Why does the 13" MacBook Pro Retina (Late 2016) have a default resolution of 1440x900 instead of 1280x800?

Apple shipped the original MacBook Pro Retina 13” with a default resolution of 1280 × 800 pixels (retina).

Why has Apple changed the default resolution to appear like 1440 × 900?

Scroll down to read the short answer.

Long answer

MBP 2nd generation, Intel

In 2008 Apple released the Unibody MacBook Pros with native display resolutions of 1280 × 800 and 1440 × 900 for the 13” and 15” inch models, respectively. The pixel density is about the same for both LCD panels. These resolutions and panel sizes were used in previous models as well.

MBP 3rd generation, Intel

In 2012 the MacBook Pro with Retina display was released. Apple continued to offer the 13” and 15” models (sans the 17” one). While the size of the LCD panels remained the same, the panel’s native resolution was increased four times (double the pixel density). This resulted in a resolution of 2560 × 1600 (13”) and 2880 × 1800 (15”).

To remain a the same size of display elements at these resolutions Apple introduced HiDPI to macOS. An app icon of 100 × 100 on an old panel now has the size of 200 × 200. With double the pixel density it has the same size, but it’s much sharper.

MBP 4th generation, Intel

Fast forward to 2016 Apple released the MacBook Pro with a new design. The LCD panel’s resolutions remained the same for both models. Apple, however, increased the default resolution for the 13” model from looking like 1280 × 800 to 1440 × 900 **.

This results in smaller text elements, icons and windows which seems counterintuitive. Although Apple has not released a statement why it did so, the reason seems to be this one: With the release of the 2016 MBP Apple stopped displaying and selling the MacBook Air 11” and the old MacBook Pro 13” (2nd gen.) in their retail stores. The remaining laptops are

• the MacBook 12” (retina, 2304 × 1440)
• the MacBook Pro 13” (retina, 2560 × 1600)
• the MacBook Pro 15” (retina, 2880 × 1800) and
• the good old MacBook Air 13” (non-retina, 1440 × 900)

Customers looking for a 13” machine will most probably compare the MBA 13” and the MBP 13”. Although the MBP’s screen is far superior (higher physical resolution, wider color gamut, better viewing angles), the MBP 13” looks to have a smaller working area at 1280 × 800 retina compared to the MBA 13” at 1440 × 900.

To prevent customers from getting the impression that the MBA 13” had “larger working area” Apple increased perceived resolution from 1280 × 800 to 1440 × 900 for the MBP 13.

TL;DR

Apple now only sells two 13" laptops, the new 2016 MacBook Pro (MBP) and the MacBook Air (MBA) with a design from 2010.

• The MBA has a native display resolution of 1440 × 900.
• The MBP has a better display with a resolution of 2560 × 1600. Until 2015 it was set to look like 1280 × 800.

In order to make it easier to compare the MBA and the MBP Apple increased the display setting for the MBP to look like 1440 × 900 by default.

**

All the old Retina Pros used the 1280×800 mode as their default, but the new ones use 1440×900 mode by default; Apple does something similar with the Retina MacBook, which uses 1280×800 mode by default even though the 1152×720 mode actually reflects the panel’s native resolution. It’s a way to make the panels look higher-resolution than they are without increasing costs or wearing down the battery more quickly.

Source: ArsTechnica from 2016/11

Update 2021/11

MBP 5th generation, Apple M1

Apple has introduced new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13" laptops with Apple Silicon (M1) in November of 2020. The display panel resolutions remained the same for both.

MBP 6th generation, Apple M1 Pro/Max

In October of 2021 Apple has released MacBook Pro M1 machines with an all new design. Finally Apple has caught up and is offering a display that is running at the 'correct' retina resolution out of the box.

These are the default resolutions for the new 14" and 16" models:

MBP14

• True panel resolution: 3024 × 1964

Supported scaled resolutions

• 1512 × 982 (2x)

• 1800 × 1169 (1,68x)

• 1352 × 878 (~2,24x)

• 1147 × 745 (~2,64x)

• 1024 × 665 (~2,96x)

MBP16

• True panel resolution: 3456 × 2234

Supported scaled resolutions

• 1728 × 1117 (2x)

• 2056 × 1329 (~1,68x)

• 1496 × 967 (~2,31x)

• 1312 × 848 (~2,63x)

• 1168 × 755 (~2,96x)

As of November of 2021 the MacBook Air 13" M1 and the 5th generation MacBook Pro 13" M1 are the only Apple laptops remaining that are not running at an even scaled resolution by default at 1440 × 900.