Common Screen Resolutions | What are they & How to Test?

Understanding standard screen resolutions is essential for everyone who works with them. Optimizing websites and applications for different screen sizes with various available devices is necessary.

Professionals can ensure seamless, user-friendly experiences across devices by designing for prevalent screen resolutions. Let us not wait any more. 

Jump into the blog for exciting stats, insights, and updates!

What is Screen Resolution?

Screen resolution is the number of pixels displayed on a screen in each dimension, horizontally and vertically. It is expressed as a pair of integers, such as 1920×1080, representing a screen displaying 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically.

Pixels are the smallest individual elements that make up a digital image. The higher the screen resolution, the more pixels the screen can display, and the sharper and more detailed the image will appear.

Screen resolution is essential when choosing a display device, such as a computer monitor, smartphone, or TV. It also affects the way websites and applications are displayed. 

For example, a website designed for a high-resolution screen may appear blurry or distorted on a lower-resolution screen.

Here are some of the most common screen resolutions:

• Desktop: 1920×1080, 1366×768, 1280×1024, 1024×768
• Mobile: 375×667, 414×736, 360×800, 390×844
• Tablet: 768×1024, 1024×768, 601×962

You can find the screen resolution of your device by checking its settings. 

For example, you can go to Settings > System > Display on a computer. On a smartphone or tablet, you can go to Settings > Display.

Screen resolution is an essential concept for web designers and developers to understand. They can ensure that their websites and applications look good and function well on all devices by designing for various screen resolutions.

History of Screen Resolutions

Screen resolutions have come a long way since the early days of computing. Let me take you down the lane a few years from today.

1. In the 1970s, the standard screen resolution was 320×200 pixels. That’s less than half the resolution of a modern smartphone screen!
2. In the 1980s, screen resolutions increased, with 640×480 becoming the new standard. This was a significant improvement, but it must still be better than today’s.
3. In the 1990s, screen resolutions increased, with 1024×768 becoming the new standard. This was a vast improvement and is still a popular resolution today.
4. In the 2000s, screen resolutions increased even more, with 1920×1080 becoming the new standard. This is the resolution of most modern HDTVs and computer monitors.
5. In the 2010s, screen resolutions continued to increase, with 3840×2160 becoming the new standard. This is the resolution of most modern 4K TVs and computer monitors.

And now, in the 2020s, we have screens with resolutions so high that we can see every pore on our favorite celebrities’ faces. It’s incredible how far we’ve come!

What does the future hold for screen resolutions? 

Will we eventually have screens with such high resolutions that we can see the individual atoms that make up the world around us? 

And if so, will that be a good thing? 

After all, I don’t want to see every zit and wrinkle on my face in perfect detail!

But seriously, it’s exciting to think about the possibilities. 

One day, we’ll have so many immersive screens that we’ll feel like we’re actually inside the world of our favorite movies and TV shows. 

Now that would be something!

Why does Screen Resolutions Matter?

You should know that screen resolution determines the image quality on a digital screen. A higher screen resolution means more pixels are displayed, resulting in a sharper and more detailed image.

Here are some specific reasons why screen resolution matters:

• For productivity: A higher screen resolution can improve productivity by allowing you to see more information on your screen at once. For example, if you are working with multiple documents or spreadsheets, a higher screen resolution will allow you to keep more of them open and visible.

• For gaming: A higher screen resolution can provide a more immersive and realistic gaming experience. Games with higher screen resolutions look more detailed and realistic and can make it easier to see small objects or details in the game world.

• For entertainment: A higher screen resolution enhances the viewing experience for video content, such as movies and TV shows, by making them look sharper and more detailed, resulting in a more immersive experience.

Let us look at examples explaining how screen resolution can affect different tasks:

• Viewing a photo: A photo displayed on a low-resolution screen may appear blurry or pixelated. The same photo displayed on a high-resolution screen will appear sharp and clear.

• Playing a game: A game on a low-resolution screen may appear jagged or choppy. The same game played on a high-resolution screen will appear smooth and fluid.

• Working on a creative project: A creative project on a low-resolution screen may be difficult to edit or refine. The same project worked on a high-resolution screen, which will be easier to edit and refine.

