Pixel density in the 4K era

The shift to high pixel density displays that began with smartphones and tablets has spread to the world of PC monitors. 4K displays for PCs hit shelves in 2014, and understanding pixel density has become important in product selection along with screen size and resolution. Our theme is the move to high pixel density displays, including trends in the latest technology.


There are currently two standards for 4K resolution, namely “DCI 4K” and “UHD 4K”.


DPI (dots per inch) is the number of dots found within a 1-inch line of a scan or print. For monitors and displays, DPI is being abolished in favor of PPI (pixels per inch). While PPI is the correct term when referring to monitors and other displays, the two terms are often used interchangeably.


PPI or DPI is a description of the pixel density of a screen. A higher pixel density means that more pixels are packed into every square inch of your screen.


The exact point at which a higher PPI becomes undetectable is controversial. Some say that the optimal pixel density is somewhere around 400 ppi, while others say that the eye-catching pixel density is closer to 1000 ppi. Since this is a matter of personal preference, it is always better to test a monitor yourself before deciding on a display


DCI 4K has twice the resolution of 2048 x 1080 pixels of projectors (4096 x 2160 / approx. 17: 9) and is the 4K resolution of the film industry. UHD 4K (also called UHDTV 4K), on the other hand, is the 4K resolution of the television industry, which was defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It has twice the horizontal resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels Full HD (3840 x 2160/16: 9). 4K is a high resolution with twice the vertical and horizontal pixels of Full HD and refers to resolutions with a horizontal number of pixels of around 4 Millions.


As the screen resolution  continues to grow, pixel density is a new element that should be considered when choosing a display today. Pixel density in displays is a specification that indicates the level of resolution, and the value is usually given in ppi. Ppi stands for "pixels per inch" (not per square inch). One inch is 2.54 centimeters.

If you decrease the pixel pitch (pixel pitch) without changing the screen size of the LCD, the ppi will increase, and the higher this value, the higher the resolution of the display. For example, at 100 ppi there are 100 pixels per 2.54 centimeters, and at 300 ppi, 300 pixels are packed the same width.


DPR, or device pixel ratio, check here: Screen resolution, also known as CSS pixel ratio, is the number of physical pixels that make up a CSS pixel in any direction of a screen such as the width direction or the height direction.


It is difficult to describe, but if you compare the display of smartphones, on which displays with high pixel density are common, with those of conventional PC displays with low pixel density, you immediately see the advantage.

Compared to the sharp and smooth display on the smartphone, the display on the PC looks unclean and the pixel grid is visible.


When it comes to visual devices, looking at the actual display is often more of an impact than a long description. After the retina display came in and received positive feedback, various manufacturers introduced smartphones, tablets, and PCs with high-pixel density displays, so they have spread to regular users.


When choosing an LCD in the future, one must also consider the pixel density, which results from the combination of screen size and resolution. As already mentioned, displays with a super high pixel density basically require an enlargement with scaling for use, so that a high resolution (high number of pixels) does not equal a large working space. This is an important point that needs to be carefully considered.