With the introduction of iPad mini 2 with Retina display, Apple made another revolution. The screen resolution is 2048x1536 pixels, which was then much higher than the monitors and laptops of the vast majority of users.

At the time of its introduction, Retina screens were considered the most progressive. Implemented on IPS technology, they were distinguished not only by high resolution, but also by excellent indicators of brightness and contrast, good viewing angles vertically and horizontally. Prior to this, only people using expensive Hi-End monitors could work with such a high-quality image.

With a similar step, Apple, in fact, s initiated a new race among portable device manufacturers — the race for high resolutions.

b>

Important. Steve Jobs said: "Everything is Retina that is more than 300 ppi." But comparing the pixel density of tablets and laptops is not correct, since everything depends on the viewing distance. So, at a distance of one metre, the user is unlikely to be able to distinguish a single pixel even on a monitor with a resolution of 1366x768, and the font will appear clear and smooth.

Smartphones with high screen resolution

Long time resolution screens of most mobile devices was 240x320 pixels, which was quite enough to solve the problems that users face. With the development of technology and the increase in the range of use, it became obvious that the resolution needed to be increased.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge, both smartphones
boast ultraHD 2K resolution

Retina screen was first used in 2010 in iPhone 4 — resolution increased to 960x640 (326 ppi). After the presentation of the new type of screens, many users were skeptical about such significant figures, fearing that the image on the screen would be too small. In fact, it turned out that with the right optimization of the image and fonts, nothing looks small or blurry. But after working with Retina for a long time, the usual screen already seems too grainy, it becomes unpleasant to use it. That is, in mobile devices, the resolution is raised not only to fit more information on the screen (with small diagonals, this does not make much sense), but also to significantly improve the image quality.

< p> The market has seen a trend towards an increase in smartphone displays for several years now, which has already led to the emergence of such a class of devices as phablets. However, according to PhoneArena research, the diagonal up to 4.99" is considered the most relevant and popular among users.

The increase in the display had a corresponding effect on the resolution, which is quite logical. The vast majority of popular smartphones have resolution 1280x720 (HD). 800x480 is already considered the lower acceptable threshold for a modern smartphone, and anything less is hardly comfortable to use.

Not so long ago, Apple introduced the long-awaited sixth version of their smartphone. As expected, the trend towards larger screens did not bypass them either, Apple iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch screen with FullHD resolution and a density of 401 ppi. But in the meantime, competitors have already launched the first smartphones with resolution ultraHD 2K and a density greater than 500 ppi.

Tip. The eye of an average person at a distance of 30 cm will not be able to distinguish a single pixel at a density of 300 ppi, according to some studies, and at a density of 477 ppi, according to others. But at the same time, it is worth remembering that the higher the image resolution, the more resources and charge the device will need to process it, which leads to increased heat dissipation and reduced battery life. Is it worth sacrificing that for a quality that a user can't see from a normal working distance?

Ultra-high-resolution tablet screens

The next logical step was the introduction of Retina to the iPad. Although the implementation of this project required the solution of some specific tasks, Apple successfully coped with them and already the third generation of the tablet computer has acquired ultra-high resolution screens. iPad 3 (The new iPad) is 2048×1536 pixels — four times larger than the iPad 2. Subsequently, the same screen was used in iPad 4 (iPad with Retina). But the first generation iPad mini did without Retina. For several reasons, the main of which is the desire to reduce the cost of the model.

But one should not think that mobile devices with high-resolution screens are produced exclusively by Apple. In fact, the advent of Retina unleashed the race. Similar solutions began to appear in other manufacturers seeking to attract the attention of consumers to their products. So devices like Google Nexus 10 16GB were released with a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels.

< tbody>

The wave has started, more and more new tablets with resolution 2560x1600. Mostly, these are models with a screen from 10" . But there are also a couple of 8-inch tablets, for example , Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 16GB is one of Samsung's most interesting tablets for 2014.

Laptops with high resolution screens

Smartphones and tablet computers are not limited. In 2012, a laptop with a Retina screen was introduced. The first was 15" MacBook Pro with a resolution of 2880x1800 pixels (220 ppi). Then came the 13-inch model. Thus, users have the opportunity, for example, to process an image with FullHD resolution, without reducing its scale.

Image quality comparison between Google Nexus 10 and < a href="/APPLE-IPAD-4-16GB--WITH-RETINA-.htm">Apple iPad 4 at multiple zoom
Laptop rating — last month
source E -catalog

The advent of Retina in laptops has greatly improved the quality of the image on the screen. However, such a significant increase in resolution required software optimization. After all, programs that were perfect for familiar resolutions look unpleasantly blurry on Retina screens. This process is relatively slow — the popular Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite packages were adapted only after 4-5 months after the first MacBook Pro Retina appeared. However, all new software for OS X is now being created taking into account the high resolutions.

However, the appearance of Retina in computers requires adaptation not only of software, but also of websites. Even the most beautiful resource will not look the best without the use of high-resolution images. And this process, unlike software development, can take much more time. Websites have always lagged somewhat behind the development of technology. By the way, shortly before the appearance of the first laptops with Retina, the creator of the Linux operating system Linus Torvalds published his thoughts, in which he complained that the resolution of modern laptops had stopped in its development and was not increasing.

< p> As for other developers, laptops with resolution 2560x1440, 2880x1620 and even 3200x1800. At the time of writing, there were not so many of them yet, but I would like to believe that others will actively follow the example of Apple. And that over time, ultra-high resolutions will become commonplace, and not be used exclusively in expensive devices.

New. Not so long ago, Apple updated its lineup of laptops with 11-inch and 13-inch 2014 MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro in 13-inch and 15-inch versions. No global innovations, only the hardware has changed: the minimum amount of RAM has increased, a more efficient processor has been installed. It is noteworthy that such a planned update did not in any way affect the cost in the United States, which cannot be said about east european stores.
See also:
4K Ultra HD: In a High Definition World
What is Ultra HD? Should I buy ultra-high definition TVs?
TOP 5: the best smartphones under $200
If you need an inexpensive smartphone that meets modern ideas about functionality.
What is an NFC chip and how to use it?
What is NFC technology used for, scenarios for its use in smartphones and other devices.
The most interesting laptops under $500 >
Discrete graphics model, convertible and laptop/tablet hybrid on a low-cost.
TOP-5 TVs for for the living room
Which mid-range TVs should you pay close attention to.
Discussion. What is the resolution of your smartphone/tablet? What model is this? Are you satisfied with the image quality?