Apr
Deciding on the best phone display can be complicated. What screen resolution is best? What size phone screen do you need? And what exactly is PPI on a phone? With so many acronyms and numbers involved, we are here to break down the jargon and help you find the right phone display for you.
What is PPI in a phone display?
Ever seen the acronym ‘PPI’ and wondered what it actually means when it comes to phones? Well, PPI stands for Pixels Per Inch and it is used to measure the pixel density of all types of displays from laptops to TVs including smartphones. PPI is important because the pixels found in displays are responsible for the vibrant, colourful images you see on your screen.
So how is it measured? Imagine a piece of paper with a square inch box on it, that box is divided up into a grid and every portion of the grid has a pixel in it. The greater the PPI the more densely packed the grid is and therefore the more pixels there are. This is important because if a display has a too low pixel density the image will be fuzzy and may even appear pixelated. Simply speaking the greater the number of pixels on the display the more detailed, clear and sharp the images you see on your screen are, and we all want great images right?
How much PPI is good for mobile?
It depends! Most of us think about what size we want our phone screen to be but actually that’s only part of it. It’s also important to consider the ratio between the screen size, its resolution (measured as width x height) and the number of pixels per inch (PPI). In principle as the resolution of the phone display increases so should the PPI. As a rough guide, for a 6-inch full HD (1920 x 1280) phone you’re looking at approximately 390 pixels per inch and for a 7-inch QHD+ (2960 x 1440) smartphone expect around 480 PPI.
Check out our Samsung Galaxy smartphone display comparison chart below which outlines the screen size, display resolution, PPI and Samsung display technology in the flagship Galaxy Z and Galaxy S series:
- Size
- Resolution
- Display
- Size :7.6”
- Resolution :QXGA+
(2208×1768)
(374 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X (120Hz)
- Size :6.7”
- Resolution :FHD+
(2640×1080)
(425 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X (120Hz)
- Size :6.8”
- Resolution :QHD+ (3120X1440) 505 ppi)
- Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X (1- 120Hz)
- Size :6.7”
- Resolution :QHD+ (3120X1440) 516 ppi)
- Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X (1- 120Hz)
- Size :6.2”
- Resolution :FHD+ (2340X1080) 418 ppi)
- Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X (1- 120Hz)
- Size :6.8″
- Resolution :QHD+
(3088×1440)
(500 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X
(1~120Hz)
- Size :6.6″
- Resolution :FHD+
(2340×1080)
(393 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X
(24~120Hz)
- Size :6.1″
- Resolution :FHD+
(2340×1080)
(425 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X
(24~120Hz)
- Size :7.6”
- Resolution :QXGA+
(2208×1768)
(374 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X (120Hz)
- Size :6.7”
- Resolution :FHD+
(2640×1080)
(425 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X (120Hz)
- Size :6.8’’
- Resolution :QHD+
(3088×1440)
(500 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X
(1~120Hz)
- Size :6.6’’
- Resolution :FHD+
(2340×1080)
(393 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X
(24~120Hz)
- Size :6.1’’
- Resolution :FHD+
(2400×1080)
(425 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED 2X
(24~120Hz)
- Size :6.5”
- Resolution :FHD+
(2400×1080)
(407 ppi) - Display :Dynamic AMOLED
(120Hz)
Next
You can find out more about Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED technology in our useful phone buying guide.
What’s a Full HD+ display on smartphones?
Full HD+ simply means Full High Definition which refers to the resolution of your phone screen. It defines the dimensions of a display in terms of the pixels and is written as width x height. If you are looking for an immersive, cinematic experience on your smartphone you’ll want a phone display with at least Full HD+ such as the Galaxy S24. A standard Full HD+ screen measures 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels. Some of Samsung’s latest flagship releases including the Galaxy Z Flip5 take things even further with a whopping 2640 x 1080 Full HD+ resolution.
What does QHD mean on a phone?
QHD or Quad High Definition takes mobile viewing to new heights with four times the pixels of the HD resolution. You’ll enjoy an incredible 2560 pixels by 1440 pixels with a QHD display, making images even more vibrant, crisp and smooth. Looking to be blown away? Check out the sensational QHD+ displays on the noteworthy Galaxy S23 Ultra. Measuring an awesome 3088 x 1440, this flagship smartphone really takes viewing to the next level and is perfect for bingeworthy box sets and graphic-intensive gaming.
QHD vs FHD: Which Display Resolution Is Better for You?
So how do you decide between QHD or FHD? For most smartphone applications full HD offers great image clarity and exceptional colour contrast. With a high density of pixels per inch, FHD+ Samsung smartphones such as the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy S24 have a lot to offer. FHD screens also consume significantly less battery and processing power than QHD. Perfect for when you’re out and about and need to reserve your battery.
If you’re looking for a display that stands out from the crowd however, you’ll appreciate the extra pixels in the QHD smartphones. These displays are specially designed to deliver sensational graphic-intensive games, high-definition media and exceptional video and photo content. They are both adaptive and dynamic.
Still can’t decide? There’s good news! With the epic Galaxy S24 Ultra, you can have the best of both. You’ll find the option to alternate between a QHD+ and FHD+ depending on your usage. So, if you’re browsing on socials, FHD+ has you covered and when it’s time to sit back and relax with the latest Netflix Original series simply switch over to QHD+ for stunning, immersive viewing.
Which phone has the highest resolution screen?
Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S24+ sit at the top of the table when it comes to the highest screen resolution with a sensational 3120×1440, and 505ppi and 516ppi respectively. If you’re looking for a stunning phone display that is refined, vibrant and responsive you can’t go wrong with these epic Samsung flagship devices.
