iPhone X So Xr’s screen is only 720p...

[aevan]

I like Jonathan Morrison, but he compared a $300 Pocophone to a XR that costs $749 (up to $899).
Yes, there's more to a screen than resolution or PPI, but that's all that proves.
If he put the One Plus 6T display up against it, I think this would've ended differently, and that phone is a good deal cheaper than the XR. That phone is running Android, and not iOS, so I'm not claiming anything else about price, but he pulled one of the cheapest Android phones on the market.

True, but the point he was trying to make is not that the $749 phone has a better screen than a $300 phone, it was that 1080p doesn’t mean much by itself so you shouldn’t look at resolution when deciding if a screen is good or not.

OnePlus may have a better screen (I honestly don’t know) - but if it does, it’s not better because it’s 1080p.
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As I point out in my testing above, the details disappear in 720 comparing to 1080 or 1440. So it is pointless to talk about how good is the panel when all details disappear in 720. I have checked out the XR many times and I cannot tell the panel quality is good at all, it is just average.

“All details disappear in 720p” compared to 1080p? Well, maybe you have some advanced pixel-detecting vision, but as Morrison’s video proved - most people don’t notice these details, and even those that do, they see it in text, and only when comparing screens side by side. In videos, due to the way our eyes perceive motion, it’s practically impossible and in photos it’s possible but really hard, and depends on the photo.

I remember that video that put the same photo on an older iMac and the (then new) iMac 5K and ask them to tell which is sharper from a regular viewing distance. Most people couldn’t, even though I can tell you the difference between a 5K and 1440p display is huge for me. But the reason is because I like looking at text and small menu bar icons - for most people, even that is hardly noticeable and that’s literally a double increase in resolution on a 27” screen! 720 vs 1080p on a 6.1” screen - you really have to try to see it.

Look, you live your truth and all, but for the majority of people, XR has one of the best phone screens on the market. That’s just how it is - you still don’t have to like the phone or think there are better options out there.

 

[milover]

True, but the point he was trying to make is not that the $749 phone has a better screen than a $300 phone, it was that 1080p doesn’t mean much by itself so you shouldn’t look at resolution when deciding if a screen is good or not.

OnePlus may have a better screen (I honestly don’t know) - but if it does, it’s not better because it’s 1080p.
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“All details disappear in 720p” compared to 1080p? Well, maybe you have some advanced pixel-detecting vision, but as Morrison’s video proved - most people don’t notice these details, and even those that do, they see it in text, and only when comparing screens side by side. In videos, due to the way our eyes perceive motion, it’s practically impossible and in photos it’s possible but really hard, and depends on the photo.

I remember that video that put the same photo on an older iMac and the (then new) iMac 5K and ask them to tell which is sharper from a regular viewing distance. Most people couldn’t, even though I can tell you the difference between a 5K and 1440p display is huge for me. But the reason is because I like looking at text and small menu bar icons - for most people, even that is hardly noticeable and that’s literally a double increase in resolution on a 27” screen! 720 vs 1080p on a 6.1” screen - you really have to try to see it.

Look, you live your truth and all, but for the majority of people, XR has one of the best phone screens on the market. That’s just how it is - you still don’t have to like the phone or think there are better options out there.

No, it is very easy to tell the difference. I just randomly pick youtube video and look at it with normal distance.

 

[aevan]

No, it is very easy to tell the difference. I just randomly pick youtube video and look at it with normal distance.

I find that really hard to believe, but ok. Sure, put them side by side and you can probably tell. But observe it on its own, and you’re telling me you see “loss of detail”? And you do know bitrate is more important than resolution in videos?

Even if you do see the difference, most people can’t. Why is it that every single text on HDR TVs last year mentioned how HDR and contrast are way more important than 4K resolution (and, again, that’s twice the resolution of 1080p on 55, 65” TVs).

But hey, I get it - for some reason, it’s important to you that XR has a bad screen, despite what reviewers and screen experts are saying. Spec-shaming is nothing new for Apple products. RAM on iOS devices, number of cores on mobile CPUs, megapixels on cameras.... take your pick. This has been going on for a long time, every time there’s a new iPhone, there is someone to mention how competition has more Megagigapixelinches and stuff.

 

[davedvdy]

But that is exactly his point. Everyone here is complaining about ppi and resolution. There is no mention about quality of the panel or color accuracy. All people care about are the numbers on the specs and he was just trying to debunk that. Obviously if he picked a nicer display the results would be different but he picked a cheap display to prove that ppi and resolution is not the only important factor of a screen.

OnePlus may have a better screen (I honestly don’t know) - but if it does, it’s not better because it’s 1080p.

I'll respond to you both similarly since you both have similar replies to my quote.

I think it would be fair to say that the panel sharpness isn't the only factor, but it can definitely play into it with a proper blind test. You have to take all specs into consideration otherwise we could say there isn't a point for panel sharpness...such as 1080p or 4k in the first place.

