How to Fix Blurry Text on Your MacBook Pro Retina with a Quick and Easy Solution
Have you noticed that some third-party apps on your new MacBook Pro with retina display look worse than they did on your previous Macbooks? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The MacBook Pro’s stunning 15.4-inch display, with over 5 million pixels, makes everything appear more vibrant and sharper than ever before. However, this increase in resolution can cause some compatibility issues, resulting in blurry text and less-than-ideal visuals.
Nowadays, many of the apps we use every day, like Chrome, Firefox, Photoshop, and MS Office, have not been updated to support high-resolution displays. This means that when we use these apps, the text and graphics appear blurry and low-quality. As a designer, I can see that the images are not sharp at 100%, and if you’re using Chrome or Firefox to browse the web, you’ll notice pixelated fonts and not-so-great images.
It’s safe to say that the overall browsing experience is now quite disappointing.
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Let’s compare some browsers
To really understand the extent of this issue, take a look at the image below. On Safari, the fonts appear sharp and crisp as ever. But if you look at the same content on Chrome or Firefox, you won’t have the same luck. Can you imagine having to read blurry text all day long?
Solutions
So, is there a way to solve this problem? Well, it’s a bit complicated. On one hand, yes, there are solutions available, but on the other hand, not everyone has implemented them yet. The responsibility lies with developers to update their apps so they can take full advantage of the incredibly sharp retina display on the new MacBook Pro. However, I have come across some temporary fixes that can improve your experience in the meantime.
Firefox
Firefox is currently working on some temporary fixes specifically for MacBook Pro users. To benefit from these fixes, you would need to update to the latest version of the browser. Hopefully, these fixes will be available soon, so you won’t have to wait too long.
Chrome
Good news for Google Chrome users! The Chrome development team is already working on making their browser look amazing on the retina display. However, if you can’t wait for the official update, you can try using Chrome Canary for now. It’s a version of Chrome that has some improvements for retina displays. Take a look at this comparison to see the difference between the current version of Chrome and Chrome Canary.
If you decide to download Chrome Canary, just remember that it’s still in beta and it might have some issues. However, I trust Google to fix any problems and make it the best it can be. One important thing to note about Chrome Canary is that you can use it alongside regular Chrome.
Improving the clarity of Native Apps
Some native apps, like iPhoto, Garageband, and Final Cut Pro X, have already been updated to look great on retina displays. However, if you’re not happy with how Keynote, Pages, or Numbers look, there’s a solution. Here’s what you can do:
Final Thoughts
It’s going to be some time before all of your beloved apps catch up and make the necessary improvements for retina displays. If this is a concern for your work or if you can’t function unless conditions are perfect, then it’s probably best to hold onto your current machine for now.
