iPhone XR Is the XR Display Going To Look Like Garbage When Displaying Text?

[boomer11]

you can absolutely see the difference in sharpness in text and especially media from a iphone 8 plus to the xs max. are people this biased? not to mention a higher density screen should be able to fit more info onto the screen without losing that sharpness. maybe apple will take advantage of that one day instead of just making their home screen icons bigger.

i mean if you think there is no difference then tell me why apple would choose to go with the more expensive, more power hungry oled in their max instead of the cheaper screen put in the xr?

 

[Man on the moon]

It's going to look great, I personally was very impressed with the display on my nephews 8+.

Yeah but that is a 1080P screen.

XR is 720p.

Will not be as good.

Unless I am missing something.

 

[Feenician]

XR is 720p

No, it isn’t. There’s a website from a plucky little startup called Apple you can use to verify this.

 

[NJHitmen]

you can absolutely see the difference in sharpness in text and especially media from a iphone 8 plus to the xs max.

Sure. Is anyone claiming otherwise? OP was comparing Plus displays (401ppi) with iPhone 8/XR displays (326 ppi). I don’t know who’s pitting either of those against a Max.
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XR is 828p.

Fixed that for you. Not arguing with your comment - indeed, the XR won’t be as sharp as the Plus displays. Just correcting the number

 

[Mackinjosh]

326 PPI LCD on a $750 smartphone is garbage in 2018. Period. It’s very easy to see the difference and compared to a 2K AMOLED on the Galaxy S9 it’s embarrassing Apple can get away with it in this day and age.

I apologize for my extremely negative attitude but the XR and XS’ prices are a bit frustrating.

Yep, easy to see the difference. The 2K AMOLED phone is the one constantly destroying the battery.

 

[BigDO]

Most people with normal eyesight can see a difference between the PPI on a Plus phone and the 4.7" phone, at normal viewing distances.

The text will not be "garbage" on the XR. It will be less crisp than on the Plus sized (6, 6S, 7, 8) phones, and less crisp than on the OLED phones.

 

[phillymacuser]

I had a iPhone 7 up until last week when I upgraded to the XS. I held them next to each other, both on and flipping thru applications. I couldn’t really tell the difference to be honest. I am sure OLED has benefits, but technology has improved so much we are just taking incremental steps at this point! I was just ready for an upgrade so I got the XS, if the XR was available that’s probably what I would have now.

 

[Shanghaichica]

The sub 1080p doesn’t sound good to me however I don’t think it will be a bad display and will probably look quite nice so long as you’re not comparing it to the Max. The plus models had very nice screens and apple have form for making nice LCD displays.

 

[Phone Junky]

Nobody complained about the 'retina' display before the plus models. Now it's trash?

That's the good thing about getting older. Your sight and hearing aren't what they used to be so 'old' retina displays look just fine and AirPods sound great.

 

[AnthonyG6]

I think this is similar to watching TV in Standard Definition verses High Definition. When you flick between the two you notice a massive difference in picture quality but after a while of watching in Standard Definition you just get used to it and don't really notice it anymore.

On the other hand if it bothers you so much you could just buy your wife a Xs Max and stop being so goddamn stingy!

 

[Alanscottdallas0]

Oled to LCD no thanks this threads brings me back my old work laptop cannot even watch a 1080p video so much lag have to downscale back to 720p.

 

[yegon]

Categorically not garbage. However, 326 is merely okay these days. Dated, but okay. The XR is a very good phone that will likely sell well, albeit outrageously priced given what the same price comparatively got you a year earlier.

Those claiming they can’t see the difference between that and higher PPI, fine. But some of us absolutely can. It’s like the 30fps crowd telling me that, no, my 144hz G-Sync monitor averaging 100fps is not better than good ol’ 30fps.

The jump from 326 to 401 made a big difference to my peepers, especially where text is concerned. 458 is another level. Heck, I’ve always had iPhones, but my cheapo android work phones years ago started looking better ppi wise (not necessarily overall, in terms of colour accuracy, off angle viewing etc) than the 326ppi iPhones.

 

[LarryJoe33]

If you are under 40 years old the text will look fine. If you are over and need readers or are in denial, get the XS.

XR is going to be for the younger generation that doesn’t over analyze the sharpness of fonts.

 

[apolloa]

So iPhone 8 Plus have 1080p display, not XR. It’s going to be disappointing according to OP and I agree with them.

Opinions vary....

I think you should wait till you actually see one in person before judging it.

 

[ROLLTIDE1]

More concerned about it having piss poor cellular issues like the XS

 

[EugW]

The jump from 326 to 401 made a big difference to my peepers, especially where text is concerned. 458 is another level.

While the jump from 326 to 401 is an important one for text quality, you've been fooled by Apple's (and Samung's) use of the 458 ppi spec. Arguably, that pixel density is effectively lower than the 401 spec of the Plus LCDs. Apple's LCDs have pixels with 3 subpixels each. The 458 ppi of the OLED is a cheat, because it's only 2 subpixels per pixel. The way they complete the trio of subpixels is to "borrow" a subpixel from the neighbouring pixel.

The OLED effective pixel density is significantly higher than 326 ppi, but it's not even close to 458 ppi in LCD terms.

More concerned about it having piss poor cellular issues like the XS

Unlikely.

XR:

XS Max:

 

[Ffosse]

The only way I've ever seen pixels on an iPhone screen is when they've been photographed and then you can zoom in and see individual pixels.

Honestly, 326ppi is fine and has been since the iPhone 4 some 8 years ago. The screens have improved in that time also.

