Will the iPad2 screen seem dinky to an iPhone4 owner?

March 15, 2011 6:23 PM

iPad owners: I'm considering getting an iPad 2. I currently own an iPhone 4, though, and I'm worried that using it is going to be like using an iPhone 3G—the screens on those, which once seemed fine to me, now seem ridiculously grainy. Yes, I know I'm spoiled. But will this mess with my enjoyment of the device? Or is stuff/text generally larger on iPad apps, such that it won't be as noticeable?
posted by saltykmurks to Technology (14 answers total)

I have an iPad (1) and an iPhone 4. It's no big deal going back and forth. If nothing else, you appreciate the 4's screen even more.
posted by sugarfish at 6:34 PM on March 15, 2011

Ars Technica has some informative close-up shots shortly into this review. You can definitely see the pixels, though it probably won't be as noticeable at the distances you'd normally hold an iPad at.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:45 PM on March 15, 2011

Not an issue. If you can, go to an Apple store and play with the iPad.
posted by dfriedman at 7:00 PM on March 15, 2011

I have an iPad 2, and after using it a while, my iPhone 3GS feels like a toy due to its tiny screen, but I get used to it quickly again. I'm inclined to say it's the overall width and height (in inches/centimeters) of the screen rather than the resolution that you get used to.
posted by kimota at 7:01 PM on March 15, 2011

My biggest problem going back and forth between my iPad 2 and my iPhone 4 is that the iPhone 4 UI seems a little cramped after using the iPad 2 for a bit. It's nothing that detracts from either though.
posted by entropicamericana at 7:16 PM on March 15, 2011

I have an first gen iPad and an iPhone 4. I think the text on the iPhone is much sharper and better-looking than it is on the iPad. That said, I read text on my iPad all the time and enjoy using it. So my answer, is yes, you'll notice the difference but no, it won't keep you from enjoying the iPad.
posted by buriedpaul at 7:20 PM on March 15, 2011

Also remember that the whole DPI / Retina display is somewhat based not only on the pixels per inch, but also how far away you hold it from your face. Since you probably hold an iPad twice as far away as your iPhone, the density doesn't matter so much (kinda like how it's hard to tell between 720p and 1080p video when you're really far from the HDTV -- see this)
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 7:21 PM on March 15, 2011

Do you have a problem using your computer's screen? The iPad should be closer to that.
posted by backwards guitar at 7:43 PM on March 15, 2011

Yup, backwards guitar has it. I find the iPad a bit grainy compared to the iPhone 4, but the larger screen makes up for it.
posted by bwanabetty at 7:56 PM on March 15, 2011

So far I've really liked the experience on my iPad 2 so far. (typing this on it) yes I would like a higher res screen, but it really doesn't impact the usability I don't think. I think I mostly want higher res just because it exists.
posted by MrBobaFett at 8:11 PM on March 15, 2011

I have both an iPad 1 and an iPhone 4. The iPad looks pretty terrible right after you switch to it, especially on text-heavy stuff, but you get used to it pretty fast. Videos and games look just fine.

Do you have a problem using your computer's screen? The iPad should be closer to that.

I think it looks significantly worse than my desktop monitor, since the pixel density is about the same but I am viewing it from half the distance.
posted by smackfu at 8:33 PM on March 15, 2011

I have an iPhone 4 and I've just bought an iPad 1. I agree with other comments here - the screen definitely looks better on the phone, but the pad's screen is fine. I really like the extra screen space on the iPad. The two complement each other quite nicely.
posted by salmacis at 3:42 AM on March 16, 2011

I find the text on some sites (like metafilter) a little too tiny/grainy in portrait mode but totally fine in landscape. It only becomes a problem when I'm using an aggregator like Pulse that has a lot of sidebars that cramp the main window in landscape mode.
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:54 AM on March 16, 2011

I think it's a bit of a personal preference thing. I have an iPad 1 and an iPhone 4. Yes, the iPhone 4 screen is really nice, but I personally think the iPad screen is fine, and don't have a problem moving between the two. The iPhone 4 has certainly not reduced my enjoyment of the iPad, and for any given mobile computing task I think I'm more likely to turn to the iPad than the iPhone. But I've certainly heard other people say they can't use their iPad ever again after having got an iPhone 4, which seems a bit ridiculous to me. So, YMMV, I guess.
posted by damonism at 5:05 PM on March 16, 2011