Here’s something that’s been puzzling me: why can I comfortably fit more windows on my screen with macOS?
On my 42” 4K monitor, I can easily run a 2×3 grid – that’s 6 windows visible and usable at the same time. When I was on Windows with the exact same monitor, managing this many windows felt like a constant struggle.
The Same Hardware, Different Experience
It’s not like my monitor changed. Same 42 inches, same 4K resolution, same desk setup. But somehow on macOS, having 6 windows open feels… manageable? Natural even?
Possible Explanations I’ve Been Considering
Better window chrome? Mac windows seem to have thinner borders and less visual clutter. Those few pixels add up when you’re trying to maximize screen real estate.
Font rendering? Text might be more legible at smaller sizes on macOS, making it comfortable to shrink windows without losing readability.
Window snapping behavior? While Windows has window snapping, macOS (especially with tools like Rectangle or native tiling) might handle the arrangement more efficiently.
Mental model? Maybe it’s just that macOS trains you to think differently about window management through Spaces and Mission Control.
It’s Not Just the Tools
I’ve used plenty of window management tools on both platforms. PowerToys FancyZones on Windows, Rectangle on Mac. But even with similar tools, the Mac experience feels more dense yet more usable.
The Productivity Impact
This isn’t just about cramming more windows on screen for the sake of it. When I’m coding, I can have:
- IDE on the left
- Terminal below that
- Browser for docs on the right
- Slack in the corner
- Notes app visible
- File manager accessible
All visible, all usable, without feeling cramped. That same setup on Windows felt like I was constantly juggling, minimizing, or dealing with overlap.
Has anyone else noticed this? Is it real or am I just experiencing some kind of platform bias? Either way, it’s been a pleasant surprise in my Mac transition.