macOS 27 and External Displays
A drawback of using an HDR-ready third-party monitor on macOS 26 Tahoe was the inability to activate High Dynamic Range at the common 2560 x 1440 scaled resolution. Fortunately, the newest macOS release resolves this problem.
- Symptom: scrolling is choppy on the Studio Display XDR at 120Hz or Adaptive (47–120Hz). At 60Hz, and on the MacBook’s own screen, scrolling is smooth.
- What devices are affected: M5 Pro MacBook Pros have reproduced the problem; other repots suggest the Mac mini with M5 Pro chip is also affected. Apple lists M5 Pro MacBook Pro models as supporting the Studio Display XDR at 120Hz.
- Likely cause: measurements suggest the GPU stays at a low clock speed while scrolling and misses frame deadlines.
- Workaround: MacRumors Forums poster Tiguanito’s M5ScrollBoost, a small menu bar app that encourages the GPU to run faster while you scroll.
Previously:
