Retina display
Our glossary explains basic terms and abbreviations relating to mobile working, the use of smartphones and tablets in the corporate environment (Enterprise Mobility) and security aspects in the use of mobile devices.
Retina display
Display by Apple
“Retina” display is a proprietary component designation of the technology company Apple for displays. The name is derived from the Latin name for the retina and is supposed to mean that the pixels are no longer distinguishable or individually recognizable at a natural viewing distance with the naked eye.
Apple does not manufacture displays itself, but sources them from OEM partners like LG or Samsung. OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. There is no special technology behind the name–it simply describes displays with a certain pixel density. Nevertheless, there are some Retina classes that roughly correspond to the different display technologies:
| Name | Technology |
|---|---|
| Retina | The standard designation for liquid crystal displays (LCDs) at Apple. |
| Retina HD | Term for LC displays based on IPS technology. IPS stands for in-plane switching, and the panel technology is particularly known for its high viewing angle stability. The Retina HD panel is installed in the iPhone SE (2020). |
| Liquid Retina | This is an LCD technology with a higher pixel density that was introduced in 2018. |
| Liquid Retina HD | An LCD used in the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 with a rounded design and particularly high refresh rate. |
| Super Retina HD | “Super Retina” stands for OLED technology at Apple. The OLED displays of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max were first marketed as “Super Retina HD”. |
| Super Retina XDR | This is Apple’s terminology for the OLED displays in the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Other models with Super Retina XDR displays include the iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. |
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