• Reading text: A block displayed on a low-resolution screen may be difficult to read, especially if the text is tiny. The same block of text displayed on a high-resolution screen will be easier to read, even if the text is tiny.

It’s important to choose a screen resolution appropriate to your needs and budget.

What is the Most Common Screen Resolutions Today?

The most common screen resolution today is 1920×1080. This resolution is commonly known as Full HD (high definition) and is the standard for most modern HDTVs and computer monitors.

Other common screen resolutions include:

• 1366×768 (HD)
• 1440×900 (WXGA+)
• 1600×900 (WXGA)
• 3840×2160 (4K UHD)

Which screen resolution is best for you depends on your needs and budget. If you are looking for the best possible image quality, you will want to choose a device with a high screen resolution, such as 4K UHD. 

However, remember that devices with higher screen resolutions may be more expensive and consume more power.

If you are on a budget, many suitable devices with lower screen resolutions are available. Just make sure to choose a device with a resolution that is high enough for your needs. 

For example, if you primarily use your computer for browsing the web and checking email, a resolution of 1366×768 may be sufficient. 

Regardless, if you plan on using your computer for more demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing, you will want to choose a device with a higher resolution.

Desktop vs Mobile vs Tablet Common Screen Resolutions

Here is a table of common screen resolutions for desktop, mobile, and tablet devices

Device Type	Common Screen Resolutions	Stats Worldwide
Desktop	1920 x 1080 (Full HD)1366 x 7681536 x 864 1280 x 7201440 x 9002560 x 1440	25.56 %11.97 %11.65 %6.19 %4.72 %3.36 %
Mobile	360 x 800390 x 844360 x 780393 x 873412 x 915414 x 896	10.26 %7.14 %3.86 %5.16 %3.94 %3.62 %
Tablet	768 x 1024810 x 1080820 x 11801280 x 800800 x 1280 1024 x 1366	19.5 %11.15 %7.99%6.5 %6.29 %3.51 %

How do You Find the Ideal Screen Size for Responsive Design?

To find the ideal screen size for responsive design, follow these steps:

1. Identify your target audience. What devices are they most likely to use? What are their screen sizes? You can use analytics tools to gather this information.
2. Research popular screen resolutions. Once you know what devices your target audience uses, you can research the most popular screen resolutions. You can use websites like StatCounter and W3Schools to find this information.
3. Choose a few key screen sizes to design for. You don’t need to design for every screen size, but choose a few key sizes that will cover most of your target audience. For example, you could design for mobile devices (375×667), tablets (768×1024), and desktop computers (1920×1080).
4. Use fluid grids and flexible layouts. Fluid grids and flexible layouts allow your website to adapt to different screen sizes. This means that the content on your website will be displayed correctly regardless of the screen size it is being viewed.
5. Test your website on different devices. Once you have designed your website, testing it on different devices is essential to ensure it looks good and functions correctly on all screen sizes.

You might be interested in: Responsive Design Testing Tools

Top 10 Most Common Screen Resolutions

Here are the top 10 most common screen resolutions:

1. 1920×1080 (Full HD)

2. 1366×768

3. 1280×1024

4. 1440×900

5. 1600×900

6. 1680×1050

7. 1280×800

8. 1024×768

9. 2560×1440 (QHD)

10. 3840×2160 (4K UHD)

These resolutions represent the most widely used display settings across various devices, including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. 

Note: Web designers and developers must consider these resolutions when creating responsive and user-friendly websites to ensure optimal viewing experiences for all users.

How to do a Screen Resolution Test?

There are two main ways to do a screen resolution test: manually and automatically.

Manual Screen Resolution Test

To do a manual screen resolution test, you will need to use a ruler or tape measure to measure the width and height of your screen in inches. Once you have these measurements, you can use the following formula to calculate your screen resolution:

Screen resolution = (width in inches) * (height in inches) * 72 pixels per inch

For example, if your screen is 15 inches wide and 10 inches high, your screen resolution would be 1080×720 pixels.

