Check out these photos taken by Bryan Jones of the iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4 Retina Displays under a stereomicroscope.
The images show what DisplayMate has already confirmed. The iPhone 5 has the 'best smartphone display we have seen to date'.
Looking at higher magnification is where you can really see the difference in images. It turns out that the pixels in the iPhone 5 are *precisely* the same size as the iPhone 4 pixels, but the iPhone 5 pixels have better color saturation with more contrast, seen particularly in the blue pixels. I did not calculate the difference in color saturation between the two iPhones, but it is pretty clear to the eye which is which. Apple claims 44% increase in color saturation and from these images, I believe them.
this is relative, because if u have the same pixels size, and what u only manipulate is the color saturation, then u will have a error... u will get richer colors but u could see pixels... i have had iphone since the iphone (1st gen).... when i see and use an iphone 4 or iphone 4s i dont see any pixels at all, i guess our eyes can see them... but now i tried an iphone 5 for 4 hours i i was capable of seeing pixel lines, i was really upset of it... the color saturation makes possible to see pixel lines... use an iphone 5, and see it... i did it... and i sold it same day i got, i just prefer the iphone 4 or 4s screen.. no pixels at all... thats perfect
Hmm. Ok, if you're looking at these differencing photos *on* an iPhone 4, in theory, wouldn't it be true to presume that you would *not* see any difference in the two? Kind of like dithered output; for example, listening to a 24-bit audio sample on 16-bit hardware, or looking at a 32-bit color depth image on a 256-color capable display or similar?
Not a great deal between photos. grid is another matter, much sharper deeper. But that to me would be normal between photo at test patten. When you think this is on a new iphone 5 then not much of a leap forward to me. Or may be just a bad photo choice.
I don't think you quite know what to look at. Look at how dark the blacks and grays are. The colors pop more, which improve the overall look. It's nowhere the difference as the 4S was from 4, but still, I like how they're perfecting the display and camera.