Horrendous text/font problem - not clear, smooth or "normal"

Chelb1 · Nov 4, 2023

Hi all, I have recently purchased a new laptop just for everyday internet browsing and the font/text is absoloutely horrendous. It just doesn't feel smooth or normal?

It is my first time using Windows 11 and prior to signing up here I googled about this problem and watched a few YouTube videos, did all the most common "solutions" but NOTHING has worked.

E.G I have done everything suggested in this video -

Its not just specific to one application, it's all over - firefox is marginally better than edge, but it's still not "right"

I will attach some screenshots too because I am not sure if I am being paranoid? Do you guys see anything wrong with the smoothness of text on these screenshots? I really can't explain it but it just doesnt feel normal. I have had older laptops with previous versions of Windows and the text was a lot smoother than this...

If anyone can help me I would appreciate it so much because I can't put up with this for much longer its driving me crazy

Berton · Nov 4, 2023

I don't see any issue, everything posted is quite readable.

A sample of my Win11:

Spunk · Nov 4, 2023

Your screenshots don't look blurry to me?
Right click a blank space on the Desktop, choose Display Settings.
You can go to Scale and increase everything, Try 125%, or larger. Or lower it.
You can also try a different Screen Resolution if you like

Chelb1 · Nov 4, 2023

Thankyou for your responses but it just doesn't feel right to me, I can't explain/expand.

The last screenshot looks ok to you? The one with the icons on the taskbar? They look pretty grainy/bad?

Yes I have tried with the scale and resolution but it doesn't make it feel any better.

Do you think it might be because it's a cheap laptop? Here are the specs

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3419636?clickPR=plp:1:215

Berton · Nov 4, 2023

Was it a new machine or a refurbished? I've gotten a couple of good ones as refurbs, wife is using the 13" now.

Since the screenshots appear good the only suggestion I have is to check during the day after a good nights sleep and if still hard to read get your eyes checked. If already using glasses get them checked. At my age [83] the eyes can have issues, had my cataracts remove couple years ago, not doing bad at all.

Bree · Nov 4, 2023

Chelb1 said:
The last screenshot looks ok to you? The one with the icons on the taskbar? They look pretty grainy/bad?

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

You have to enlarge them to see, but yes, yours does look to be 'grainier' than mine. It looks to me as if your display adapter is using a low number of bits for the colour depth. You have less colours available to display subtle differences in colour shade. Your display appears to be using dithering to give the appearance of having more colours.

Yours:

Mine:

Open Settings > System > Display >Advanced display'. Tell us what display adapter it says you have, and what bit depth you see under 'Display information'. Click on 'Display adapter properties', see if you have a higher bit depth available to use.

trumpy81 · Nov 4, 2023

@Chelb1

If you believe those screenshots are blurry, not quite right, have you considered that it may be your eyesight?

If you wear spectacles, are they clean?

Even if you don't think it's your eyes, take yourself to an ophthalmologist and get them checked anyway. Blindness is no laughing matter.

Of course, it may simply be that you are not accustomed to Windows 11 and the way things are displayed in Win11.

Win10 has a slightly different display compared to Win11 and that may be why you are disoriented right now.

That should pass in time and then any other OS will look wrong ... lol

Also make sure your laptop screen is 100% clean. There may be some residual protectant on the screen that needs to be cleaned off?

Bree · Nov 5, 2023

trumpy81 said:
If you believe those screenshots are blurry, not quite right, have you considered that it may be your eyesight?

@Chelb1's eyesight must be good, I couldn't see the 'graininess' until I enlarged the screenshots. There is a clear difference.

Chelb1's Taskbar:

My own Taskbar:

Chelb1 · Nov 5, 2023

Appreciate all the responses, thank you.
I am 99% certain it's not my eyesight for many reasons. I use an iPhone and an Android phone (have done for years) and nothing has changed with those devices, they look and appear "normal" and have no issues. I use a Windows 10 device for work in the office and this is absoloutely fine.

It's literally just a problem with this brand new (cheap laptop) I have just purchased. In my mind it's either the laptop itself or Windows 11, but why would Windows 11 be so bad with this? Which leads me to think it's the laptop itself?

