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iPad mini Why the iPad mini has a 1024 x 768 and not a retina display

V

vcoleiro1

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 5, 2011
71
4
Ok here goes, This is my rough reasoning, feel free to correct me or voice your own opinion

The ipad mini has a 1024 × 768 px display which is tha same as the 1st and 2nd gen ipad

The ipad 3 & 4 have a 2048×1536 display

If you look at the 3rd and 4th gen iPads you will note that the resolution is exactly double in both the horizontal and vertical pixel numbers. This means it can run all apps written for the 1st and 2nd gen iPads by just applying a double up filter on the pixels for apps etc. ie 2 horizontal pixels to represent one horizontal pixel etc. It works out well, and you don't notice the scaling to much for apps etc written for the lower res.

If the iPad mini had a retina/ipad 3 like display , its resolution would be some weird resolution that couldn't easily be scaled . It would be some 1.x multiplication that would make apps etc look crap as it would have to fudge the scaling to fit. ie Scaling 1.6 pixels to equate to one for example, just doesn't scale properly without ugly loss. It means the screen would equate the pixels unevenly and you probably would see noticable blocking.

So, you see, I don't think Apple had a choice.
 
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dukebound85 said:
why couldnt a retina display on the mini be the same as on the ipad 3 but at an even higher ppi?

I bet that is what will happen
Click to expand...

I agree I think it will be 2048x1536 for the next mini. That will be one heck of a screen!
 
dukebound85 said:
why couldnt a retina display on the mini be the same as on the ipad 3 but at an even higher ppi?

I bet that is what will happen
Click to expand...

Because then people would bitch about why the iPad 4 has the same resolution as the iPad mini.
 
^ I agree with the next mini will probably have the same res as the ipad 3/4. I think a screen the size needed for the mini with that res at this point in time would have really been expensive and prohibitive. Although, that said, it would have justified the price of the mini I guess .
 
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regardless, the fact that it doesn't have a retina display makes me wonder why anyone would want it, let alone DOWNGRADE from a real iPad 3 or 4 to a Mini.

Aww, it's so cute! The iPhone is even smaller, thus cuter. If you want to feel warm and fluffy either take some vicodin or cuddle with your iPhone. Don't get rid of an iPad to get a low-res iPad mini. Jeeeez.
 
kalt said:
regardless, the fact that it doesn't have a retina display makes me wonder why anyone would want it, let alone DOWNGRADE from a real iPad 3 or 4 to a Mini.
Click to expand...

Maybe because those people have other priorities than the PPI ? No ?

real iPad, uh.
 
Apple did not put a retina display in because of two reasons.

First they have a profit margin they like to maintain.

Second, I have a feeling that they had not figure out yet how to get the heat low enough from the gpu to power that display within a smaller container vs the ipad3/4.
 
kalt said:
regardless, the fact that it doesn't have a retina display makes me wonder why anyone would want it, let alone DOWNGRADE from a real iPad 3 or 4 to a Mini.
Click to expand...

Because the size and battery life is perfect for my usage needs. Just because it doesn't work for you, doesn't mean it isn't perfect for others.
 
The NOOK HD screen dominates the mini...laminated 1440x900 7" led, 243 pixels per inch...$200. I've decided (with Apple's help) to make this my first venture into Android tablet land once it's released next week.

Commenting and speculating on the Ipad mini specs are completely justified, heck that's always been the point of this site (I remember the good old days back in 97, when this site wasn't so full of dbags).

Apple product's have never sold on merely specs alone, bottom line.
 
Deasnutz said:
The NOOK HD screen dominates the mini...laminated 1440x900 7" led, 243 pixels per inch...$200. I've decided (with Apple's help) to make this my first venture into Android tablet land once it's released next week.

Commenting and speculating on the Ipad mini specs are completely justified, heck that's always been the point of this site (I remember the good old days back in 97, when this site wasn't so full of dbags).

Apple product's have never sold on merely specs alone, bottom line.
Click to expand...

Because it takes more than specs alone to make a good product. Ask Asus.

I'd say that for me, but not for you, the mini dominates the nook as a whole... 7"9 display, 4/3 form factor, thinner, for just a bit less weight. But I agree that the Nook looks pretty good, even with the plastic (much much better than the Fire), and seems to be pretty good... on paper for the moment. What about the HD+ ?

I heard it had a crappy OS, though ? Don't know about that.
 
29505636.jpg
 
pasadena said:
Because it takes more than specs alone to make a good product. Ask Asus.

I'd say that for me, but not for you, the mini dominates the nook as a whole... 7"9 display, 4/3 form factor, thinner, for just a bit less weight. But I agree that the Nook looks pretty good, even with the plastic (much much better than the Fire), and seems to be pretty good... on paper for the moment. What about the HD+ ?

I heard it had a crappy OS, though ? Don't know about that.
Click to expand...


It's a modded version of the latest android (jelly bean?), so I'm assuming it will be rooted asap. Have an ipad 3 so not interested in the hd+.

