Apple News, Analysis and Podcasts

John Gruber of Daring Fireball came out with a big piece of news, claiming iPad 2 isn't likely to receive a retina display similar to that of the iPhone - don't place your bets quite yet.

Siting sources, Gruber believes the current iPad display (1024 x 768 resolution) is what will also be found on the iPad 2. Countering Gruber’s claims, Engadget maintains a retina display is coming to the iPad 2. So who should we believe? First, let’s start with a few facts, followed by some reasonably sourced information that delivers a different side of the story.

GRAPHICS

Gruber's footnotes suggest that a 2048 x 1536 display would require a large amount of resources (siting an iMac display), but this is an apples to oranges comparison. How much graphics horsepower is required is completely relative. The 27" iMac has a 2560 x 1440 display, driven with a substantial 512MB of RAM. While that's great for those wanting to play Call of Duty 4 — with fast frame rates, detailed shadow and lighting effects — it's overkill for a device like an iPad.

Gruber also omits information regarding Imagination's SGX543 GPU, which can easily produce enough polygons and push enough pixels to light up a 2048 x 1536 iPad 2. Intrinsity is another piece of the puzzle, which Apple acquired to optimize processor technologies, milking every ounce they've got. It’s abundantly clear the iPad 2 will have plenty of horsepower for its own retina display.

APPLE'S DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES

Apple also has a slew of display patents which are not discussed, and while these patents are not directly tied to iPad 2, they clearly reveal that Apple is heavily invested in cutting edge display design. Apple has gone from a “me-too” display manufacturer, to industry leader in a matter of two years. Whether the 27" iMac display, the MacBook air, or the iPhone retina display, these products lead the industry in quality, density and manufacturing process. Based on Apple's wealth of knowledge and display history, there are few reasons to believe that Apple cannot deliver a retina display for the iPad 2.

COSTS

Gruber states that costs may be too high for an iPad 2 retina display. But Apple seems more than adept at handling R&D and production costs for their displays. One of the first indications that Apple was aggressively diving into display technologies came in 2009 when Apple made a $500 million, five-year strategic investment into LG Display. Yesterday, during Apple's quarterly financial call Apple’s COO, Tim Cook, made everyone aware of Apple's $3.9 billion investment into three key suppliers. Tim would not divulge what components these investments were for, but he made it clear Apple had found a large advantage in a particular area, and they would make these types of bold investments when they could be leveraged. 

It takes very little imagination to believe Cook was talking about display technologies being one of key area's of Apple's investment. Apple designs the display technology, works with a manufacturer to transform the technology into a production process, and Apple and their display partner(s) reap huge benefits. Gruber citing that it would simply cost too much for Apple to incorporate a retina display into iPad 2 at this time makes little sense, especially when taking into account Apple's massive economies of scale and investment in display technologies. 

THE FUTURE

The tablet market can be viewed in many ways, but without question it’s the next PC vs Mac battle of the new decade. iPad is Apple's opportunity to turn the computing market upside down, akin to the Macintosh in 1984. Tablets are going to grow in power and ability at a rapid rate, and Apple isn't likely to let history repeat itself. The mass bulk of Apple's R&D is all about iPad and the iOS. To think the iPad revs will be incremental seems counterintuitive as best. Apple moving sideways with iPad 2's display technology? We're placing our bets on retina display.

NOTE: We really appreciate John Gruber, his thoughts and articles, but in this instance we simply disagree. The truth will emerge come Apple's iPad 2's Special Event.

2 Comments

1. James ~ January 20, 2011 19:01
   This is all wishful thinking without a whole lot of thinking to back it up. I'd love to see a 2048 x 1536 display on the iPad. But before I believe that will happen, I'll have to see a number of things. First, we accept the idea that the iPad is not going to go up in price, so this magical display has to make sense on a $500 device. I challenge you, then, to find any display with at least three million pixels and a video card capable of driving that display costing under $1000. I haven't found it. Further, I think one has to appreciate that the iPad's display is likely to be more costly than an equivalent LCD display, because it has to be smaller. Same with the components for the video card; there's no bulky heatsink available in that tiny package. I'd love to see it. But I think before someone could sell an iPad with those specs, you'd see a display with equivalent specs selling for less than the iPad. I'd love to be wrong, but I think the onus of proving a higher-res iPad screen is on the person claiming there will be one. In order to do that, you have to show that it can be financially feasible. At this time, you can't make that claim. Passing references to investments don't allow Apple to sell something that costs $1200 for under $500.
2. John ~ January 20, 2011 21:00
   Technically it seems possibly. Financially it seems possible. This close to launch the decision has been made and they are likely in production. It may be that both Gruber and engadget are correct. There are three known iPad 2 product identifiers. Perhaps there will be two less expensive iPads with the current resolution and a "Pro" version with higher resolution for more bucks? We'll find out soon.

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