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Ryand123

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 12, 2013
191
168
As most probably already know, when Apple went to OLED on iPhones they made one more change: they bumped up the pixel density. The Plus models had 401 ppi but the X had 458. I don't think they ever said why--this is Apple of course--but one presumes that it was to compensate for the grainy effect OLED can have. They were so worried about their most profitable product disappointing anyone, they went the extra mile to avoid that. No "my texts look grainy" complaints that I recall. Because people so often use their phones to read texts, social media, emails, etc text sharpness is vital. More so than videophile level pics and streaming because it's a tiny screen for that.

But now with the OLED iPad transition, they did something completely different. They kept the same 264 ppi they've been using for 12 years. Instead of resolution, they prioritized by brightness by going with tandem OLED. Why? Again, I don't think they've said, but I'll guess. Brightness matters most when you're watching Netflix, watching things in HDR. PPI is basically irrelevant. So did Apple worry far more about customers complaining their OLED display was too dim watching House Of The Dragon than them complaining about fuzzy text while reading War And Peace?

And if so......despite all their claims about the iPad as a productivity device, a tool for "pros" to create beautiful documents and photos and change the world, deep down do they know that for the majority, they are portable entertainment systems. You can't take your LG G4 on the train but you can take your M4 iPad Pro!

Because if they did see it as mostly a productivity device, I think they would have upped the ppi to 326 before they worried about a "measly" 500 nits of SDR brightness.
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,114
10,906
Do you have a real world issue with the device or would you just like to spin some random theory around?
I cannot even remember when I last thought that any of my iPads needed more resolution, but the display is the main interface for a tablet, and their flagship should look amazing for all types of users.
 
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Surfsalot

Suspended
Mar 18, 2023
2,049
2,028
If going to watch house of the dragon would do it on my 65" TV.
The M1 11" I do have to have on full brightness for video even inside, under patio outside is average.
 

bluegt

macrumors 6502
Jul 3, 2015
462
487
Yes, you are correct. For the vast majority of users the iPad primary use case is rich media content consumption - I.e., its a portable TV.

So based on that logic, they made it the BEST portable TV ever, which enhances iPad value for the MOST IMPORTANT use case.
 
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