4.7-Inch iPhone 6 Screen Put Under Microscope as New 1472 x 828 Resolution Emerges

[andyyardley]

While these screen resolutions and screen densities might make 'sense' one of the problems which comes out of this for developers and users alike is that App downloads and local installs keep getting larger due to all the different assets for all the different screen resolutions which needs to be bundled into the app.

Already apps with limited functionality are approaching very large sizes due to supporting 2 iPhone and 2 iPad screen densities, adding more is going to make this problem worse. Everybody will soon need 128gb iPhones just for all the high resolution assets they aren't using.

This is aside from the problem that in reality irrespective of whatever screen resolution Apple will put out most developers will just blow up the smaller iPhone screens to fit the large one, partly out of laziness and partly for cost reasons. This just means that the buttons are going to be bigger.

Now considering this will be the most likely outcome in 99% of apps, they might as well just put a 1080p screen in both and scale the existing contents accordingly, the pixels will be so small you won't even see any distortion of the existing retina images and yes the UI elements will be bigger on the 5.5" but thats going to happen in most apps anyway.

 

[SarcasticJoe]

I always admired Apple for generally doing their own thing and not just chasing everyone else for the sake of keeping up with them no matter if there's any point to it. One good example of this was the "retina" screens in the iPhone where they released a model with a PPI so high the vast majority can't see a difference beyond that and then they stuck to that even when their competitors essentially began to sell placebo to spec fetishists.

However it looks like the're now going to drop that and waste a lot of CPU and GPU time as well as memory with an even higher PPI screen just for some specs to look nicer on a piece of paper or an Excel sheet.

 

[Milese3]

Lol; the S5 is their mainstream flagship and its been out for months with 1080p. Basically you're saying that Samsung downgraded specs to drop down to Apple's low bar. And don't forget about the beast; the Note 4.
The alpha was made to shut people up about Samsung using plastic. This is not a flagship killer.

Whilst their S5 and Note 4 all offer super high end specifications. The Galaxy Alpha was undoubtedly made to combat the iPhone 6 and is marketed as one of their premium smartphones. It even has a 4.7" display. So, in essence, 720p isn't too bad, in fact, the pixels will still be too small for the human eye to see.

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I couldn't care less, resolution should not be going any higher than 400ppi, it's just a waste of time. It's only for the spec hunting jizz monsters. I can't focus close enough to see pixels unless I squint. I'd rather have same ppi with better color accuracy, faster refresh times etc. Especially if a ppi bump causes quality loss.

Phones hover around 350ppi but with pentile displays you'll be wanting over 450ppi to avoid seeing the jaggies. I'm so glad to see apple using the standard sub pixel arrays and means a more sensible ppi. My Full HD samsung TV uses pentile and it's just horrid to look at and is a noticeable depreciation in quality compared to RGB sub pixel layouts.

I can't believe there are QHD phones out there now, you can guarantee that these will disappear over time when the makers realise that no one can see the difference but the extra cost and poor quality contrast/color as a result will actually mean much lower sales for those phones.

You make an excellent point.

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And it's worse than several other android phones, so what is your point?

It's sort of blatant that the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is targeting the iPhone 6, with a 4.7" display and a so called "premium" design.

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It's midrange at best.

I agree, however it hasn't been marketed that way.

 

[Janichsan]

Whether 1704 x 960 or 1472 x 828, these are just weird resolutions. Would it hurt Apple so much to go for something more standard compliant?

 

[aleni]

I remember hearing tim cook said "we'll make a big screen iphone when we can get it right". I think the weird resolution here to make the phone not too wide to be held comfortably with one hand.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I remember hearing tim cook said "we'll make a big screen iphone when we can get it right". I think the weird resolution here to make the phone not too wide to be held comfortably with one hand.

There are plenty of larger phones which are easy to hold in the hand, it's not rocket science as much as Johnny Ives will try and tell us in a few weeks.

Anyhow I think Apple should have gone with 1080p as a minimum. Considering that even with that they would still have been behind as most displays are going towards 2K now. But hey this is Apple who right now don't even have 720p, so whatever they do it will be a huge upgrade for their users.

 

[sinfonye]

You can get another batter for $15 and never need to throw that phone away because your battery is losing capacity. It doesn't matter anyway, the point is moot. Everyone just buys a new iPhone yearly anyway!

Just pay to get the battery replaced (or do it yourself if you're brave - ifixit has instructions). If you only do it once every two years, a removable battery is not a major advantage.

And if you're throwing your 5s away because of a dud battery, please give it to me

 

[Donoban]

Cool as we get closer to Sept, I'm getting more excited

Me too, can't wait to start trolling this forum with a whole bunch of anti apple sentiment.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Just pay to get the battery replaced (or do it yourself if you're brave - ifixit has instructions). If you only do it once every two years, a removable battery is not a major advantage.

And if you're throwing your 5s away because of a dud battery, please give it to me

A removable battery is also good as you can carry around a spare and not have to worry about your battery running out, so don't have to limit your usage.

I'm going abroad for the weekend and its great to be able to carry a spare battery with me.

 

[aleni]

There are plenty of larger phones which are easy to hold in the hand, it's not rocket science as much as Johnny Ives will try and tell us in a few weeks.

Anyhow I think Apple should have gone with 1080p as a minimum. Considering that even with that they would still have been behind as most displays are going towards 2K now. But hey this is Apple who right now don't even have 720p, so whatever they do it will be a huge upgrade for their users.

There is none except moto x in my opinion. All 5" screen smart phone is not comfortable to use with one hand for me.

 

[Menel]

4.7-Inch iPhone 6 Screen Put Under Microscope as New 1472 x 828 Resolution Em...

