Apple Watch display resolution outed: 335ppi looking likely

Screen size details emerge following launch of new WatchKit platform
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The display resolutions of the Apple Watch have been confirmed, with the Cupertino company revealing the pixel counts following the release of the new WatchKit software - the platform developers will use to design apps for the much anticipated smartwatch.

For the smaller Apple Watch, the 38mm (1.5-inch) one, you're looking at a 340 x 272 resolution and for the larger 42mm (1.65-inch) model it's 390 x 312 pixels. That means both displays are a 5:4 ratio.

First look: Apple Watch hands-on review

Working out the ppi counts of Apple's newest Retina displays is a little bit more tricky as those 38 and 42mm sizes are not the diagonal of the display area, but instead refer to the height size of the cases (as confirmed by Apple here).

However, a little bit of trial and error and an assumption that Apple will offer the same pixel density on both sizes of its newest form factor leads us to believe we'll be seeing a 335ppi count for the Apple Watch. That's the only dead-on match you get when adjusting the potential horizontal screen sizes. For reference, that means screen sizes of 1.3 and 1.5 inches.

The Samsung Gear S currently leads the way in the smartwatch ppi stakes with a 300 count, so if our calculations ring true Apple will, once again, be setting the bar for its rivals.

As well as the display data, the WatchKit launch also revealed that the Apple Watch will be using a swanky new font dubbed San Francisco.

"The system font was designed specifically for legibility on Apple Watch," explains the Apple Human Interface Guidelines document.

"At large sizes, the font's slightly condensed letters are set tight to take up less horizontal space. But at small sizes, they are spaced more loosely and have bigger apertures in glyphs like 'a' and 'e' to make these easier to read at a glance."

Good to know. And with a winning ppi count also looking likely, our anticipation for the Apple Watch has been increased tenfold.

Are you as excited as us? Let us know using the comments below....

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Paul Lamkin

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Wareable Media Group co-CEO Paul launched Wareable with James Stables in 2014, after working for a variety of the UK's biggest and best consumer tech publications including Pocket-lint, Forbes, Electric Pig, Tech Digest, What Laptop, T3 and has been a judge for the TechRadar Awards. 

Prior to founding Wareable, and subsequently The Ambient, he was the senior editor of MSN Tech and has written for a range of publications.


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