External 4K TV scaling when connected to MacBook Air 2018

[Jisoo]

I have a 4K TV on my desk which I use as an external display for my MacBook Air 2018 via USB C to HDMI 2.0 cable.

Everything works perfectly with 4K@60 chroma 444 but I cannot seem to change the scaling of the 4K display which makes everything very small and hard to read.

If I change the resolution for the TV, it does not work as scaling but changes the resolution itself - making everything blurry.

Could someone kindly share how I may scale my external output?

 

[chscag]

Welcome to our forums.

The best viewable picture you're going to get on your TV will be to set the output of your MacBook Air to the Sony's native resolution. In other words "Default for display". (Screen shot on the left.) The screen shot on the right is actually the settings for your MacBook Air display. By changing the resolution there or selecting scaling, it will be mirrored to the Sony.

 

[Jisoo]

Welcome to our forums.

The best viewable picture you're going to get on your TV will be to set the output of your MacBook Air to the Sony's native resolution. In other words "Default for display". (Screen shot on the left.) The screen shot on the right is actually the settings for your MacBook Air display. By changing the resolution there or selecting scaling, it will be mirrored to the Sony.

Thank you for the warm welcome. I have been using Mac since the PowerBook G4 days but haven't had much issues regarding the display because there weren't any 4K display scaling to worry about.

Let me start off with an apology for choosing the wrong category to post my question and I appreciate the correction.

The "Default for display" you spoke of is set to 1080p even though the TV has a 4K display. In addition, I am trying to set the TV as an extended monitor as the real estate of 13" screen is quite limited.

I contacted the online Apple Support and the only feedback I was able to get was there are some external displays that are supported for scaling while some are not supported. He was curious himself what brand or what specific requirements are for the external displays in order to achieve scalable output.

?

 

[ferrarr]

What size is the tv?


Bob -

Sent from my iPad using Mac-Forums

 

[Jisoo]

Hi Bob, the TV is 55".


I am not sure it would help but the model number for the TV is:

Sony XBR-55X850D

 

[ferrarr]

Thanks. What option(s) do you get, when you select Default for Display?

I think the issue, is the USB-C to HDMI 2 cable?

See this,

[FONT=&quot]Video Support[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:
One external display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at up to 60Hz
Up to two external displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at up to 60Hz
Thunderbolt 3 digital video output
Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
VGA, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 2 output using adapters (sold separately), from here, https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/specs/

[/FONT]

 

[Jisoo]

Hmmm...


Could it be the cable? Like I have said, I am getting 4K@60 with chroma 444 so the bandwidth seems to be okay.

It's just that I cannot scale the display so that items may appear larger while keeping the resolution.