Display mode

A display mode is a combination of settings describing how a desktop is rendered and presented. Resolution and refresh rate are central parts, and modes can also differ in HiDPI rendering, color precision or other output properties.

For the rendering background, see how macOS scaling, HiDPI and LoDPI work.

Two rows with the same width and height can therefore represent different choices. The logical desktop size, backing image and physical output signal are also distinct; choosing a smaller-looking desktop does not necessarily lower the signal's pixel dimensions.

See Resolution, HiDPI, Refresh rate and the Display Mode menu.