The seventh beta version of macOS Monterey was released earlier this week. It includes two new entries in the list of display resolutions that the System Information app keeps track of. This could reveal the resolutions of the forthcoming "M1X" 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models.
Steve Moser, a MacRumors contributor, discovered that the new resolutions for display are "3456x2234 Retina", and "3024x64 Retina". They do not match the resolutions of any Apple products. These new resolutions, based on their relationship to one another, seem likely to be for the forthcoming MacBook Pro.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro displays at 3072x2080 native resolution, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro displays at 2560x 1600 native resolution. This gives both machines a pixel density (226227 pixels per inch).
These new resolutions, if they are indeed for the forthcoming MacBook Pro models, would increase pixel density by around 250 pixels an inch. This would notably allow native 2x Retina to be the default setting on these new machines to produce sharpest images.
There are many display resolution options available to users, but current MacBook Pro models have scaled default resolutions that fall somewhere between the native resolution and a Retina display.
The current 16-inch MacBook Pro would have a native resolution at 3072x 1920. However, content on such a display appears too large for most users. Apple ships its machines at a default resolution that "looks" like 1792x1120.
Due to the increased pixel density of these new MacBook Pro models, a true 2-x Retina setting would be right in the sweet spot. The 16-inch model will yield a resolution of 1728x1117, while the 14-inch model will produce a resolution of 1512x982.
Rumours suggest that Apple will introduce the new MacBook Pro models at an event in October or November.
