Windows Phone 7 devices that have launched till date have had WVGA i.e. 800 x 480 resolution. Microsoft’s initial roadmap suggested the addition of HVGA i.e. 320 x 480 to the supported screen resolutions for low-end, cheaper devices for specific markets. But, we haven’t seen any Windows Phone device with a HVGA display yet. Every single device from the initial first generation Windows Phones like the HTC HD7 to the current crop of Mango devices like the Nokia Lumia 900 & even the lower-end Tango devices like the Nokia Lumia 610 have WVGA displays.
In the Windows Phone Summit on June 20, Microsoft announced new screen resolutions for Windows Phone 8. First, WVGA just like in the current crop of Windows Phone devices with a resolution of 800 x 480 and an aspect ratio of 15:9. Second, 720p with a resolution of 1280 x 720 with an aspect ratio of 15:9 widescreen. A number of high-end Android phones have 720p displays now. Third, WXGA (also referred to as 720p+) with a resolution of 1280 x 768 and an aspect ratio of 15:9. No other platforms support WXGA as of now. All existing Windows Phone 7.5 apps will run on all of the resolutions without any changes. Developers can optimize for the new resolutions if they want to, but they don’t have to.
So, Windows Phone 8 brings in support for 2 new higher screen resolutions that will ensure new form factors, displays with higher pixel density & thus, taking the Windows Phone display support a big step further.
Image source: The Verge
