Apple’s iPhone line of smartphones has evolved a lot over the years. From the original iPhone in 2007 to the latest iPhone models today, the screens have gotten bigger and sharper. Screen resolution is an important specification to consider when choosing an iPhone, as it affects image quality, app compatibility, and more.
The screen resolution is measured by the number of pixels horizontally and vertically. It is usually presented as width x height. So an iPhone with a resolution of 1136×640 has 1136 horizontal pixels and 640 vertical pixels.
Higher resolutions with more pixels generally create sharper on-screen images and improve the overall visual experience. However, higher resolution screens require more processing power and battery capacity. There are diminishing returns, so at a certain point increased resolution provides little noticeable difference, while still consuming more power. Apple has steadily increased iPhone screen resolutions, while balancing visual quality with practical battery life considerations.
Below is a table of screen resolutions on various iPhone models:
| iPhone Model | Screen Size | Screen Resolution | Pixel Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone (1st gen) | 3.5″ | 320×480 | 165 ppi |
| iPhone 3G | 3.5″ | 320×480 | 165 ppi |
| iPhone 3GS | 3.5″ | 320×480 | 165 ppi |
| iPhone 4/4S | 3.5″ | 640×960 | 330 ppi |
| iPhone 5/5C/5S | 4″ | 640×1136 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 6 | 4.7″ | 750×1334 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 6 Plus | 5.5″ | 1080×1920 | 401 ppi |
| iPhone 6S | 4.7″ | 750×1334 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 6S Plus | 5.5″ | 1080×1920 | 401 ppi |
| iPhone SE | 4″ | 640×1136 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 7 | 4.7″ | 750×1334 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 7 Plus | 5.5″ | 1080×1920 | 401 ppi |
| iPhone 8 | 4.7″ | 750×1334 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 8 Plus | 5.5″ | 1080×1920 | 401 ppi |
| iPhone X | 5.8″ | 1125×2436 | 458 ppi |
| iPhone XS | 5.8″ | 1125×2436 | 458 ppi |
| iPhone XS Max | 6.5″ | 1242×2688 | 458 ppi |
| iPhone XR | 6.1″ | 828×1792 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 11 | 6.1″ | 828×1792 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 11 Pro | 5.8″ | 1125×2436 | 458 ppi |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | 6.5″ | 1242×2688 | 458 ppi |
| iPhone SE (2nd gen) | 4.7″ | 750×1334 | 326 ppi |
| iPhone 12 Mini | 5.4″ | 1080×2340 | 476 ppi |
| iPhone 12 | 6.1″ | 1170×2532 | 460 ppi |
| iPhone 12 Pro | 6.1″ | 1170×2532 | 460 ppi |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | 6.7″ | 1284×2778 | 458 ppi |
| iPhone 13 Mini | 5.4″ | 1080×2340 |
Original iPhone to iPhone 3GS Resolution
The first iPhone through the iPhone 3GS models kept the same screen resolution of 320×480 pixels. The screen size increased slightly from the original iPhone’s 3.5 inches diagonally to the iPhone 3GS’s 3.5 inches. So the pixel density increased, resulting in a little bit sharper display on the later models. But the total pixel count remained the same at 320×480, or about 0.15 megapixels.
Here are the screen resolutions for those early iPhone models:
- Original iPhone (2007) – 3.5″ 320×480 pixels
- iPhone 3G (2008) – 3.5″ 320×480 pixels
- iPhone 3GS (2009) – 3.5″ 320×480 pixels
iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S Resolution
In 2010, Apple dramatically increased the iPhone’s display resolution to 640×960 pixels. Combined with the screen size increasing to 3.5 inches diagonally, this resulted in a quadrupling of the total pixel count to over 0.6 megapixels and a much sharper picture.
Apple branded this screen the “Retina Display” marketing term, because it claimed the human eye is unable to distinguish the individual pixels at normal viewing distances. The sharper display made a big difference in image quality and readability.
Here are the screen resolutions for the iPhone 4 and 4S:
- iPhone 4 (2010) – 3.5″ 640×960 pixels
- iPhone 4S (2011) – 3.5″ 640×960 pixels
iPhone 5 to iPhone 5S and 5C Resolution
While keeping the same 640×1136 pixel resolution as the iPhone 4 and 4S, Apple increased the display size from 3.5 to 4 inches diagonally starting with 2012’s iPhone 5. This resulted in about the same sharpness and pixel density as the previous generation. Only the screen was physically larger while keeping the same number of pixels.
The iPhone 5S and lower cost iPhone 5C had the same 4-inch 640×1136 resolution display as the iPhone 5.
- iPhone 5 (2012) – 4″ 640×1136 pixels
- iPhone 5C (2013) – 4″ 640×1136 pixels
- iPhone 5S (2013) – 4″ 640×1136 pixels
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Resolutions
In 2014 Apple again increased both the screen size and display resolution of the iPhone. The iPhone 6 grew to a 4.7-inch 750×1334 pixel screen. The iPhone 6 Plus became Apple’s first “phablet” with a very large 5.5-inch 1080×1920 full HD resolution display.
