Apple’s latest OS X update adds support for 4K displays running ‘Retina’ resolutions

Got a fancy 4K resolution monitor? Soon, OS X will finally be able to take full advantage of all those sweet pixels.

With the OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 update, Apple has added the ability to run its OS on 4K displays at a “Retina” resolution, reports 9to5Mac.

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Just like with Apple’s Retina MacBook Pros, the setting basically doubles the pixels that OS X uses. That allows OS X to take advantage of the extra screen resolution available in 4K displays to create a sharper overall image.

Previously, OS X would only work on 4K displays at their native resolution — which offered a ton of work space but forced you to read tiny text on smaller 4K displays. The new setting will ultimately make 4K sets more usable for OS X.

The eagle-eyed can still use 4K displays at their full resolution, but those with 4K monitors under 30 inches are better off taking advantage of the new setting.

Apple started pushing the idea of “Retina Displays” — screens that are so sharp that individual pixels are practically invisible — with the iPhone 4S. Over the past few years, the Retina labeling has made its way to the iPad and MacBook Pro (and it’s also lead Android and Windows competitors to develop high-resolution screens of their own).

It’s not a surprise to see Apple finally bringing Retina quality to desktop displays — but I wonder what the company is going to do as consumers get used to laptops and desktops with touchscreens. That’s not something OS X natively supports, and despite all of Windows 8’s problems, Microsoft is way ahead of Apple in terms of touchscreen desktop support.