Hardly a day goes by when I don’t get the question “What is the Retina Display?” Of course, it’s higher resolution, meaning more pixels per square inch, but what does that really mean? How does that affect my day-to-day experience?
Right now, Small Dog has a multitude of options for iPads out there, and it can be quite confusing spotting the differences and figuring out whether spending a little extra cash will be worth it for you. This is the question I try to answer for anyone who calls or walks through our door, since it’s a common one.
The Retina display made its first debut with the iPad (3rd generation), which was released March 16th, 2012. Fast forward six months later to the announcement of the 4th generation (and current) iPad on October 23rd, 2012, which naturally also has the Retina display. Apple has also released the iPad mini, a smaller, lighter iPad that does __not__ have a Retina display, but does that matter?
The mini boasts the same resolution as the iPad 2, but because the screen size is smaller, and therefore the pixels denser, you’ll find it to be sharper. The iPad mini display has smaller pixels than the same resolution on the iPad 2, resulting in a higher pixel density. But still, why Retina? In the simplest of terms, having a retina display means you are not able to distinguish the pixels, which does make it easier on the eyes when reading content and enjoying your cinema experience to the max.
So now that you know the difference between Retina and standard displays on the iPad, you might still be asking yourself which one is for you. This is the million dollar question — both devices have a long list of advantages, and sometimes the best way to determine what features are most important to you is to stop by one of our stores and experience the devices in person. Our knowledgeable staff can help determine which features and advantages will get you the most for your money and uses!