It is fair to put a phone in the same price range as another against it, which was partly my point.
Just as someone could take a XS or XS Max and put it up against a more expensive Android phone.


It wasn't even a proper blind test, since it didn't include all normal viewing including text. The Pocophone may have even won out in that regard. If he put the 8 Plus against the XR since they are both Apple iPhones in the same price range, I'd think that would make even more sense. One panel is 1080p, and the other isn't. They're both LCD screen iPhones too.


Also, if people are in that budget range and only shopping for iPhones, that may actually help them make a balanced decision. If the colors "popping more" on the XR as some forum members have pointed out really play into effect, then we will be able to see the truth and draw a reasonable conclusion. Unfortunately like most things, an exaggeration to try to make a point wins out which I don't really believe proves all that much. It proves an inferior panel is an inferior panel regardless of PPI or screen resolution. It was weak at best since he didn't test them with all variables and similar quality panels and price ranges regardless of PPI or resolution.

It amazes me why non Xr users continue to bash the Xr screen when there are options out there so they can decide to buy it or not. Apple didn’t have to release the Xr which would give consumers fewer options.

I've seen this go both ways. The only reason there is critique is because of the nature of these comparison threads. When someone says that text or video doesn't look as sharp on the XR, some are saying they are "seeing things" or are wrong.


This is why I brought the Sun Microsystems info as well as the Cult of Mac links previously which dispel this 300 PPI max sharpness "retina" myth. If 950 PPI @ 12 inches is correct for true Retina resolution, we haven't even seen the highest amount all eyes are capable of perceiving. It probably doesn't help that some are saying the screen is flat out blurry on the XR which I believe is highly inaccurate and further throws the responses out of balance.

I'm not even here to "bash" the display, I've stated that the XR display looks good...but these threads keep coming up with similar themes and responses that are definitely inaccurate.

 

[andiwm2003]

I just compared the XS and the XR at the apple store and the best buy in the same mall. I looked at them in different lighting situations and used the stock photos from the library, email, internet and youtube. I have to say I like the XR's screen more. It seems more vibrant. Maybe thats the color gamut. I also can not see on either screen the pixels, so resolution did not matter to my eyes, regardless of text size. Overall to my eyes the XR's screen looked more pleasing.

I guess if you're young and have good eyes the resolution might matter, however both screens are outstanding. I did not get the impression that the android phones at best buy are better. however, I only briefly looked at them.

 

[purged]

The difference is miniscule.

 

[sean000]

That’s probably because you viewed them at a normal, healthy distance. You obviously can see a difference when you hold the phone so close to your face that Face ID doesn’t work, but even that difference is laughably minor to sane individuals. People calling the XR screen unacceptable must not use iPads, laptops, TVs, or basically any other device with a screen at all, because they all have way lower PPIs and I am not noticing their outrage about it.

And getting all hellbent over the small difference between two ancient HD resolutions will look so embarrassing when 4K and up start appearing to appease the spec chasers. How could they cheap out with a 1080p display?? My eyes see the pixels kinda when I hold them both together way up in my face! That little dot on his skin, it’s just not there on the cheaper phone! Night and day!

Super important stuff for a 6” pocket screen

I go between my 9.7 inch iPad Pro (264 ppi) and my iPhone X all day long. Even side by side the iPad compares well (and even looks better when it comes to display some types of content). I’m an amateur photographer with almost 20 years experience shooting digital and pixel peeping image quality on screen and in print. People have always obsessed over pixels for displays as well as sensors, but once you get to a certain point further increases in resolution generate diminishing returns. Of course it depends on what and how you view things to some degree, but many who obsess over pixels are unable to see the big picture. They can purchase the model with the latest and greatest specs, but as soon as something even newer posts better numbers they could swear they see flaws in a display that used to look perfect to them.
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I just compared the XS and the XR at the apple store and the best buy in the same mall. I looked at them in different lighting situations and used the stock photos from the library, email, internet and youtube. I have to say I like the XR's screen more. It seems more vibrant. Maybe thats the color gamut. I also can not see on either screen the pixels, so resolution did not matter to my eyes, regardless of text size. Overall to my eyes the XR's screen looked more pleasing.

I guess if you're young and have good eyes the resolution might matter, however both screens are outstanding. I did not get the impression that the android phones at best buy are better. however, I only briefly looked at them.

I’m in my 40’s and unless I have reading glasses on (my progressive trifocals need updating) I need to hold my devices awfully close to my face (too close for FaceID). Even at that distance my 9.7 inch iPad Pro (264ppi) looks fantastic. Technically I can tell that the text on my iPhone X is rendered at even higher resolution, but the difference is so minor that I never think that my iPad looks any worse than my iPhone X.