Now, you can run your tests on the screen resolution that needs to be tested. For this, you need to ensure you have the device that has the defined screen resolution.

Automate Your Tests for Different Screen Resolutions with Testsigma

There are also many online tools that can automatically test your screen resolution. To use one of these tools, simply visit the website and follow the instructions. 

Let us see how we can do this in Testsigma. 

Step 1: Create your free Testsigma account and write a new test case.

Step 2: Add some test steps and click on the Run button.

Step 3: In the Ad-Hoc Run page, select screen resolution.

Step 4: Click the dropdown and select which Resolution you want, as shown above.

Step 5: Click on the RunNow button shown below.

Step 6: Post execution, click on the screenshot – expand the view and observe the resolution.

Mobile Screen Resolution Stats Worldwide

The most common mobile screen resolution in 2023 was 360×800, with a market share of 11.02%. This is followed by 390×844 with 7.93% and 414×896 with 5.56%.

It is important to note that these are just the most common mobile screen resolutions. Many other screen resolutions are in use, and the popularity of different screen resolutions can vary depending on the region.

This chart shows the recent stats for mobile screen resolutions worldwide.
(It will change in the future)

When designing a mobile website or app, it is essential to consider the most common mobile screen resolutions. This will help you ensure your website or app looks good and functions correctly on various devices.

Desktop Screen Resolution Stats Worldwide

The most common desktop screen resolution 2023 was 1920×1080, with a market share of 22.18%. This is followed by 1366×768 with 14.02% and 1536×864 with 10.03%.

It is important to note that these are just the most common desktop screen resolutions. Many other screen resolutions are in use, and the popularity of different screen resolutions can vary depending on the region.

This chart shows the recent stats for desktop screen resolutions worldwide.
(It will change in the future)

When designing a desktop website or app, it is essential to consider the most common desktop screen resolutions. This will help you ensure your website or app looks good and functions correctly on various devices.

Tablet Screen Resolution Stats Worldwide

The most common tablet screen resolution 2023 was 768×1024, with a market share of 24.92%. This is followed by 810×1080 with 10.22% and 1280×800 with 6.73%.

It is important to note that these are just the most common tablet screen resolutions. Many other screen resolutions are in use, and the popularity of different screen resolutions can vary depending on the region and device.

This chart shows the recent stats for Tablet screen resolutions worldwide.
(It will change in the future)

When designing a tablet website or app, it is important to consider the most common tablet screen resolutions. This will help you ensure your website or app looks good and functions correctly on various devices.

Desktop vs Mobile vs Tablet Worldwide

As you can see from the table, desktop computers have the widest range of screen resolutions, followed by mobile devices and tablets. This is due to many factors, including the different uses for each type of device, the size of the screens, and the cost of the devices.

Platform	Most Common Screen Resolutions	Percentage of Worldwide Market Share
Desktop	1920×1080, 1366×768, 1536×864, 1280×720, 1440×900	44.95%
Mobile	360×800, 390×844, 414×896, 375×667, 412×732	52.81%
Tablet	768×1024, 810×1080, 1280×800, 1024×768, 1920×1080	1.83%

• Desktop computers are used for a wider range of tasks than mobile devices or tablets, so they must support a broader range of screen resolutions. For example, desktops are often used for graphic design, video editing, and other creative tasks requiring high screen resolution.

• Mobile devices and tablets have smaller screens than desktop computers, so they need lower screen resolutions to ensure the text and images are readable. 
• Mobile devices and tablets are less expensive than desktop computers, so manufacturers often use lower-resolution screens to keep costs down.

Why Website Dimensions Matter in Web Design and Development?

Website dimensions matter in web design and development because they affect the user experience. A website that is too wide or narrow can be challenging to navigate and read, while a website that is too tall or short can be frustrating for users to scroll through.

Here are some specific ways website dimensions can impact web design and development:

• Readability: Website dimensions can affect how easy it is for users to read the text on your website. A website that is too wide can make it difficult for users to read the text without having to scroll horizontally.
• Navigation: Website dimensions can also affect how easy it is for users to navigate your website. A website that is too narrow can make it difficult for users to click on the links and buttons on your website.
• Performance: Website dimensions can also affect the performance of your website. A website with many elements or a high-resolution image can take longer to load, especially on mobile devices.
• Design: Website dimensions can also affect the overall design of your website. A website that is too wide or too narrow can make your website look unprofessional.

