←back to thread

My Impressions of the MacBook Pro M4

(michael.stapelberg.ch)
240 points secure | 5 comments | 31 Oct 25 10:13 UTC | HN request time: 0.301s | source
Show context
carbocation ◴[31 Oct 25 18:39 UTC] No.45775242[source]▶
One thing that wasn't mentioned is the max sustained screen brightness for SDR, which is higher on the M4 Pro (1000 nits) compared to the M4 Air or M1 Pro (500 nits).
replies(1): >>45775471 #
flyinglizard ◴[31 Oct 25 19:00 UTC] No.45775471[source]▶
There’s an awesome app called Vivid which just opens the HDR max brightness. I use it all the time with my M3 Pro when working outside and I believe it also works on earlier models.
replies(3): >>45775547 #>>45775851 #>>45777419 #
1. veqq ◴[31 Oct 25 19:37 UTC] No.45775851[source]▶
People have to pay money to change screen brightness on a Mac?!
replies(2): >>45775971 #>>45780142 #
2. danaris ◴[31 Oct 25 19:48 UTC] No.45775971[source]▶
...I'd have to say that seems like a radical reading of the text.

No; you can adjust screen brightness just fine with the built-in settings, including with the F1 and F2 keys (plus the Fn key if you've got them set that way).

This Vivid app is specifically for extra HDR levels of brightness. I've never had a problem with my M1 or M4 MBPs, either inside or outside, with the built-in brightness levels. (But, to be fair, I don't use it outside a lot.)

3. chii ◴[01 Nov 25 08:42 UTC] No.45780142[source]▶
I imagine what those custom brightness apps do is not magically increase the brightness, but change the various pixels' brightness in accordance to some method/algorithm such that you see what appears to be brighter whites when placed next to certain other colors.

It's not what is implied by the parent post - where the mac is limiting the brightness only to have the app unlock it.

replies(2): >>45780880 #>>45782246 #
4. sgerenser ◴[01 Nov 25 11:37 UTC] No.45780880[source]▶
No, I believe the issue is Apple limits the top half or so of the brightness/backlight level for HDR content only. The apps allow it to be used for normal non-HDR content.
5. smileybarry ◴[01 Nov 25 15:10 UTC] No.45782246[source]▶
I think it's just a matter of some "I need HDR" syscall.