 

[MICHAELSD]

The problem for me is when I think “oh, this app is fuzzy because it isn’t optimized for the XR” then I realize I’m in Safari or a first-party app... Also just tried to use 3D Touch. Again. Since I can’t use the XS or XS Max (the latter of which I would have purchased) I’m a bit saddended to return the XR since it is nice but I can clearly see the difference in resolution and I use 3D Touch often.
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That’s probably because you viewed them at a normal, healthy distance. You obviously can see a difference when you hold the phone so close to your face that Face ID doesn’t work, but even that difference is laughably minor to sane individuals. People calling the XR screen unacceptable must not use iPads, laptops, TVs, or basically any other device with a screen at all, because they all have way lower PPIs and I am not noticing their outrage about it.

And getting all hellbent over the small difference between two ancient HD resolutions will look so embarrassing when 4K and up start appearing to appease the spec chasers. How could they cheap out with a 1080p display?? My eyes see the pixels kinda when I hold them both together way up in my face! That little dot on his skin, it’s just not there on the cheaper phone! Night and day!

Super important stuff for a 6” pocket screen

The screen isn’t unacceptable, but coming from using a 401ppi display for four years it is a noticeable difference — more than I’d hoped for. The display is a significant improvement over the iPhone 6/6 Plus overall though so pixels don’t tell the whole story.

I gave the XR a fair chance and unfortunately I don’t have to be holding the phone up to my face or comparing it to a phone with a higher PPI to notice the difference.

 

[purged]

MacBooks are also fuzzy.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Again, you must be rejecting every other screen in your household based on that criteria. I often notice my $3000 MacBook Pro’s Retina display is fuzzier than my XR, and I’m on that computer hours a day engaging in far more mission-critical viewing activity compared to a little phone you pull out of your pocket to watch YouTube videos and fling your finger through text when you’re bored. I’ve never once felt outrage that my XR screen is much sharper than my $3k MacBook Pro, or that Apple cheaped out on the MacBook Pro display for such an expensive computer. They are all phenomenal displays to work with.

But hey if you want the absolute sharpest screen for your phone (and only your phone) for some reason, the XR is not it. No debate there.

The MacBook Pro and iPad have larger displays and overall higher resolutions so it doesn’t matter as much, though I do notice the difference in color gamut between my 2012 rMBP and a newer iPhone more so than the PPI. I’m waiting for a compelling reason to upgrade my Mac (probably to an iMac) but my iPhone is my main portable device and computer so the resolution does matter to me.

 

[aevan]

The MacBook Pro and iPad have larger displays and overall higher resolutions so it doesn’t matter as much, though I do notice the difference in color gamut between my 2012 rMBP and a newer iPhone more so than the PPI. I’m waiting for a compelling reason to upgrade my Mac (probably to an iMac) but my iPhone is my main portable device and computer so the resolution does matter to me.

Well, hey, if you don’t like it, you don’t like it. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you think, not what people on a forum tell you, one way or the other. My advice - if you can’t return it/exchange it is to at least try not to think about it. Of course you can notice some things when you’re focused on them. But I bet the moment you actually stop thinking about it and just start using your phone, this will cease to be an issue. And it really is a good screen on a really good phone.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Well, hey, if you don’t like it, you don’t like it. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you think, not what people on a forum tell you, one way or the other. My advice - if you can’t return it/exchange it is to at least try not to think about it. Of course you can notice some things when you’re focused on them. But I bet the moment you actually stop thinking about it and just start using your phone, this will cease to be an issue. And it really is a good screen on a really good phone.

The screen does look great and in some ways it is better than the 8+ but I think the loss of 3D Touch combined with the resolution is a bit too much of a compromise. But the iPhone XR wasn’t designed for an enthusiast like me, it was designed for the average consumer. People who aren’t sensitive to PWM flickering that care about 3D Touch and a higher resolution have the option of a XS or XS Max.
[doublepost=1547423849][/doublepost]I had sold my 8+ for close to what I paid for it and ended up canceling the transaction, so that makes up my mind on keeping the 8+ one more year which would be the first time I’ve kept an iPhone for two generations.

 

[milover]

This video shows that 720p is not as good as 1080p/1440p

 

[Zelda Chestnut]

I have the XS and in certain situations, especially certain images or videos, the high resolution does stand out and impress. The screen is simply stunning, and so clear. I do sometimes feel that my iPad Pro 12.9 (1st gen) doesn't look as crisp after having the XS now. So there is an advantage to the resolution of the XS/XS Max/X.

Having said that, I have seen a XR and the screen looks great as well. And apparently LCD screens can achieve greater brightness, which some people might really like. So if someone goes for the XR they likely won't be disappointed unless they either have incredibly good vision or they're really searching for it.