Whether 1704 x 960 or 1472 x 828, these are just weird resolutions. Would it hurt Apple so much to go for something more standard compliant?

What standard? I don't know of any standardized phone resolution.

 

[Smartass]

In time when first phones with Quad HD screens are coming out, apple can't even put a 1080p display into the iphone? quite sad, to be honest. And yes i know "you cant even tell the difference", but 1080p on a flagship phones is standard these days.

 

[Menel]

In time when first phones with Quad HD screens are coming out, apple can't even put a 1080p display into the iphone? quite sad, to be honest. And yes i know "you cant even tell the difference", but 1080p on a flagship phones is standard these days.

To what benefit?

Battery drain due to more gpu resources used.
Battery drain due to more RAM circuits energized.
Battery drain due to more backlight needed to illuminate through ever smaller pixels.


I only see negatives to the pointless epeen specsheet war.

 

[Janichsan]

What standard? I don't know of any standardized phone resolution.

You don't? Stuff like 1024x768, 1280x720, 1920x1080 and multiples (and sometimes fractions) of that? Never heard about or seen this?

 

[Menel]

You don't? Stuff like 1024x768, 1280x720, 1920x1080 and multiples (and sometimes fractions) of that? Never heard about or seen this?

Ive seen those for TVs and computer displays, but those devices aren't phone handsets for your pocket...

 

[Smartass]

To what benefit?

Battery drain due to more gpu resources used.
Battery drain due to more RAM circuits energized.
Battery drain due to more backlight needed to illuminate through ever smaller pixels.


I only see negatives to the pointless epeen specsheet war.

Because this is more or less the industry standard. You cant be the industry leader (which lets face it, apple always wants to be), if even the mid-ranged phones from Asia have better screen than your top flagship phone. And the battery issue really cant be an excuse overhere, not when you have so many phones with full HD screens on the market yet no one has that many battery problems as the s5.

 

[Menel]

Because this is more or less the industry standard. You cant be the industry leader (which lets face it, apple always wants to be), if even the mid-ranged phones from Asia have better screen than your top flagship phone. And the battery issue really cant be an excuse overhere, not when you have so many phones with full HD screens on the market yet no one has that many battery problems as the s5.

If the s5 dialed down its overly dense screen, it would probably have decent batt life like the iPhone 5/5S.

 

[matrix07]

I always admired Apple for generally doing their own thing and not just chasing everyone else for the sake of keeping up with them no matter if there's any point to it. One good example of this was the "retina" screens in the iPhone where they released a model with a PPI so high the vast majority can't see a difference beyond that and then they stuck to that even when their competitors essentially began to sell placebo to spec fetishists.

However it looks like the're now going to drop that and waste a lot of CPU and GPU time as well as memory with an even higher PPI screen just for some specs to look nicer on a piece of paper or an Excel sheet.

I don't think that. It'll be true if they increase the pixel while the screen size remains the same. This's simply not the case judging from the leaks so far. So I say it's just Apple want to maintain the same PPI or whereabout on the iPhone rather than being spec fetishism.
When Apple release a 1080p resolution on a 4.7" screen size or less then I'll say they are chasing spec.

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Because this is more or less the industry standard.

:Think Different:

 

[DoubleU]

Because this is more or less the industry standard. You cant be the industry leader (which lets face it, apple always wants to be), if even the mid-ranged phones from Asia have better screen than your top flagship phone. And the battery issue really cant be an excuse overhere, not when you have so many phones with full HD screens on the market yet no one has that many battery problems as the s5.

Apple only likes to lead in certain areas; the original iPhone didn't have 3G when that was definitely standard in Europe and parts of Asia, they weren't first with LTE either. When the Retina Display first came out people said it was a marketing gimmick but now high resolution screens seem to be a must have feature.

Apple will probably push ahead this year with some other new feature/function that in 2 years time people will complain that they're being left behind in.

 

[Azzin]

I remember hearing tim cook said "we'll make a big screen iphone when we can get it right". I think the weird resolution here to make the phone not too wide to be held comfortably with one hand.

I think the comment was "When it can be done right and to Apple's standards", rather than 'when they can get it right'.

I think they're pretty capable of getting it right...

[Edit] -

"My view continues to be that iPhone 5 has the absolute best display in the industry," Cook said on a post earnings call with investors. "Our competitors have made trade-offs to ship a larger display.

We will not ship a larger display iPhone while these trade-offs exist."

http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/tim-cook-leaves-door-open-for-larger-iphone/

The comment I was thinking of was in an actual sit down interview, perhaps one of the All Things D sit downs with Kara Swisher & Walt Mossberg?

[Edit 2] - http://allthingsd.com/20130528/liveblog-apple-ceo-tim-cook-kicks-off-d11/

 

[flottenheimer]

Muggles don't know about Xcode 5 Auto-layout, and Xcode 6 Interface Builder.

Apple solved all the problems there were and could might be. One storyboard to rule them all.

Steve Jobs himself saw it as an important competitive advantage.
And Muggles do know a thing or two about designing with pixels : )

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Image

What do you think I think it means?
And what word would you use instead?

 

[Shanghaichica]

If the s5 dialed down its overly dense screen, it would probably have decent batt life like the iPhone 5/5S.

The S5 has better battery life than the 5S.

 

[Janichsan]

Ive seen those for TVs and computer displays, but those devices aren't phone handsets for your pocket...

Bothered to check my link?

 

[matrix07]

Bothered to check my link?

Still, those are HD video standard.. for TV. Not phone. Just because many manufacturers using it doesn't make it a standard.

 

[nia820]

Mind you- the resolution is still better than the 720p found on the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.

Like how you mentioned galaxy alpha and not galaxy s5 or even galaxy s4.

Galaxy alpha is a budget phone so of course it is not going to have a top of a line screen.