iPad 2 Unlikely to Have 2048x1536 Retina Display? - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPad 2 Unlikely to Have 2048x1536 Retina Display?

212032 ipad 2 dummy 5 500
iPad 2 dummy model found at CES

Daring Fireball's John Gruber weighs in on the recent rumors suggesting the next iPad will have a super high-resolution Retina display running at a resolution of 2048x1536.

I asked around, and according to my sources, it is too good to be true: the iPad 2 does not have a retina display. I believe the iPad 2's display will remain at 1024  768. Its display may be improved in other ways - brighter, better power consumption, thinner, perhaps.

Gruber believes that the iPad will eventually get this 2048x1536 and even claims there are prototype iPads in Apple's campus with this exact resolution, but seems certain the next generation iPad will not be that iPad.

Meanwhile, Engadget editor Joshua Topolsky stands by his source that the next iPad will indeed have "super high resolution" screen, though makes no claim on the exact dimensions. Meanwhile, Gruber admits that it could be another resolution, but he doubts it:

I think that's unlikely for reasons pertaining to UI scaling math (the same reason that the iPhone display resolution didn't increase incrementally) - but it's worth noting that my sources only claim "no retina display", not that the resolution is unchanged. The "double or nothing" line is my opinion, not information from any source.

Both Gruber and Engadget have had a history of having accurate sources. For what it's worth, Kevin Rose also claimed that the next iPad will have a higher resolution screen, though will fall short of being a "Retina" display.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in September With These 10 New Features

Saturday May 9, 2026 6:03 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Apple Watch Series 10 Jet Black Touch ID

Apple Watch Series 12 and watchOS 27: What to Expect Later This Year

Friday May 8, 2026 2:07 pm PDT by
While not too much has been reported about the next Apple Watch models, there are a few rumors about potential design changes and watchOS 27 features. Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 models are expected to be released in September, and we have outlined some of the key rumored hardware and software changes below. A new Apple Watch SE is not expected this year, as that model was...