Besides allowing the sharp Retina graphics on a larger screen, the higher resolution was useful for apps that could display more content and even run iPad apps in a special compatibility mode.
Here are the screen specs of the iPhone 6 line:
- iPhone 6 (2014) – 4.7″ 750×1334 pixels
- iPhone 6 Plus (2014) – 5.5″ 1080×1920 pixels
iPhone 6S and 6S Plus Resolution
The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus models, released in 2015, stuck with the same resolutions and screen sizes as the previous generation iPhone 6 and 6 Plus:
- iPhone 6S (2015) – 4.7″ 750×1334 pixels
- iPhone 6S Plus (2015) – 5.5″ 1080×1920 pixels
iPhone SE Resolution
Also launching in 2015, the iPhone SE was Apple’s newest smaller budget iPhone model. It reused the compact 4-inch screen size not seen since the iPhone 5S and 5C two years prior. But it included some upgrades from more recent iPhones, including the higher 640×1136 resolution display:
- iPhone SE (2016) – 4″ 640×1136 pixels
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Resolutions
2016’s iPhone 7 and 7 Plus repeated the same screen sizes and resolutions as the iPhone 6 and 6S generations:
- iPhone 7 (2016) – 4.7″ 750×1334 pixels
- iPhone 7 Plus (2016) – 5.5″ 1080×1920 pixels
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus Resolutions
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus stuck with the same screen sizes and resolutions as the previous two generations, dating back to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014:
- iPhone 8 (2017) – 4.7″ 750×1334 pixels
- iPhone 8 Plus (2017) – 5.5″ 1080×1920 pixels
iPhone X Resolution
Apple’s tenth anniversary iPhone X represented the company’s biggest design change since the iPhone 6 first launched the larger screen sizes. The iPhone X did away with the iconic “Home” button and bezel, extending the screen to nearly edge-to-edge with only a thin notch at the top for the front camera components.
To fit the new taller design, the iPhone X screen resolution increased to 1125×2436 pixels on a 5.8-inch OLED display. For the first time, the vertical resolution exceeded the horizontal resolution on an iPhone. This allowed displaying more vertical content like lists, articles, and websites in the new extra-tall orientation.
Here are the screen specs for the iPhone X:
- iPhone X (2017) – 5.8″ 1125×2436 pixels
iPhone XS and XS Max Resolutions
The iPhone XS and XS Max, released in 2018, continue the all-screen design of the iPhone X, expanding it to two screen sizes:
- iPhone XS (2018) – 5.8″ 1125×2436 pixels
- iPhone XS Max (2018) – 6.5″ 1242×2688 pixels
The larger iPhone XS Max ups the screen resolution to 1242×2688 to cover its 6.5-inch display. It joins the “Plus” class of iPhones with 1080p screen resolution.
iPhone XR Resolution
As a more affordable alternative to the flagship XS models, the iPhone XR has a slightly lower 6.1-inch resolution of 828×1792 pixels. But this lower resolution keeps the pixel density similar to past iPhone Retina displays for sharp images and text:
- iPhone XR (2018) – 6.1″ 828×1792 pixels
iPhone 11 Resolutions
2019’s iPhone 11 series sticks with the screen sizes and resolutions introduced the previous year with the XS models and XR:
- iPhone 11 (2019) – 6.1″ 828×1792 pixels
- iPhone 11 Pro (2019) – 5.8″ 1125×2436 pixels
- iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) – 6.5″ 1242×2688 pixels
iPhone SE (2nd Gen) Resolution
Rounding out the 2020 iPhone lineup, the 2nd generation iPhone SE sticks with the classic 4.7-inch screen size. But it now features an upgraded resolution of 750×1334 pixels, matching the iPhone 8 and later models:
- iPhone SE (2nd Gen, 2020) – 4.7″ 750×1334 pixels
iPhone 12 and 12 Mini Resolutions
The iPhone 12 lineup released in late 2020 offers users a choice between 5.4-inches, 6.1-inches, and 6.7-inch displays. The two smaller models offer resolution upgrades over prior similarly sized models:
- iPhone 12 Mini (2020) – 5.4″ 1080×2340 pixels
- iPhone 12 (2020) – 6.1″ 1170×2532 pixels
- iPhone 12 Pro (2020) – 6.1″ 1170×2532 pixels
- iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) – 6.7″ 1284×2778 pixels
The super Retina XDR OLED displays also increase peak brightness to 1200 nits, support HDR content and videos, and cover nearly the entire DCI-P3 color gamut. The iPhone 12 lineup screen technology leans heavily on Apple’s iPad and MacBook Pro products.
iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini Resolutions
The iPhone 13 series continues the screen sizes and resolutions of the iPhone 12 lineup:
- iPhone 13 Mini (2021) – 5.4″ 1080×2340 pixels
- iPhone 13 (2021) – 6.1″ 1170×2532 pixels
- iPhone 13 Pro (2021) – 6.1″ 1170×2532 pixels
- iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) – 6.7″ 1284×2778 pixels
Improvements include higher peak outdoor brightness up to 1200 nits, reduced reflectivity, improved contrast ratios and color reproduction, and a 120Hz refresh rate on the Pro models.
