What is PPI and Why Does it Matter?
PPI (Pixels Per Inch) is a measurement of the pixel density of a digital display, such as a computer monitor, smartphone, or television screen. It tells you exactly how many individual pixels are packed into a one-inch line on the screen.
A higher PPI means a greater pixel density, resulting in sharper, crisper images and text where individual pixels are harder (or impossible) to see with the naked eye. This is the concept behind Apple's "Retina" displays and modern 4K/8K smartphone screens.
PPI vs. DPI: What's the Difference?
While often used interchangeably, they are technically different concepts:
- PPI (Pixels Per Inch): Refers specifically to digital displays and the physical pixels on a screen.
- DPI (Dots Per Inch): Is a printing term. It refers to the number of physical ink dots a printer can place in a linear inch of paper.
What is a "Good" PPI?
The ideal PPI depends entirely on your viewing distance:
- Smartphones (10-12 inches away): 300 to 500+ PPI is ideal for complete sharpness.
- Computer Monitors (2-3 feet away): 90 to 110 PPI is standard, while 140+ PPI (like a 4K 27" monitor) is considered extremely sharp.
- Televisions (6-10 feet away): 40 to 80 PPI is usually completely adequate because you sit much further back.