Pro. The 1440p monitor is through Thunderbolt, the 4K is through HDMI

[theospa]

Same issue here. 3840x1600, was running fine with 144hz HiDPI before, now it drops to 3360x1400. Reducing the refresh rate to 120Hz at System Settings helps to get 3840x1600 HiDPI, but would be nice to have 144hz. Did anyone find a workaround?

[Brachacz]

I can't even get 3840x1600 with HiDPI, no matter the refresh rate, no hdr. MPB M4 Max, 15.5 Sequoia, monitor is LG 38GN950
It worked on M1 Max, also with 15.5 Sequoia.

No luck with this?

[waydabber]

Yes, there is a workaround you can try. Change to the desired resolution at 60Hz and then try the unexposed 120Hz refresh rate in the Refresh Rate menu. This works for some.

Here are some more info:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/dp-usb-c-thunderbolt-3-4-to-hdmi-2-1-4k-120hz-rgb4-4-4-10b-hdr-with-apple-silicon-m1-m2-m3-now-possible.2381664/post-33542051

[rchybicki]

Hey that does work, thanks! On my mac this trick works with 119.88hz and not 120hz for some reason.

[tobyjones-digital]

This workaround worked on my M2 Pro MacBook Pro. On Sonoma I was able to run my Dell G3223Q at 4k @ 120Hz with HiDPI mode without any workarounds, but after the Sequoia update I could only do 4K LoDPI at 120Hz, or 4K HiDPI at 60Hz. Using BetterDisplay to set the refresh rate to 119.88Hz worked to allow HiDPI at 4k120 again:

I have flexible scaling enabled in BetterDisplay settings, not sure if this makes a difference or not as it's something I tried whilst trying to troubleshoot. My monitor is connected to my Mac via the DisplayPort output on my CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt dock, if that makes a difference.

[Xe4ro]

I'm still on Sonoma (14.7.2) on a M2 Pro Mini. I recently downloaded Better Display to get my 4k 144Hz monitor (Gigabyte M28U) working on macOS. It's connected via the HDMI cable that came with the monitor. HDMI 2.1 is enabled on the monitor.

I only get 60Hz unless I select the low-res options. Is this related to this problem? I do have two more displays connected via the TB4/USB-C ports, however these are 1440p 75Hz monitors. Disconnecting them didn't seem to change anything.

I tried the workaround mentioned but if I manually click on 144Hz the display, while still listed as HiDPI in the app becomes blurry as if I selected the normal 2560x1440.

[Polyterative]

Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. Do you know if the newer M3 or M4 models still have similar issues with this monitor (Gigabyte M28U) when trying to achieve 4K at 144Hz with HiDPI? I'm considering upgrading and would appreciate any insights!

[taninke]

@Polyterative if you’re going native resolution (actual 4k) on DP then 144 works for me! But I’m missing a lot of resolutions below 4k that don’t have HiDPI.

But native 4k 144hz works for me on the M4 Pro with this and other monitors

[Polyterative]

Will I encounter issues/artifacts using 4k 120/144Hz output with 150 or 175% scaling?
Trying to understand if my screen will works with a mac, currently using that scaling/res combo on windows

[waydabber]

Normally - no, but some specific test patterns that require 1:1 pixel mapping may look off.

[Polyterative]

In the end, I finally bit the bullet and bought a Mac Studio M4 Max.
In full HD resolution with HiDPI mode, the picture is pretty much excellent. I'd prefer less zoom, that forces non-one-to-one scaling combinations which looks a bit less sharp due to >4k showing on 4k image, but it works for many workflows. As mentioned some specific test patterns I've tried show the issue well. I'd say 80% of users won't notice.

For text editing, I prefer one-to-one scaling for maximum sharpness. My monitor sometimes defaults to 8bit color instead of the maximum 10, which I manually or with shortcuts can force back to ten.

Also to my big surprise variable refresh rate works well too, just remember to set it on in the monitors settings. Also, don't use the default sRGB mode in the monitor which looks garbage and it has no proper temperature correction nor sharpness, I use my Sony camera as a reference to get back to a neutral white balance.

This software was pretty much the tipping point for me to get away from Windows finally. Thanks team

Monitor GIGABYTE M28U (28",4K, 144HZ) using HDMI, leaving this information for future people

[kathampy]

Everything seems to be fixed on the M4 Max via the native HDMI 2.1 port. Now I can do 2560x1440 HiDPI at 4K 165Hz HDR 12-bit RGB on the LG G5. A few weeks ago, 2560x1440 HiDPI worked only at 120Hz SDR or 100Hz HDR.

[tpstevens]

Which version of MacOS are you on?

[kathampy]

I just updated to 26.1, but it worked on the previous version as well.

[kathampy]

Actually, it could be the display. I just upgraded from a G4 to G5. The G5 uses DSC for all refresh rates on Windows. I'll check on macOS.

[Brachacz]

Waited for macos 26.2 but still no luck for 3840x1600 AND HiDPI.
I also have refreshing set to 120Hz, color range to 10bit full.
I connect it via Belkin DisplayPort -> Thunderbolt.

It's really annoying that MBP M1 Max had zero problem running HiDPI and M4 Max somehow is unable to do this.

What else can I try?
I tried virtual screen but refresh rate is a deal breaker there.

[Brachacz]

With HDMI 2.1 (and 8K 60Hz cable) it's even worse, max refresh rate is then 60Hz and 8bit color