Resolution / pixel density?

[virginblue4]

Hi everyone,

I know there are no figures and we don't know the exact size of the screens, so it's only guesswork but what kind of pixel density do we think that we will be looking at on the two sizes?

It's a retina display and you'd likely hold it closer to your face than the iPhone. Apple also say "The incredibly high pixel density makes numbers and text easy to read at a glance, even while you’re moving."

So, as a guess, above 400?

 

[Julien]

For the 42mm it appears to be about 24.3mm x about 30.5mm which is about 39mm diagonal and an aspect ratio of 0.8:1 (4x5).

 

[Julien]

Just to add if 400DPI then it would be about 384x480.

 

[Julien]

Waisting time before heading to the gym.

The 38mm would be about 21.9mm x about 27.5mm and about 344x432 @400DPI.

 

[Easlesu]

According to several sources, it could be 320 x 400 or 386 x 480. In most cases, a human eye cannot see the difference between resolutions denser than 300dpi, so they don't have to make it 400dpi.

 

[Julien]

According to several sources, it could be 320 x 400 or 386 x 480. In most cases, a human eye cannot see the difference between resolutions denser than 300dpi, so they don't have to make it 400dpi.

320 x 400 on the 42mm would be 333DPI.

 

[kdarling]

According to several sources, it could be 320 x 400 or 386 x 480. In most cases, a human eye cannot see the difference between resolutions denser than 300dpi, so they don't have to make it 400dpi.

It's only considered "retina" at 300dpi, if the eye is 12 inches away or further.

The closer you get, the more DPI that's required:

Dist - Min DPI for "retina"
=== =====================
12" - 300 dpi
11" - 325 dpi
10" - 357 dpi
09" - 397 dpi
08" - 446 dpi
07" - 510 dpi
06" - 595 dpi

 

[Julien]

The resolution numbers are out and the 42mm is 312x390/38mm 272x340. So it looks like it's about 324DPI for the 42mm and 316DPI for the 38mm.

 

[melman101]

Yea from the verge

"Even though the two Apple Watch models have only slight size differences, it turns out they have different display resolutions. The smaller model, which has a display height of 1.5 inches, has a resolution of 272 x 340 pixels. The larger model, which has a display height of 1.65 inches, has a resolution of 312 x 390 pixels. Apple's documentation makes it seem like that won't make a huge difference for developers, since information generally just flows down the Apple Watch's screen, but it's still two different resolutions that they'll have to accommodate right out of the gate."

 

[Tycho24]

It's only considered "retina" at 300dpi, if the eye is 12 inches away or further.

The closer you get, the more DPI that's required:

Dist - Min DPI for "retina"
=== =====================
12" - 300 dpi
11" - 325 dpi
10" - 357 dpi
09" - 397 dpi
08" - 446 dpi
07" - 510 dpi
06" - 595 dpi

Hmmm...
Your eyes must work COMPLETELY different than mine. I tried putting my iPhone, iPad, and watch 6" from my face - they completely blurred out... I can't focus on a thing at that distance. I certainly do NOT need it to be double the PPI; I just need it bigger & blockier... or more preferably, farther away.

 

[BvizioN]

Hmmm...
Your eyes must work COMPLETELY different than mine. I tried putting my iPhone, iPad, and watch 6" from my face - they completely blurred out... I can't focus on a thing at that distance. I certainly do NOT need it to be double the PPI; I just need it bigger & blockier... or more preferably, farther away.

Eyes do change through age! The muscle that controls the focus gets weaker as we get older, that's why for many after the age 40, or even at 30's, focusing on something close to your eyes gets impossible. The eye focus distance keeps shifting at 40's and 50's.

 

[kdarling]

Hmmm...
Your eyes must work COMPLETELY different than mine.

That "retina" distance chart is for "normal" eyes.

Some people would need almost twice the resolution. Others would need less.

 

[Tycho24]

That "retina" distance chart is for "normal" eyes.

Some people would need almost twice the resolution. Others would need less.

My point was that at some point the math becomes meaningless...
For example: if you double the ppi that you claim you need at 6" & say "that's how many dpi you'd need at 3"", & you double the ppi again and say "that's how much you need for it to be retina at 1.5"", while that may work MATHEMATICALLY... in the real world, not so much. Those distances are stupid. Nobody can focus on anything at those distances. I've never seen anybody holding a phone 6" from their face to view content & neither have you.