Test puts iPad mini and 4th-gen iPad screens under microscope
A repair firm on Friday put the screens of Apple's new iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad under the microscope to illustrate the difference in size between the two tablets' pixels, and expectedly found the 7.9-inch device to fit between the iPad 2 and the Retina display iPad.
The informal inspection, performed by Repair Labs (via TechCrunch), yielded side-by-side images of the mini, the first-generation iPad, iPad 2, third- and fourth-generation iPad with Retina display, all taken from a 150x power microscope.
As seen in the resulting photos, the red, blue and green (RGB) blocks that comprise a single pixel are clearly visible, with pixel densities ranging in size from the original iPad and iPad 2's relatively low-resolution 132-pixels per inch screens, to the 264-pixels per inch panels found in the third- and fourth-generation iPads. Falling between the two pixel densities, but leaning more toward the iPad 2, is the iPad mini's display, which has the same resolution as the original iPad and iPad 2, but boasts a higher 164ppi pixel density due to its smaller 7.9-inch screen.
Source: Repair Labs
Comparing the fourth-gen iPad with the iPad mini, the pixels in the Retina display are only two-thirds the size of those found in the smaller tablet. This is in contrast to the iPad 2, which has pixels double the size of the fourth-gen iPad's.
"This means the difference between the two, is less noticeable," Repair Labs wrote. "In fact, to the naked eye, it?s negligible."
Pixel size of the iPad mini's screen (left) versus that of the fourth-generation iPad (right).
When Apple announced the iPad mini in October, some were concerned that the lack of a Retina display would hinder sales of the device as the company is in the process of moving most of its products to the high-resolution panels. It appears that Apple is positioning the tablet as a completely new sub-market, however, and is using the older screen tech to keep prices down.
Many have speculated that the next iPad mini will feature a Retina display as manufacturing yield rates stabilize to drive down component costs, though at this point the statements are mere rumors with no supporting evidence from supply chain sources.
The informal inspection, performed by Repair Labs (via TechCrunch), yielded side-by-side images of the mini, the first-generation iPad, iPad 2, third- and fourth-generation iPad with Retina display, all taken from a 150x power microscope.
As seen in the resulting photos, the red, blue and green (RGB) blocks that comprise a single pixel are clearly visible, with pixel densities ranging in size from the original iPad and iPad 2's relatively low-resolution 132-pixels per inch screens, to the 264-pixels per inch panels found in the third- and fourth-generation iPads. Falling between the two pixel densities, but leaning more toward the iPad 2, is the iPad mini's display, which has the same resolution as the original iPad and iPad 2, but boasts a higher 164ppi pixel density due to its smaller 7.9-inch screen.
Source: Repair Labs
Comparing the fourth-gen iPad with the iPad mini, the pixels in the Retina display are only two-thirds the size of those found in the smaller tablet. This is in contrast to the iPad 2, which has pixels double the size of the fourth-gen iPad's.
"This means the difference between the two, is less noticeable," Repair Labs wrote. "In fact, to the naked eye, it?s negligible."
Pixel size of the iPad mini's screen (left) versus that of the fourth-generation iPad (right).
When Apple announced the iPad mini in October, some were concerned that the lack of a Retina display would hinder sales of the device as the company is in the process of moving most of its products to the high-resolution panels. It appears that Apple is positioning the tablet as a completely new sub-market, however, and is using the older screen tech to keep prices down.
Many have speculated that the next iPad mini will feature a Retina display as manufacturing yield rates stabilize to drive down component costs, though at this point the statements are mere rumors with no supporting evidence from supply chain sources.
Comments
Wouldn't think you'd need to use a microscope with screens of that quality...
A little melodramatic?
I'm surprised they didn't inscribe something that says "get a life!"
Have you ever seen the Samsung pentile screens, like those used in the Galaxy SIII under a microscope?
It looks like a mess, and the colors are all different shapes, not neat and identical shapes like on the displays that Apple uses. And yep, I know that Samsung does manufacture some screens for Apple, in case any smartass feels the need to point that out.
And I'll be waiting until May or June and buy it then w/ retina and an A6. I really want a mini, but not enough to sacrifice screen and performance... Just getting it "first" doesn't mean you get it "right". See- google. They're the kings of "first but wrong". Ill wait for the 2nd gen thanks very much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andysol
And I'll be waiting until May or June and buy it then w/ retina and an A6. I really want a mini, but not enough to sacrifice screen and performance... Just getting it "first" doesn't mean you get it "right". See- google. They're the kings of "first but wrong". Ill wait for the 2nd gen thanks very much.
There is no sacrifice. I looked at the mini and iPad 4 this afternoon and the resolution was extraordinary, indistinguishable. You'd have to be the princess with a pea under her mattress to find the difference important.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][
Have you ever seen the Samsung pentile screens, like those used in the Galaxy SIII under a microscope?
It looks like a mess, and the colors are all different shapes, not neat and identical shapes like on the displays that Apple uses. And yep, I know that Samsung does manufacture some screens for Apple, in case any smartass feels the need to point that out.
Not Samsung screens. Pentile screens, no matter who manufacturers them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andysol
. See- google. They're the kings of "first but wrong".
they did pretty well arriving late to search
Why not wait until it comes out in retina? You know it will be the next upgrade.
That update probably isn't for a year though. There will always be updates, it's just a matter of deciding when to jump in.
Originally Posted by SeaNorse
Why not wait until it comes out in retina? You know it will be the next upgrade.
I'm thinking 2014 on that, myself. Solipsism makes a good point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
I'm thinking 2014 on that, myself. Solipsism makes a good point.
Just remember that Apple had shuffled some executives around and somewhere mentioned that products will be released when they're ready, not based on a cycle. In other word, when the iPad mini 2 is ready, it'll be released; it won't be released just because April or March crawls around or that November 2013 is here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeromeus
Just remember that Apple had shuffled some executives around and somewhere mentioned that products will be released when they're ready, not based on a cycle. In other word, when the iPad mini 2 is ready, it'll be released; it won't be released just because April or March crawls around or that November 2013 is here.
They've already implemented that with the Mac Pro. It won't be released just because November 2013 is here... or not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTR
You mean these things aren't made from real retinas?
I am amused that the term 'retina display' is really rather silly, however because Apple said it, the entire industry has adopted it even thought it doesn't really have any meaning.
I'm not sure I'm following. Is this saying the difference between the iPad 3 and mini is less than the difference between the iPad 3 and iPad 2, and in fact the difference between the iPad 3 and the mini is negligible to the naked eye? I don't quite agree with that, although the difference between the iPad 3 and the mini is not as much as I had been lead to expect. Text on the mini looks just slightly fuzzy compared to the razor sharp iPad 3. This is with a side-by-side comparison. When I'm just using the mini alone, text doesn't look fuzzy.