I'm admittedly a screen guy myself, just feel like I'm living in the past without the good stuff. It's like running a 3GS and saying, "woohoo good enough!"
 
Deasnutz said:
The NOOK HD screen dominates the mini...laminated 1440x900 7" led, 243 pixels per inch...$200. I've decided (with Apple's help) to make this my first venture into Android tablet land once it's released next week.
Click to expand...

At least go for the Nexus 7 if you want to venture into android tablet. Nook HD is far from android tablet. :rolleyes:
 
vcoleiro1 said:
Ok here goes, This is my rough reasoning, feel free to correct me or voice your own opinion

The ipad mini has a 1024 × 768 px display which is tha same as the 1st and 2nd gen ipad

The ipad 3 & 4 have a 2048×1536 display

If you look at the 3rd and 4th gen iPads you will note that the resolution is exactly double in both the horizontal and vertical pixel numbers. This means it can run all apps written for the 1st and 2nd gen iPads by just applying a double up filter on the pixels for apps etc. ie 2 horizontal pixels to represent one horizontal pixel etc. It works out well, and you don't notice the scaling to much for apps etc written for the lower res.

If the iPad mini had a retina/ipad 3 like display , its resolution would be some weird resolution that couldn't easily be scaled . It would be some 1.x multiplication that would make apps etc look crap as it would have to fudge the scaling to fit. ie Scaling 1.6 pixels to equate to one for example, just doesn't scale properly without ugly loss. It means the screen would equate the pixels unevenly and you probably would see noticable blocking.

So, you see, I don't think Apple had a choice.
Click to expand...

That's not how it's done. The OS isn't scaling.

Developers build applications in Xcode and have been instructed for quite some time now to include 1x and 2x graphics. When your apps runs on a first, second generation iPad or iPad mini it uses the 1x graphics. When your app runs on a retina enabled third or fourth generation it utilizes the 2x graphics.

Scaling would be a poor solution because there are always "some" artifacts that creep in.

Right now the retina panels are expensive and the price increase doesn't just hit the display. You need a heavier duty GPU and battery and more RAM if you want to move to Retina.

Give it another year and we'll have more lower power choices which will help with battery and the GPU will be a year more advanced.

It just wasn't feasible this year.
 
kalt said:
regardless, the fact that it doesn't have a retina display makes me wonder why anyone would want it, let alone DOWNGRADE from a real iPad 3 or 4 to a Mini.

Aww, it's so cute! The iPhone is even smaller, thus cuter. If you want to feel warm and fluffy either take some vicodin or cuddle with your iPhone. Don't get rid of an iPad to get a low-res iPad mini. Jeeeez.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm one of those people who went from a iPad 3 to a mini. Last time I checked, I can do all the things I did on my iPad 3 on my iPad Mini. I preferred a smaller tablet but not 7" small. So, the Mini was perfect.
 
nfl46 said:
Well, I'm one of those people who went from a iPad 3 to a mini. Last time I checked, I can do all the things I did on my iPad 3 on my iPad Mini. I preferred a smaller tablet but not 7" small. So, the Mini was perfect.
Click to expand...

Enjoy man, don't let these bully's tell you how to spend your cache.
 
nuckinfutz said:
That's not how it's done. The OS isn't scaling.

Developers build applications in Xcode and have been instructed for quite some time now to include 1x and 2x graphics. When your apps runs on a first, second generation iPad or iPad mini it uses the 1x graphics. When your app runs on a retina enabled third or fourth generation it utilizes the 2x graphics.

Scaling would be a poor solution because there are always "some" artifacts that creep in.

Right now the retina panels are expensive and the price increase doesn't just hit the display. You need a heavier duty GPU and battery and more RAM if you want to move to Retina.

Give it another year and we'll have more lower power choices which will help with battery and the GPU will be a year more advanced.

It just wasn't feasible this year.
Click to expand...

Are you suggesting every app developed for the iPad 1&2 were upgraded by developers for 2x graphics. I don't think so. That may be the case for Apps moving forward from the launch of the iPad 3, but not for all apps retrospectivly. ie scaling must happen for those old apps.
 
vcoleiro1 said:
Are you suggesting every app developed for the iPad 1&2 were upgraded by developers for 2x graphics. I don't think so. That may be the case for Apps moving forward from the launch of the iPad 3, but not for all apps retrospectivly. ie scaling must happen for those old apps.
Click to expand...

No you're right scaling is happening but it does deliver poor performance as opposed to 2x graphics. Sorry I should have worded that better.
 
It's quite simple why it doesn't have a high resolution display. If it did, it would be some new resolution that developers would have to update apps to support. They are already supporting 4 separate resolutions, adding a 5th is unnecessary.

And also, don't like it don't buy it. It's that simple
 
Missing the point...

The op is right that making display resolutions simply multiples makes sense...

But for all the people yelling about a retina display; just think about it. The mini is 7.2mm thick, weighs 308g and has 10 hour battery life (as well as being $170 cheaper than its full size brother).

How on earth do you think it could have a retina display without sacrificing price, battery life, size and weight?

I think this is already pushing the limits of what is possible.
 
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