iOS 8.1 Code Hints at Retina HD Display for New iPads

With the iPhone 6, Apple debuted a new display technology called Retina HD, which resulted in wider viewer angles, higher resolutions, higher contrast and a thinner display. Developer Hamza Sood has now discovered frameworks within iOS 8.1 Beta 2 that contain '3x' assets that point to higher resolution displays in the new iPad models.

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While the assets don't confirm that Retina HD displays will be on the new iPad models, it does suggest that Apple is looking at introducing the feature. Currently, it is unclear as to which iPad models would receive Retina HD displays, although some rumors have pointed to the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro sporting a higher resolution. Apple did include a Retina HD display with the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, as the larger device received a higher resolution than its smaller counterpart.

Apple is expected to debut the new iPad Air (and potentially the next generation iPad Mini with Retina Display) at a media event on October 16 in its Cupertino campus. The company is also expected to introduce new iMacs, with at least the 27-inch variety coming with a Retina Display. It's also likely Apple gives a full overview of OS X Yosemite before its public launch.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad mini
Tag: iOS 8.1
Related Forums: iOS 8, iPad

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Top Rated Comments

farewelwilliams Avatar
135 months ago
superman was complaining too much on how he can see the individual pixels.

stupid clark kent.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joshwenke Avatar
135 months ago
Just don't destroy the Mac Mini by removing all upgradeability so you can make it thinner. The dang thing is small enough. WE NEED FUNCTION, not FORM all the time :-)
If only the Mac mini was an unreleased iPad, your post would be so much more applicable to this article.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechGod Avatar
135 months ago
I'm concerned about heat/performance/throttling/battery issues.
Hope this isn't a repeat of the iPad 3.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechGod Avatar
135 months ago
Just don't destroy the Mac Mini by removing all upgradeability so you can make it thinner. The dang thing is small enough. WE NEED FUNCTION, not FORM all the time :-)

Did..did you even READ the article and what it is about?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joshwenke Avatar
135 months ago
It's actually pretty cool to dissect the iOS content and see what's behind it, like all the graphics that go into the operating system.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
deepbluecea Avatar
135 months ago
The original iPad was 132dpi, and the Retina iPad 264dpi. Extrapolating, a 3x "Retina HD" iPad would be 396dpi, which is nearly an exact match for the 401dpi used in the iPhone 6 Plus.

So it wouldn't surprise me if the iPad Air 2 were to get an ever-so-slightly smaller display (9.6") at exactly 401dpi, with a 3072x2304 "Retina HD" resolution. This would exactly mirror the situation with the iPhone 4/4s/5/5s/6 (326dpi) and Retina iPad Mini (326dpi) sharing the same resolution.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)