Today’s Question: I know there are many variables, but generally speaking would a MacBook Pro laptop monitor be sharper than a 27-inch external monitor? Common sense would dictate that the laptop monitor will be sharper, but I just wanted to get your thoughts.
Tim’s Quick Answer: There are indeed many variables, but given similar display resolution and assuming similar overall quality, a smaller display will appear sharper than a larger display. In this case, that means the laptop display would appear sharper than the external monitor.
More Detail: The apparent sharpness of a monitor display is primarily a result of the overall pixel dimensions and the physical size of the display. There are certainly other factors, such as the quality of components, but effective pixel per inch resolution is the top factor.
To start with, I highly recommend opting for a monitor with a resolution of 4K or better. This will provide a greater number of pixels, which in turn will provide greater pixel density. That translates into a sharper display, all other things being equal.
Monitor size also affects the sharpness of the display, especially if we’re assuming the same (or similar) overall resolution. If you compare a 27-inch and 32-inch display, both of which have 4K resolution, the smaller display will look sharper because of the greater pixel density.
The MacBook Pro mentioned in today’s answer is a little unique, in that while the laptop is available in two sizes (14-inch and 16-inch), those models also have different resolutions for the display (3,024 pixels across versus 3,456 pixels across, respectively). The result is that while the displays are different physical sizes with different pixel dimensions, the pixel density is the same at 254 pixels per inch.
A 27-inch monitor will have a display width of around 23.5 inches, though the exact dimensions will vary especially based on the aspect ratio of the display. But assuming a width of 23.5 inches and full 4K resolution (3,840 pixels across) this display would have a pixel density of 163 pixels per inch. Note, by the way, that for a typical 32-inch display with 4K resolution the pixel density goes down to about 138 pixels per inch.
The real issue here has nothing to do with a built-in laptop display versus an external display. It really comes down to pixel density impacting the visual sharpness of the display. That means a higher resolution display will appear sharper, all other things being equal. And a smaller display will appear sharper, all other things being equal. The key is to strike the right balance between display size and display resolution, taking into account other factors such as the price of the different displays you’re considering.
And of course, I should hasten to add that pixel per inch resolution isn’t necessarily the most important factor to consider either. There is also the ergonomic consideration of which display size is most comfortable for you, along with many other factors to consider.
