Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing

Apple tweaks Retina MacBook Pro tagline thanks to Chromebook Pixel

By
Apple new Retina screen tagline_2013
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Say what you will about Google’s pricey Chromebook Pixel, but you can’t deny it has the highest pixel density of any laptop on the market right now – beating even Apple’s Retina displays on its latest MacBook Pros.

MacbookPro_retina_highest-res-ever
Image used with permission by copyright holder

And that’s why Apple has quietly changed its marketing lingo for its MacBook Pros with Retina displays on its website, as reported by Hot Hardware. To stay on the good side of the Federal Trade Commission’s strict laws against false advertising, Apple can no longer claim that its MacBook Pros are, “The highest-resolution notebook ever. And the second-highest,” as its website used to say.

Recommended Videos

With a 2560 x 1700 pixel resolution touch display, the Pixel manages to cram a whopping 4.3 million pixels into its 12.85-inch screen, which works out to be 239 pixels per inch (PPI) in terms of pixel density. By comparison, the 13-inch MacBook Pro’s 2560 × 1600 display, with just 227 PPI, is no longer top dog .

Related

Now, the MacBook Pro with Retina’s landing page simply says, “High performance has never been so well defined,” on top of a photo of the 13-inch and 15-inch laptops. However, if you scroll to the section about the “Stunning Retina display,” and shown in the photo to the left, you can see that Apple is still referring to both laptops as, “The highest-resolution notebook ever.” This statement is only true for the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro, which has the highest resolution of the three at 2880 × 1800, but not the 13-inch’s display as the heading suggests.

That said, the pixel resolution of a display is not the only factor in what makes a great display. You also have to consider its screen size in relation to the number of pixels it packs. So while the 15-inch MacBook Pro’s Retina display has the highest resolution, its pixels are also spread over a bigger surface than the Pixel’s 12.85-inch screen. So, the 15-inch MacBook Pro’s pixel density is just 220 PPI versus the Pixel’s 239 PPI.

Apple’s legal department should probably get on that one as the Chromebook Pixel will be hitting stores in April. Considering that the Pixel’s display has touch capabilities, has the highest pixel density, and is second in resolution only to the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro, it is hard to argue that it isn’t the best laptop display on the market right now.

[UPDATE 10:12AM 3/26/2013: Provided more details on the resolution of the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro and additional factors in determining display quality.]

Article originally published on 3/25/2013

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Gloria Sin
Gloria Sin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gloria’s tech journey really began when she was studying user centered design in university, and developed a love for…
Best refurbished MacBook deals: Get a MacBook Air for $140 and more
A stack of MacBooks is pictured from the top down.

Apple is one of the best laptop brands, and that's not surprising, given that various types of MacBooks regularly top the list of best laptops on the market. Unfortunately, sitting at the top does also mean that they are quite expensive, so fi you want to get your hands on one without paying an arm and a leg, going for a refurbished model is the way to go about it. Luckily, most MacBooks you'll find tend to be under warranty or have relatively good return windows, so even if there is a fault somewhere, you can return it and get a replacement or your money back.

To help you pick the best MacBook for your budget, we've gone out and picked some of the best refurbished MacBook deals we could find and compiled them below. Apple deals are notoriously slim pickings, so if you want a complete Apple suite for cheap, check out refurbished iPhone deals and refurbished iPad deals too.
MacBook Air 11.6-inch (2015) -- from $112

Read more
Why Samsung’s answer to the MacBook Pro can’t quite compete
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra open on a wooden suruface.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the king of the creator laptops, and it's been that way for several years.

But there have been a wave of new Windows laptops attempting to challenge the MacBook Pro on its own terms. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is certainly a contender, packing some impressive specs in a portable chassis. When you compare the two straight up, the MacBook Pro 16-inch clearly comes away with the upper hand, even when considering its higher price.
Specs and pricing

Read more
The best MacBook to buy in 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 16 downward view showing keyboard and speaker.

With M3 chips outfitted across the entire MacBook range, you might be wondering which is the best MacBook to buy in 2024. Figuring it out isn't always easy, and buying the newest MacBook might not be the right decision based on your needs. Apple has several tiers of performance, as well as various sizes, which can further complicate the matter.

What’s more, you can also still get M1 and M2 MacBooks, some from Apple’s own website and some from third-party retailers. But are they still worth your money? Our guide should help you decide.

Read more