3 ms·

I'd encourage you to plug in the screen size and resolution into a calculator like https://stari.co/tv-monitor-viewing-distance-calculator https://stari.co/tv-m

I'd encourage you to plug in the screen size and resolution into a calculator like https://stari.co/tv-monitor-viewing-distance-calculator https://stari.co/tv-monitor-viewing-distance-calculator before making a decision that it's required. A 4k display is 'retina' at distances much closer than people sit, even at 27". On a laptop size screen, it's even worse. I have a xps 13 and I specifically chose the 1080p version. Even at that res I still have to zoom / scale.

short12 5y ago
I have an xps 13 and specifically chose the 4k. I love it and there is no going back to 1080p for me. When I am using the dock it is connected to a pair of 4k 27" dells and it's glorious all around
- The_Colonel 5y ago
  What you might be seeing is actually the difference between matte and glossy display. I was like you, seeing how supreme 4K panel was ... until I saw glossy 1080p which was much sharper than 1080p matte (which desharpen the image) and not much different from 4K (to my eyes). (all comparisons took place on XPS 13s)
basilgohar 5y ago
Different people see things differently. Pixels may not be individually resolvable, but that is far from the only feature that impacts viewing quality. Anti-aliased fonts will look clearer and smoother at smaller sizes on a higher resolution screen. Lines will be sharper. Those with better near vision can pack more details into the page.
- wing-_-nuts 5y ago
  Yep, I think this is called 'subpixel visual acuity' and there is a marginal benefit
  - basilgohar 5y ago
    I would argue it depends on the person. I'd love to be able to test this independently myself, but I don't have enough cash to spare to do so. If you're aware of folks testing this, it'd be great to share that. The fact remains that 4k displays have been available for non-AMD laptops for a very long time (at least a few years) so they keep making them and people keep buying them, so I'd like that arrangement to be offered at least for AMD laptops as well, because it's definitely something lots of people, as this thread clearly demonstrates.
akvadrako 5y ago
There isn't any need to plug something into a calculator – the difference in text clarity is immediately obvious. 4K is a little overkill for a 14" screen, but I understand why the jump instead of making custom resolutions.
tomc1985 5y ago
I can clearly see the pixels on a 13" or 15" laptop display at 1080p. It doesn't start looking seamless until 1440p or so. The advantages of 4K depend heavily on the quality of your eyesight
acdha 5y ago
How's your vision? The difference for me is noticeable even without glasses — even on a 13" display, the higher resolution display is quite obvious since you don't see visible pixel boundaries and I find it's less strain over the course of a day. (And to be clear, I’m not asking to be mean — I have multiple friends who were skeptical about retina displays, got an updated eye exam, and became huge fans)
- tomtheelder 5y ago
  Not the person you asked this to, but I have 20/20 recently tested. I can certainly see the difference between 1080p and 4k on a laptop screen. I just don't see how it's worth the extra cost and reduced battery life. Either way I think 1440p is the sweet spot. Wish more laptops would go that route.
  - acdha 5y ago
    That’s certainly fair - not everyone has the same priorities and budget. I don’t think anyone is saying you must buy a high resolution screen – it seemed more like rejecting the idea that it’s not useful.
tehnub 5y ago
I'm not sure if 4K is enough to be Retina on a 27 inch at normal viewing distances. Apple made their 24 inch iMac 4.5K, and they call that Retina. And also their 27 inch collab with LG is a 5K screen.

short12 5y ago

I have an xps 13 and specifically chose the 4k. I love it and there is no going back to 1080p for me. When I am using the dock it is connected to a pair of 4k 27" dells and it's glorious all around

The_Colonel 5y ago
What you might be seeing is actually the difference between matte and glossy display. I was like you, seeing how supreme 4K panel was ... until I saw glossy 1080p which was much sharper than 1080p matte (which desharpen the image) and not much different from 4K (to my eyes). (all comparisons took place on XPS 13s)

basilgohar 5y ago

Different people see things differently. Pixels may not be individually resolvable, but that is far from the only feature that impacts viewing quality. Anti-aliased fonts will look clearer and smoother at smaller sizes on a higher resolution screen. Lines will be sharper. Those with better near vision can pack more details into the page.

wing-_-nuts 5y ago
Yep, I think this is called 'subpixel visual acuity' and there is a marginal benefit
- basilgohar 5y ago
  I would argue it depends on the person. I'd love to be able to test this independently myself, but I don't have enough cash to spare to do so. If you're aware of folks testing this, it'd be great to share that. The fact remains that 4k displays have been available for non-AMD laptops for a very long time (at least a few years) so they keep making them and people keep buying them, so I'd like that arrangement to be offered at least for AMD laptops as well, because it's definitely something lots of people, as this thread clearly demonstrates.

akvadrako 5y ago

There isn't any need to plug something into a calculator – the difference in text clarity is immediately obvious. 4K is a little overkill for a 14" screen, but I understand why the jump instead of making custom resolutions.

tomc1985 5y ago

I can clearly see the pixels on a 13" or 15" laptop display at 1080p. It doesn't start looking seamless until 1440p or so. The advantages of 4K depend heavily on the quality of your eyesight

acdha 5y ago

How's your vision? The difference for me is noticeable even without glasses — even on a 13" display, the higher resolution display is quite obvious since you don't see visible pixel boundaries and I find it's less strain over the course of a day. (And to be clear, I’m not asking to be mean — I have multiple friends who were skeptical about retina displays, got an updated eye exam, and became huge fans)

tomtheelder 5y ago
Not the person you asked this to, but I have 20/20 recently tested. I can certainly see the difference between 1080p and 4k on a laptop screen. I just don't see how it's worth the extra cost and reduced battery life. Either way I think 1440p is the sweet spot. Wish more laptops would go that route.
- acdha 5y ago
  That’s certainly fair - not everyone has the same priorities and budget. I don’t think anyone is saying you must buy a high resolution screen – it seemed more like rejecting the idea that it’s not useful.

tehnub 5y ago

I'm not sure if 4K is enough to be Retina on a 27 inch at normal viewing distances. Apple made their 24 inch iMac 4.5K, and they call that Retina. And also their 27 inch collab with LG is a 5K screen.