 

[kargurin]

The XR screen is surprisingly good given the resolution. I can read small text fine. But my Max is just better, sharper, I guess LCD v OLED is a personal preference but OLED looks better to me. After owning the Max I wouldn't be happy with the XR display.

 

[milover]

Even the cheapest Redmi with price around $88 US dollars has a 1440p display:
https://www.mi.com/redmi6a/specs/

 

[Phone Junky]

Even the cheapest Redmi with price around $88 US dollars has a 1440p display:
https://www.mi.com/redmi6a/specs/

Just joined the forum.

16 of your 19 posts thus far are in this thread.

We get it, you don't like the XR...

 

[milover]

Just joined the forum.

16 of your 19 posts thus far are in this thread.

We get it, you don't like the XR...

I seriously consider to buy XR before, but I never could imagine Apple would offer 720p screen with nothing close to budget phone price. Redmi is like the cheapest phone now and it still has a 1440p screen. Imagine how much $ Apple can make from each XR by offering you a 10 years old tech screen.

 

[Broadus]

This whole discussion seems silly to me.

I’ve had the XR for over two months. Looking at the XS and the XS Max, I preferred the OLED screens a little. All things being equal, I would have bought one of them. But all things were not equal.

64GB is not enough storage for me, and 256GB is way overkill for me, and the price tag is staggering: $1149 (US) for the XS 256GB and $1250 for the comparable XS Max. Sorry, Apple, but I cannot justify spending that much for a smartphone, especially when I’m on my 15” MacBook Pro or 10.5” iPad Pro most of the time.

I could begrudgingly justify $799 for a 128GB XR. I could afford any of the three, but I only buy what I can justify in my own mind. And, as many XR owners have said and a most reviewers have acknowledged, the XR LCD screen is very good. By the way, the other differences between the XR and the XS/XS Max are inconsequential to me

I had considered buying an Android, but I really appreciate the interconnection of my Apple Devices, not to mention the continuing updates for some five years on phones. I am buying more than a screen when I buy a phone.

So, yes, to me the iPhone OLED screens are marginally better than the XR LCD screen, but not hundreds of dollars better, and the screen difference is the only difference that matters to me. To have more than 64GB storage, I would have to spend $350 more for the XS and $450 more for the Max than the XR, not to mention the increased sales tax. If it’s worth it to you, then wonderful. Enjoy your phone, and I say that sincerely.

But for me—it’s not going to happen. And as long as I have to spend my money for a phone, I will buy what I can justify. Frankly, I really like the XR. It brings a lot to the table that gets overlooked in these fixations about screens.

 

[BigG94]

I love the phone.

I love the screen.

I don't give 3.75 cacas about all these numbers that are fast becoming white noise for non-tech geeks like me.

 

[milover]

I love the phone.

I love the screen.

I don't give 3.75 cacas about all these numbers that are fast becoming white noise for non-tech geeks like me.

You don't need to be a tech geek to find a 1080/2K screen phone in a mall and comparing to your 720p phone by playing the same high quality youtube video.

 

[BigG94]

You don't need to be a tech geek to find a 1080/2K screen phone in a mall and comparing to your 720p phone by playing the same high quality youtube video.

I don't care 3.75 cacas either about high quality YouTube video. I don't watch movies on my phone or use it as my primary video device.

I came from a 1080 Android. I prefer the screen on my XR.

To each his (or her) own.

 

[MacDawg]

You don't need to be a tech geek to find a 1080/2K screen phone in a mall and comparing to your 720p phone by playing the same high quality youtube video.

and yet... literally the ONLY time I ever play a YouTube video of any resolution is when I play "Baby Shark" (doo doo doo doo) or the Baby Einstein videos to my 5 month old twin grandbaby boys (who incidentally don't give a fig about resolution)

Not everyone has the same use case or fascination with screen resolution

 

[milover]

and yet... literally the ONLY time I ever play a YouTube video of any resolution is when I play "Baby Shark" (doo doo doo doo) or the Baby Einstein videos to my 5 month old twin grandbaby boys (who incidentally don't give a fig about resolution)

Not everyone has the same use case or fascination with screen resolution

For functionality, I don't know anything that the $88 US dollars Redmi cannot do comparing to $899 XR except you pay $800 more for sync with your other Apple devices.

 

[PeteS1963]

and yet... literally the ONLY time I ever play a YouTube video of any resolution is when I play "Baby Shark" (doo doo doo doo) or the Baby Einstein videos to my 5 month old twin grandbaby boys (who incidentally don't give a fig about resolution)

Not everyone has the same use case or fascination with screen resolution

Baby Shark (doo doo doo doo) - what a classic! My daughter uses “Pink Fluffy Unicorns Dancing on Rainbows” in order to compare pixel density between various smartphones...

It’s an hour long. You need to watch the whole thing from beginning to end on a tiny screen (eg Redmi phone) afterwhich you’ll see the light and sell your XR.