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1. What is Retina Display?
It was the 7th of June 2010 when Steve Jobs first introduced the concept of a “Retina display” — a leap forward in visual quality from previous Apple devices. The first device Apple chose to outfit with this standard was iPhone 4, unveiled during that same event. Every iPhone display Apple has sold since then has held the Retina standard, and it has since moved to other devices.
So, let’s clarify what “Retina” means, how this feature has been applied to different devices, and why you should care.
The definition of “Retina”
Retina displays have a pixel density that‘s so high, your eyes can’t discern individual pixels at a normal viewing distance. This gives content incredible detail and dramatically improves your viewing experience.
During Steve Jobs’s presentation, he stated that the limit of the human retina’s ability to resolve individual pixels was equal to or greater than 300 PPI on a display viewed 10-12 inches from the eye. For example, The iPhone4 3.5 inch display had a Resolution of 960 x 640 — four times that of the previous iPhone. This resulted in a pixel density of 326 PPI, which Jobs described as being “comfortably over that limit”.
Normal display (top) vs Retina display (bottom)
2. How does Retina Display work?
The Retina standard depends on Viewing Distance and PPI because the human eye’s ability to resolve individual pixels depends on how large those pixels appear. For example, owing to their typical viewing distances, iPhones require a greater pixel density than iMac monitors, which in turn require a greater one than TV screens.
The angular resolution that a normal person can distinguish, denoted as a , is approximately 1 arcminute, which is what the display industry refers to as a Retina display.
According to the above figure, by combining the view distance d of various typical products, the corresponding display’s PPI that can meet the requirements of a Retina display screen can be obtained.
| Typical Deviece | View distance d(cm) | View Distance d(inch) | Retina PPI |
| 10 | 4 | 873 | |
| Mobile Wearable | 20 | 8 | 437 |
| 30 | 12 | 291 | |
| Tablet PC | 40 | 16 | 218 |
| 50 | 20 | 175 | |
| PC/NoteBook | 60 | 24 | 146 |
| 80 | 32 | 109 | |
| TV | 100 | 40 | 87 |
| 200 | 80 | 44 |
3. What is Retina advantage and application ?
| Devices with Retina displays | Screen Size (Inch) | Resolution-X | Resolution-Y | PPI |
| Apple Watch 38mm | 1.34 | 272 | 340 | 325 |
| Apple Watch 42mm | 1.53 | 312 | 390 | 326 |
| Apple Watch 40mm | 1.55 | 324 | 394 | 329 |
| Apple Watch 41mm | 1.69 | 352 | 430 | 329 |
| Apple Watch 44mm | 1.76 | 368 | 448 | 329 |
| Apple Watch 45mm | 1.9 | 396 | 484 | 329 |
| Apple Watch Ultra | 1.92 | 396 | 484 | 326 |
| iPhone 4, 4S | 3.5 | 960 | 640 | 330 |
| iPod Touch 4 | 3.5 | 960 | 640 | 330 |
| iPhone 5, 5C, 5S | 4 | 1136 | 640 | 326 |
| iPhone SE 1 | 4 | 1136 | 640 | 326 |
| iPod Touch 5, 6, 7 | 4 | 1136 | 640 | 326 |
| iPad mini 2, 3, 4, 5 | 7.9 | 2048 | 1536 | 324 |
| iPad 3, 4, 5, 6 | 9.7 | 2048 | 1536 | 264 |
| iPad Air 1, 2 | 9.7 | 2048 | 1536 | 264 |
| iPad Pro 9.7-inch | 9.7 | 2048 | 1536 | 264 |
| iPad 7, 8, 9 | 10.2 | 2160 | 1620 | 265 |
| iPad Pro 10.5-inch | 10.5 | 2224 | 1668 | 265 |
| iPad Air 3 | 10.5 | 2224 | 1668 | 265 |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1, 2 | 12.9 | 2732 | 2048 | 265 |
| MacBook 12-inch | 12 | 2304 | 1440 | 226 |
| MacBook Air 13-inch 2018-2020 | 13.3 | 2560 | 1600 | 227 |
| MacBook Pro 13-inch 2012-2022 | 13.3 | 2560 | 1600 | 227 |
| MacBook Pro 15-inch 2012-2019 | 15.4 | 2560 | 1800 | 203 |
| MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019 | 16 | 3072 | 1920 | 226 |
In the field of smartphones: Apple’s iPhone series is a typical application of Retina Display technology. Since the launch of the iPhone 4, Retina Display has become a major selling point of the iPhone, greatly enhancing the display quality of the mobile phone. With the continuous development of technology, subsequent iPhone models have continuously improved the pixel density and display performance, bringing users an even more outstanding visual experience. Other mobile phone manufacturers have also followed suit, launching smartphones with high pixel density displays to meet users’ demand for high-quality displays.
In the field of tablets: The iPad series also adopts Retina Display technology. On tablets, the larger screen size makes the advantages of high pixel density even more evident. Users can enjoy high-definition video playback, delicate image editing, and a comfortable reading experience on the iPad. Whether for entertainment or work, Retina Display adds a lot of value to the iPad.
In the field of laptops: Apple’s MacBook series of laptops are also equipped with Retina Display. For users who need to handle a large amount of graphic, image, and text content, the Retina Display of the MacBook provides unparalleled display effects. It can present clear details, making it easier for professionals to carry out tasks such as design, photography, and video editing. At the same time, for ordinary users, they can also enjoy a more comfortable visual experience when watching movies, browsing the web, and handling daily documents.
In the field of desktop computer monitors: Although Apple’s iMac all-in-one computer is a representative of Retina Display in the field of desktop computers, other monitor manufacturers are also constantly launching display products with high resolution and high pixel density. These monitors are suitable for professional fields such as graphic design, film and television production, and game development, and can meet users’ needs for high-precision displays.
Retina Display technology brings users an ultimate visual experience through features such as high pixel density, excellent color performance, and high contrast. It is widely used in fields such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computer monitors, promoting the continuous development and progress of display technology. With the continuous innovation of technology, VIEWE have every reason to believe that Retina Display technology will continue to bring us more surprises in the future.
Relative Link:
1. what is resolution?
2. what is PPI and how to caculate PPI?