When designing and developing a website, it is important to consider the dimensions of the devices that your target audience is using.

How to Check Your Screen Resolution?

There are a few ways to check your screen resolution in Windows 10 and Mac, as it differs from device to device.

How to check and change resolution on Windows 10

1. Right-click on the desktop and select “Display Settings.”
2. Scroll to the “Resolution” section to see your screen resolution.

How to check and change resolution on Mac

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select “System Preferences.”
2. Click on the “Displays” icon.
3. You will see your current screen resolution under the “Resolution” tab.

How To Change Your Screen Resolution

Changing your screen resolution can help improve the visual quality, adjust the display to your preferences, or resolve issues like blurry text. Here is how you can change your screen resolution across different devices and operating systems.

1) For Windows (PC)

• Right-click on an empty area of your desktop.
• From the context menu, select Display settings.
• Scroll down to the Display resolution section.
• Use the drop-down menu to select your desired resolution and it will automatically be adjusted. Windows recommends resolutions based on your device.

2) For MacOS

• Click on the Apple menu at the top-left corner of the screen and select System Preferences.
• In the System Preferences window, click Displays.
• In the Display tab, you’ll see a section for Resolution.
• Select Scaled, and you’ll be given a list of available resolutions. Choose the one that fits your needs and it will automatically adjust the screen to the selected resolution.

3) For Mobiles and Tablets

Most Android devices and tablets automatically adjust screen resolution based on the device’s capabilities. However, some devices (especially higher-end ones) allow users to adjust the resolution through developer options.

• To enable Developer Options, go to Settings > About phone.
• Tap Build number 7 times to enable developer options. You should see a notification that says you are now a developer.
• To adjust the screen resolution from here, go to Settings > Developer options
• Look for options like Smallest width or Screen density to adjust resolution settings.

Note that not all of these devices have built-in resolution adjustment options in the Developer settings. Resolution may be fixed based on the device’s display specifications. 

Resolution settings are not directly adjustable on iPhones. iOS automatically optimizes screen resolution based on the device model. 

How To Decide Which Screen Resolution To Optimize Your Website For?

To decide which screen resolution to optimize your website, consider the following factors:

• Target audience: What devices are your target users using? What are their screen resolutions? You can use analytics tools to gather this information.
• Content: What kind of content do you have on your website? You can optimize for a larger screen resolution if you have a lot of text or images.
• Purpose: What is the purpose of your website? If you want users to take a specific action, such as purchasing, you should optimize for a smaller screen resolution.

Takeaways On Website Dimensions

Remember these tips when you test:

• The most common screen resolutions in 2023 were 1920×1080 for desktops, 360×800 for mobiles, and 768×1024 for tablets.
• It is important to consider the screen resolutions of your target audience when designing your website.
• You should also consider the type of content on your website and your website’s design when choosing which screen resolutions to optimize for.
• You don’t need to design for every screen resolution, but you should choose a few key sizes that will cover most of your target audience.

Happy Testing!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does screen size affect resolution?

Yes, screen size can affect resolution; larger screens may have higher resolutions for better clarity.

How Can I Find Out My Screen Resolution?

To find your screen resolution, right-click on your desktop (Windows) or go to System Preferences > Displays (Mac).

What is my screen size in pixels?

Screen resolution indicates how many pixels are displayed across the screen in both width and height. The resolution is typically expressed in the format width x height (e.g., 1920 x 1080), and the total number of pixels is the product of these two numbers. For instance, a 1920 x 1080 resolution means the screen displays 1,920 pixels horizontally and 1,080 pixels vertically, which gives a total of 2,073,600 pixels (1920 x  1080).

What is the highest possible screen resolution?

As of today, 8K resolution (7680 x 4320 pixels) is the highest resolution commercially available for TVs and monitors, offering the most detailed viewing experience. However, 16K displays are under development and may become available.