 

[EugW]

The only way I've ever seen pixels on an iPhone screen is when they've been photographed and then you can zoom in and see individual pixels.

Honestly, 326ppi is fine and has been since the iPhone 4 some 8 years ago. The screens have improved in that time also.

You don’t have to actually clearly resolve individual pixels to see the slight blurring of small text on the iPhone 8. That blurriness is completely gone on the 8 Plus and XS Max.

 

[Ffosse]

You don’t have to actually clearly resolve individual pixels to see the slight blurring of small text on the iPhone 8. That blurriness is completely gone on the 8 Plus and XS Max.

I never noticed that with my 8. But I'm over 50 now and my eyesight isn't what it was. All my screens look fine to me.

 

[yegon]

While the jump from 326 to 401 is an important one for text quality, you've been fooled by Apple's (and Samung's) use of the 458 ppi spec. Arguably, that pixel density is effectively lower than the 401 spec of the Plus LCDs. Apple's LCDs have pixels with 3 subpixels each. The 458 ppi of the OLED is a cheat, because it's only 2 subpixels per pixel. The way they complete the trio of subpixels is to "borrow" a subpixel from the neighbouring pixel.

The OLED effective pixel density is significantly higher than 326 ppi, but it's not even close to 458 ppi in LCD terms.


Unlikely.

XR:

XS Max:

Interesting, ha! I knew there was some pixel trickery going on but not to the extent that you illustrate.

I stand by my initial assessment that 326 ppi is very noticeable to my eyes. Maybe 400 or so is my point of diminishing returns, just as 326 seemingly is for other people.

 

[Ffosse]

Well, I just pulled the trigger on the 7 Plus Jet Black 128gb (Refurbished) for $569 on Apple's website. This has absolutely nothing to do with money, but the PWM on the Max is driving my eyes (and head) crazy.

I don't plan on using this phone for more than a year, but on the bright side, after returning my Max with Apple Care, I'll be getting over $900 back.

I'll check out the XR when it comes out, but I already looked a few friends 7/8's and the text doesn't look as crisp the Plus models...so I'll go with the higher PPI of an older (refurbished) Plus.

Good luck to all those getting the XR!

Can you elaborate a bit more on the PWM and how it is driving you crazy?
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If you are under 40 years old the text will look fine. If you are over and need readers or are in denial, get the XS.

XR is going to be for the younger generation that doesn’t over analyze the sharpness of fonts.

This is what I don't get - surely younger people will (mostly) have better vision? As I've said, I can't complain about the screens on my Max, iPad Pro or MacBook. I do notice the difference playing 1440p YouTube versus regular HD on my MacBook, though.

EDIT: Sorry, I misinterpretated what you said about under 40s.

I got a TV for the first time in 7 years this Summer and I'm still blown away with how good normal 1080p HD looks.

 

[EugW]

I never noticed that with my 8. But I'm over 50 now and my eyesight isn't what it was. All my screens look fine to me.

This is actually an important point. Presbyopia is a biotch. For example if you are 50 with presbyopia and don’t wear corrective glasses, the tendency is to hold the phone further away. It’s much harder to see any text quality differences at 18 inches than it is at 11 inches. What can make a difference here are reading glasses or bifocals/“digital” lenses/progressives.

 

[Ffosse]

I would need bifocals, I think. I'm short-sighted, can't read bus numbers from a distance, and I put on my glasses to watch the TV.

What I have noticed is something strange, though. In the past when mp3 players were a thing, it was very obvious when Cowon introduced an OLED model, the screen popped and colours were vivid. There was that inky black.

I can't say I noticed any difference between OLED and LCD on my iPhone X and iPhone 8. Both screens looked equally good, the same to me, I just couldn't tell the difference. I even tried using black wallpapers but the sameness was still there. Maybe this is a sign of my advancing years, I'm only 52.

I may compare a black screen on my LCD Honor 10 with the Max and see if I can spot the difference. I've found the Honor's screen to be perfectly good in day to day use, much like the iPhone.

 

[Mackinjosh]

The only way I've ever seen pixels on an iPhone screen is when they've been photographed and then you can zoom in and see individual pixels.

Honestly, 326ppi is fine and has been since the iPhone 4 some 8 years ago. The screens have improved in that time also.

If 326 ppi wasn't fine, no one would be buying iPad Pro(264 ppi) or MacBook Pro(227 ppi). People whining about 326ppi being too low are nuts.

 

[EugW]

I would need bifocals, I think. I'm short-sighted, can't read bus numbers from a distance, and I put on my glasses to watch the TV.

I'm no expert, but I'd say you'd probably want progressives. Or else digital progressives.

Don't get bifocals. They make you look like a senior. Plus they only have two lens powers, with a sharp transition between them.

What I have noticed is something strange, though. In the past when mp3 players were a thing, it was very obvious when Cowon introduced an OLED model, the screen popped and colours were vivid. There was that inky black.

I can't say I noticed any difference between OLED and LCD on my iPhone X and iPhone 8. Both screens looked equally good, the same to me, I just couldn't tell the difference. I even tried using black wallpapers but the sameness was still there. Maybe this is a sign of my advancing years, I'm only 52.

I may compare a black screen on my LCD Honor 10 with the Max and see if I can spot the difference. I've found the Honor's screen to be perfectly good in day to day use, much like the iPhone.

IMO, OLED's biggest advantage is inky blacks when the surrounding environment is dimly lit. In a bright room, both an OLED and LCD look great IMO.