What's the big deal about a Retina Display?

[Numo]

Rumor sites are suggesting that Apple will sell a new iPad this spring with a Retina Display. What are the practical advantages of it? I think the current iPad display is pretty good. Is the new type that much better?

[rz]

yeah, and I thought the display of the iPhone 2G/3G/3Gs was pretty good too... until I got an iPhone 4.

[Robert M]

Ammo,

If what I read is correct, then the new display will have a much higher resolution. End result, crisper text and graphics. I think Retina display isn't a particular type of display, it's just a nifty way of saying the display on the i(xxx) is excellent. And, yes, the difference in the displays of older iphones such as the 3GS and the 4 and 4S is noticeable. Very noticeable.

Robert

[graylocks]

it's gorgeous. absolutely gorgeous. as rz says, it's not until you compare with a former display that you really GET how superior retina is. sometimes i just look down at the tiny screen and go WOW!

[OWC Jamie]

buzzword for high pixel count

[guitarist]

Yes, and to clarify (and with respect to the name, Retina Display) the resolution is so fine that the pixels can't be seen by the human eye. You'd literally need a loop, or a magnifying glass, to detect pixels. That's the breakthrough that Apple is promoting.

I noticed the difference when my friend got an iPhone 4, while I still had the iPhone 3Gs. I was stunned by the perfection of the image on his iPhone screen. It made me look forward to updating to the newer iPhone. I now have the iPhone 4, and an iPad 1, it'd be even more visually impressive to see Retina Display on the larger iPad format.

[john-o]

As another example, if I go from looking at my iPhone 4, with it's 960 by 640 pixel (326 ppi [pixels per inch]) display, to my iPad with its 1024 by 768 pixel (132 ppi) display, everything looks noticeably blurry on the iPad. An iPad with a resolution that approached that 326ppi number would be simply awesome.

[StingMe]

Yep, what everyone said...it IS a big deal

[M A V I C]

Retina displays are higher res than most print materials. It's a huge deal, though I can't seem to find a way to explain it that wouldn't potentially violate a NDA...

guitarist wrote:
Yes, and to clarify (and with respect to the name, Retina Display) the resolution is so fine that the pixels can't be seen by the human eye. You'd literally need a loop, or a magnifying glass, to detect pixels. That's the breakthrough that Apple is promoting.

I can see the pixels just fine. Of course, I can see 1200dpi stochastic dots without a loop too.

[ztirffritz]

I'll toss my support in too. The earlier iPhones look fine until you set them next to an iPhone 4 or 4s. It is very noticeable.