iPad 2 screen resolution, no change? Why?

[ftaok]

Personally, I don't think the iPad will see a screen resolution increase until the cost/benefit ratio favors it. A small increase in screen resolution to, say 1280x960, wouldn't be worth the effort/headache. A full jump to 2x (2048x1536) would impact cost/battery/performance.

I would imagine that once the cost of a moderate resolution screen increase, say 1600x1200, is manageable, then Apple would update the resolution. Perhaps they'll ask developers to code for a third screen resolution, or perhaps iOS5 will include resolution independence ... which would pave the way to an resolution increase.

 

[freeman727]

Retina Display for iPad will happen when it happens. It is a combo of marketing and economics. Just enjoy the iPad 2 for what it will be. Imagine if Retina Display never came out for the iPhone, then I bet no one would be hooting and hollering about no 'hi rez' display for the iPad 2. With a good enough screen, speed and form factor should make us all very happy.

 

[ntrigue]

I do not think that Apple will release an iPad 3 with 2048x1536 resolution by September. If not for any reason than the price of the commodity. Beyond that, the graphics and battery aren't capable to drive that. Maybe April 2012.

 

[stevekw]

Wasn't the tag for the latest release "year of the iPad 2"? I'm thinking that there will be a iPad 2 hd at some point this "year" add a few hundred dollars to each level price point. This will give apple the ipad2 and the iPad2 hd.

 

[kmanmx]

People think retina display will come in iPad 3. But people do not realise what they are asking for.

Could apple release retina display for iPad 3 ? Yes. But it would be at a huge performance cost.

Think about it. Getting good looking games to an acceptable FPS (25+, minimum) takes quite a bit of grunt for a mobile machine even at this time at the ipads 1024x768. Now go on the internet and type in "gpu benchmarks" notice how the high resolutions of desktop monitors (1900x1200, etc) have much lower FPS than that of lower resolutions ?. The same would happen for iPad 3, except, this would not be acceptable to developers, it would not be acceptable to consumers, and definitely not acceptable to apple. In fact quite the opposite, people would expect an improvement, better graphics and higher framerates - even on the supposed 2048x1536. This would require huge computing power for a tablet computer. I don't think it's impossible to get hardware to power a retina display and its games, i think you could do it now. But i don't think you could do it for $499 for such a powerful CPU and GPU. Oh wait, i was forgetting the cost of the retina display. Make that, i don't think you could do it for $800 or even $900.

And apple are not going to sell an iPad with lower battery life. Which is exactley what it would have.

If apple get this all figured out for iPad 3, MAJOR KUDOS. I think it's so unlikely, but apple has some serious financial muscle and intelligent minds so it isn't totally inconceivable. Knowing Jobs, he would do it at a financial loss as long as it meant apple kept there market share until next year when it becomes profitable again

edit:
Another point to remember is before the iPad came along a 9.7inch 1024x768 display probably existed in some form or another, and so the cost of adapting and manufacturing wouldn't be to substantial. However it's pretty likely a 2048x1536 9.7inch display does not exist except maybe in prototype format or in some technology science lab - to get this thing to acceptable yield levels and pumping out hundreds of thousands in volume per month would be, err, expensive ? you bet.

 

[yodaxl7]

Cost.

They really wanted to hit that $499 price point.

I agree with that. I think that once Apple hits 50 millions units or more, they will have more aggressive upgrades and charge more. It is like giving you a sweet candy. You will come back for more. Then, they offer you yummy cake and cost you more, but you will want that cake. If Apple can sell 40 mil by year end, then year we will see that amazing "retina display". So, I hope that happens.

 

[ajvizzgamer101]

So they have a reason to make an iPad 3

 

[JohnnyQuest]

I hate it when people say this is the iPad "3GS." I mean, this is a pretty substantial update. The internals are greatly improved, and the body of the device is so much more compact. Plus cameras, color options, and Smart Covers.

That being said, I was really hoping for higher resolution, as reading is sometimes less than stellar. But, I wonder if higher resolution will come in 3 or 4. If it's still two years out, I might as well upgrade now.