Today, however, screen resolution seems to have taken a backseat to mobile-browser "flourishes" like momentum-based scrolling and tap/double-tap zooming. If not for such workarounds, the idea of browsing the web on a 3.5-inch screen with a paltry 480 x 320 resolution wouldn’t sound very appealing. Though some feel that these "tricks" fool users into believing they’re getting a true internet experience because of the "fun factor," millions of iPhone and iPod touch owners don’t seem to mind. On a similar note, I don’t see any criticism this morning about the Nokia N97 and its 3.5-inch 640 x 360 screen.
This, then, raises the question that is the subject of the poll you’ll find below.
<a href ="http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1157944/" >What is the minimum screen resolution for acceptable web browsing on a portable device?</a>  <br/> <span style="font-size:9px;"> (<a href ="http://www.polldaddy.com">  polls</a>)</span>
UPDATE: Thanks for voting. The poll is now closed.
To put those resolutions into some context, here’s a quick table I put together of 10 mobile devices (5" screen max for true pocketability) and their respective screen sizes and resolutions.
Device | Screen Size | Screen Resolution |
AT&T Tilt |
2.8 inches | 320 x 240 |
HTC Touch Pro |
2.8 inches | 640 x 480 |
SE XPERIA X1 |
3 inches | 800 x 480 |
Nokia N97 |
3.5 inches | 640 x 320 |
Sony mylo 2 |
3.5 inches | 800 x 480 |
Apple iPhone |
3.5 inches | 480 x 320 |
Nokia N810 |
4.1 inches | 800 x 480 |
Aigo P8860 MID |
4.8 inches | 800 x 480 |
Archos 5 |
4.8 inches | 800 x 480 |
HTC Advantage |
5 inches | 640 x 480 |
What’s more important to you than screen resolution? Screen size? Browser? Speed?
My mobile web priorities list would look like this:
- Browser
- Screen resolution
- Page rendering
- Screen size
- Speed (load times)
- Flash support