Screen Resolution Checker - Detect Display Size & Settings
Instantly check your screen resolution, pixel ratio, color depth, and viewport dimensions. Perfect for responsive web design testing, graphics work, display troubleshooting, and understanding your monitor specifications. See real-time updates as you resize browser windows or rotate devices.
What Screen Information Does This Show?
Screen Resolution
Native resolution in pixels (width × height). Common resolutions: 1920×1080 (Full HD), 2560×1440 (2K), 3840×2160 (4K). Higher resolution = more screen space.
Device Pixel Ratio (DPR)
Ratio of physical pixels to CSS pixels. Standard displays = 1.0, Retina/HiDPI displays = 2.0-3.0. Affects image sharpness and rendering quality.
Color Depth
Bits per pixel for color representation. Common values: 24-bit (16.7 million colors), 30-bit (1.07 billion colors). Higher depth = better color accuracy.
Orientation
Portrait or landscape mode. Changes when rotating mobile devices or using monitor pivot features.
Browser Viewport Size
Actual browser window dimensions (excluding toolbars, scrollbars). Changes when resizing browser. Critical for responsive web design testing.
Common Screen Resolutions
Desktop/Laptop Resolutions
- 1366×768: Budget laptops, older monitors
- 1920×1080 (Full HD): Most common desktop/laptop standard
- 2560×1440 (2K/QHD): High-end monitors, gaming displays
- 3840×2160 (4K/UHD): Premium displays, content creation
- 5120×2880 (5K): Apple iMac, professional monitors
Mobile Resolutions
- 375×667: iPhone SE, older iPhones
- 390×844: iPhone 13/14/15 standard models
- 393×851: Android flagship phones (Galaxy S)
- 768×1024: iPad, smaller tablets
- 1080×1920: Android tablets
Ultra-Wide & Special Formats
- 2560×1080 (21:9): Ultra-wide gaming/productivity
- 3440×1440 (21:9): Premium ultra-wide
- 5120×1440 (32:9): Super ultra-wide (dual monitor equivalent)
📝 Example: MacBook Pro 16"Display Specs
- Screen Resolution: 3456 × 2234 pixels
- Pixel Ratio: 2.0× (Retina display)
- Effective Resolution: 1728 × 1117 (CSS pixels)
- Color Depth: 30-bit (billions of colors)
Physical pixels doubled for sharper text and images.
Understanding Pixel Density
PPI (Pixels Per Inch)
Measure of screen sharpness. Calculate: √(width² + height²) ÷ diagonal inches
- <100 PPI: Pixelated, low quality
- 100-150 PPI: Standard definition
- 200-300 PPI: Retina quality (Apple standard)
- >300 PPI: Ultra-high density (smartphones)
Device Pixel Ratio Explained
DPR 1.0: One CSS pixel = one physical pixel (standard displays)
DPR 2.0: One CSS pixel = 2×2 physical pixels (Retina displays)
DPR 3.0: One CSS pixel = 3×3 physical pixels (high-end phones)
Higher DPR requires higher-resolution images to avoid blurriness.
Responsive Design Breakpoints
Standard Breakpoints
Common CSS media query breakpoints for responsive websites:
- Mobile: 320px - 480px
- Tablet Portrait: 481px - 768px
- Tablet Landscape: 769px - 1024px
- Desktop: 1025px - 1200px
- Large Desktop: 1201px+
Testing Responsive Layouts
Use screen resolution tool to:
- Check current viewport dimensions
- Resize browser window to simulate different devices
- Verify layout adapts at breakpoints
- Test both width and height for portrait/landscape
Graphics & Design Considerations
Image Optimization for Different Screens
Standard Displays (DPR 1.0): Use 1× images (actual size)
Retina Displays (DPR 2.0): Provide 2× images (double resolution) or use SVG
High-DPI Mobile (DPR 3.0): Provide 3× images or responsive images
Responsive Images with srcset
```html
```
Browser automatically selects appropriate image based on device pixel ratio.
Safe Zones for UI Design
Design within safe zones to avoid cutoff on various aspect ratios:
- Mobile: Account for notches, rounded corners
- TV/Monitors: 5-10% edge margin for overscan
- Ultra-wide: Center critical content for viewing comfort
Display Troubleshooting
Resolution Not Optimal
Problem: Screen looks blurry or pixelated
Solutions:
- Check native resolution in monitor manual/specs
- Set OS display settings to native resolution
- Update graphics drivers
- Use correct cable (HDMI 2.0+ for 4K@60Hz)
Text Too Small on High-Res Displays
Problem: 4K monitor makes UI elements tiny
Solution: Adjust display scaling in OS settings:
- Windows: Settings → Scale 125-150%
- macOS: System Preferences → Displays → Scaled
- Linux: Display Settings → Resolution Scaling
Multi-Monitor Resolution Mismatch
Problem: Moving windows between monitors changes size
Cause: Different pixel densities between monitors
Mitigation: Use monitors with similar PPI or adjust per-monitor scaling
Gaming & Performance
Resolution vs Frame Rate
- 1080p (1920×1080): Easiest to run, high FPS possible
- 1440p (2560×1440): 78% more pixels than 1080p, moderate GPU load
- 4K (3840×2160): 4× pixels vs 1080p, demands high-end GPU
Lower resolution = higher FPS with same GPU. Competitive gamers often prefer 1080p@240Hz over 4K@60Hz.
Aspect Ratio Impact
- 16:9: Standard gaming, most compatible
- 21:9: Wider FOV in games, immersive but not all games support
- 4:3: Legacy aspect ratio, black bars in modern games
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my laptop screen resolution different from monitor specs?
Marketing often lists physical pixel count while OS shows "effective" resolution accounting for scaling. A "4K" laptop might show as "1920×1080" at 200% scaling for readable text.
What's the difference between screen resolution and viewport size?
Screen resolution = total display pixels. Viewport = browser window dimensions (smaller, excludes toolbars/scrollbars). Resizing browser changes viewport but not screen resolution.
Will a 4K monitor improve my productivity?
Yes, if screen is large enough (27"+ recommended). More pixels = more windows side-by-side. But on small screens (13-15"), pixels too tiny, requiring scaling that negates space advantage.
Should I use 1080p or 1440p for 24" monitor?
1440p provides sharper text/images on 24". 1080p sufficient but noticeable pixelation up close. For 27"+ monitors, 1440p or 4K strongly recommended.
How do I test my website on different resolutions?
Browser DevTools (F12) → Device Toolbar. Preset dimensions for common devices. Or manually resize browser window while monitoring viewport size with this tool.
What does "Retina display" mean?
Apple marketing term for displays where pixel density is high enough (>220 PPI) that individual pixels invisible to human eye at normal viewing distance. Technically means DPR ≥ 2.0.
Conclusion
Understanding your screen resolution and display properties helps optimize visual experiences, troubleshoot display issues, and design responsive websites. Our tool provides instant visibility into all critical display metrics with real-time updates as you resize or rotate. Whether you're a designer, developer, or user optimizing your setup, knowing your exact screen specifications is invaluable.