Toshiba Introduces 6.1" Display with 2560*1600 Resolution

by Anton Shilov
10/21/2011 | 01:19 PM

Toshiba Mobile Display this week announced that it has developed a 6.1" liquid crystal display (LCD) panel that features extreme pixel density of 498 pixels-per-inch (ppi). Even though the display sports resolution that is higher than full HD, it is too small for an advanced tablet, too large for a smartphone and likely too power-hungry for electronic book readers.

Toshiba's "retina quality" screen is 6.1" in diagonal and sports 2560*1600 resolution, 498ppi pixel density, 1000:1 contract ratio as well as 176° viewing angles. This newly-developed high-definition LCD panel is based on Toshiba's processing techniques for forming fine-pitch and high-performance, low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFT) on glass substrates, and other precise fabrication techniques which have been cultivated over the years.   The demand towards high-resolution displays nowadays is pretty evident thanks to availability of HD multimedia content and with the arrival of the iPhone 4 smartphone customers also started to look forward increased pixel density, something that greatly enhances image quality.

Although the extreme pixel density of 498ppi featured by 6.1" screen from Toshiba is unprecedented (iPhone 4 has screen with 326ppi density), the device itself will barely power popular devices. 6.1" diagonal is too small for a tablet (minimum size viable for tablets is 7"), too large for smartphones (even 5" is too big for a pocket-sized device) and too power hungry for e-book readers (high resolutions and densities mean increased power consumption). As a result, the novelty may remain a proof-of-concept, not a wide-spread product.

Toshiba's new 6.1" display will be exhibited at the FPD International 2011 exhibition, to be held in Pacifico Yokohama from October 26 to 28, 2011.