@Berton - It was new, not refurbished - try it any time of the day, it's always the same.

@Bree - Thankyou here is it what it says...

@trumpy81 - I don't wear spectactles and my eyesight is okay (as far as I know lol.) I just turned on a much older laptop Windows 8 and even that appeared to be normal and so much better than Windows 11 in terms of the clarity of text and general appearance.

It's actually unbearable for me to be honest, the only thing I can tolerate on this laptop is watching videos because doing anything that revolves reading text just doesn't feel right. Is there anything I can do?

trumpy81 · Nov 5, 2023

@Bree

It seems you are correct. I did not notice any graininess either.

That would appear to be a screen resolution/DPI issue.

Chelb1 · Nov 5, 2023

Another example... zoom into this text, especially the bold bit...

trumpy81 · Nov 5, 2023

@Chelb1

I am glad to hear it is NOT your eyesight! ... lol

Unfortunately, I doubt there is anything you can do about the issue. It seems you are only able to display 6 bit where you should have 8 bit at least.

That may be a limitation of the CPU/GPU and/or Screen on the laptop.

And yes, I can see exactly what you mean where the bold text is concerned.

Senecio · Nov 5, 2023

If you haven't already tried it, see if changing brightness and contrast on your monitor makes a difference. I found on my monitor that having brightness/contrast too high made it difficult to read text.

Chelb1 · Nov 5, 2023

@trumpy81 - yes thankfully my eyes still good lol. Truth be told I only got this laptop because it was so cheap but I guess "you get what you pay for" rings true. But on the other hand how can it be this unbearable in 2023, even at that low price just for regular everyday internet browsing? So you think theres not much that can be done then?

If so I will probably never use this laptop much again which would be a waste it's just unbearable.

@Senecio - thanks, just tried that but sadly no difference.

trumpy81 · Nov 5, 2023

Do you have System > Display > Night Light enabled, perhaps that will make a difference?

You could try messing with the scale settings, but I don't think that would help, it may make things worse.

trumpy81 · Nov 5, 2023

You could always try connecting an external monitor, if you have one kicking around, it couldn't be any worse that's for sure and I am confident the CPU/GPU can do better.

markw51 · Nov 5, 2023

Chelb1 said:
View attachment 76676Appreciate all the responses, thank you.
I am 99% certain it's not my eyesight for many reasons. I use an iPhone and an Android phone (have done for years) and nothing has changed with those devices, they look and appear "normal" and have no issues. I use a Windows 10 device for work in the office and this is absoloutely fine.

It's literally just a problem with this brand new (cheap laptop) I have just purchased. In my mind it's either the laptop itself or Windows 11, but why would Windows 11 be so bad with this? Which leads me to think it's the laptop itself?

@Berton - It was new, not refurbished - try it any time of the day, it's always the same.

@Bree - Thankyou here is it what it says...

@trumpy81 - I don't wear spectactles and my eyesight is okay (as far as I know lol.) I just turned on a much older laptop Windows 8 and even that appeared to be normal and so much better than Windows 11 in terms of the clarity of text and general appearance.

It's actually unbearable for me to be honest, the only thing I can tolerate on this laptop is watching videos because doing anything that revolves reading text just doesn't feel right. Is there anything I can do?

View attachment 76675

If the top screenshot is your laptop then try and change the bit depth to at least 8-bit and not the 6-bit shown.

Chelb1 · Nov 5, 2023

markw51 said:
If the top screenshot is your laptop then try and change the bit depth to at least 8-bit and not the 6-bit shown.

It won't let me/I dont think my laptop is capable?

Ghot · Nov 5, 2023

Chelb1 said:
It won't let me/I dont think my laptop is capable?

You're getting $169 graphics on a $169 laptop, with a low resolution as well.

This is 2560 x 1600 (10 bit, no HDR)...

See what this pic looks like on your laptop... I can magnify this to 300% before it starts to pixelate.

Fabler2 · Nov 5, 2023

As for the fonts check clear type settings. Settings -personalisation -Fonts -related settings -Adjust ClearType text. Make sure it's ticked then go through the process of tuning the monitor.