LG Ultrafine 4k monitor resolution and scale settings for Mac I tried the LG Ultrafine 4k monitor at Apple store yesterday. I find that the default resolution and scale settings uses 1440p resolution. Using the highest settings made the UI and texts appear so tiny. LG Ultrafine 4k monitor resolution and scale settings for Mac I tried the LG Ultrafine 4k monitor at Apple store yesterday. I find that the default resolution and scale settings uses 1440p resolution. Using the highest settings made the UI and texts appear so tiny.
Back in December I wrote this article about how Apple no longer sell any displays. Since then Apple have started selling a nice LG display that works with MacBooks. This has been designed in conjunction with Apple so that you can control the display’s volume and brightness from the Apple computer. It essentially functions as an Apple display but with an LG badge. On their website Apple describe it as: “A perfect complement to your MacBook or MacBook Pro.” The monitor plugs into the USB-C port on the new MacBooks. But the new LG monitors that Apple are selling don’t plug directly into to older Macs. What Apple’s website doesn’t say is that they sell an adapter that will allow this monitor to work with some non USB-C Macs.
UPDATE January 2019: Please disregard this article. The USB-C to Thunderbolt Cable is not as functional as it sounds. Foe example it would not let me hook a thunderbolt display to the USB-C port on my new 2018 Mac Mini, despite it’s claims of being bi-directional. So if you are thinking of buying the thunderbolt to USC-C adapter go into an Apple store first and make sure it will do what you want it to do.
The new MacBooks are equipped with Thunderbolt 3 which uses a USB-C connector. The older Thunderbolt 2 used the same connector as the old Apple Display Connectors. This can get a little confusing. The bottom line is that the new LG monitors that Apple are selling don’t plug directly into to older Thunderbolt 2 Macs.
Thunderbolt 3 (left) which uses a USB-C port and Thunderbolt 2 (right) which is the same as the old ADC port (Apple Display Connector).
But Apple do sell a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter to plug older Thunderbolt 2 devices into the new Thunderbolt 3 MacBooks. Apple’s new adapter is so clever that it works both ways! It will also allow you to connect a Thunderbolt 3 device such as the LG display into an older Thunderbolt 2 Mac such as a Mac Mini or older MacBook. This is genius! Most adapters only work one way.
Apple’s new adapter is so clever that it works both ways! It will also allow you to connect a Thunderbolt 3 device such as the LG display into an older Thunderbolt 2 Mac.
Even if you can get it plugged in physically, not all Macs with Thunderbolt 2 have the graphics capability to drive the higher resolution Thunderbolt 3 display.
This page from Apple describes which computers can drive the LG 4K display.
This page from Apple describes which computers can drive the LG 5K display.
Notice that the Mac Mini (2014) is NOT compatible with the LG 4K display, but it is compatible with the LG 5K display.
About the LG UltraFine 5K Display
The new LG UltraFine 5K Display features a 5120 x 2880 resolution, a P3 wide colour gamut, 500 nits of brightness and built-in stereo speakers, camera and microphone. Integration with macOS lets you control your display's volume and brightness without the need for physical buttons on the display.
You can use the included Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cable to connect your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or use the included USB-C cable to connect your MacBook or iPad Pro. The display has one Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port which delivers up to 94 W of charging power to the host device and three USB-C ports that function as downstream USB-C ports (5 Gbps) and offer additional connectivity and power to compatible devices and accessories.
System requirements and compatible Mac models
The new LG UltraFine 5K Display (Model 27MD5KL-B) requires a Mac with a USB-C port or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port running macOS Mojave 10.14.6 or later, or an iPad Pro with a USB-C port running iOS 12.4 or later. If your Mac has Thunderbolt 2 ports, you can use a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter to connect to the display.
5120 x 2880 at 60 Hz
You can use the LG UltraFine 5K Display with these Mac models at full 5K resolution:
Mac Pro introduced in 2019
iMac Pro
iMac introduced in 2017 or later
Mac mini introduced in 2018
MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
iMac Pro supports two LG UltraFine 5K displays configured as dual-link SST 5120 x 2880 10bpc at 60 Hz. Learn more about how to connect multiple displays to your iMac Pro.
Mac Pro supports up to six LG UltraFine 5K displays depending on the graphics cards installed. https://download-mysql-mac-terminal.peatix.com/. Learn more about connecting multiple displays to your Mac Pro (2019).
Mac mini, MacBook Air and iMac support one LG UltraFine 5K Display.
The 15-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models support two LG UltraFine 5K Displays at full resolution, or four LG UltraFine 5K Displays at 4096 x 2304 resolution. To use two LG UltraFine 5K Displays at full resolution, you need to plug one display into a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on the left side of your MacBook Pro, and the other display into a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on the right side:
Lg 4k Ultrafine Monitor
3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz
You can use the LG UltraFine 5K Display at a resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz on these devices:
Usually, Mac OS X runs on machines sold by Apple: the devices have the operating system pre-installed, and you get to update it, or to purchase new versions through the Mac App Store. Nonetheless, you can also build Hackintosh machines, which have an architecture compatible with Mac OS X, even though. Bootloader for macbook pro.
MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
Mac computers with Thunderbolt 2 ports using the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter
iPad Pro with USB-C
3840 x 1800 at 60 Hz
Apple Lg Ultrafine 4k Display
You can use the LG UltraFine 5K Display at a resolution of 3840 x 1800 at 60 Hz with this Mac model:
Mac mini introduced in 2014, preferably using macOS 10.12.4 or later
Learn how to adjust your display's resolution.
Lg Ultrafine 4k Driver
If you have issues connecting the display
Lg Ultrafine Monitor
The LG UltraFine 5K Display doesn't support daisy-chaining of displays. The three USB-C ports on the display provide additional connectivity to USB 3 devices only.
Get help with video issues if you still don't see an image when using the correct cable.
If the LG UltraFine 5K Display doesn't power on or you don't see an image after following the steps in the article above, contact LG to get service for your display.