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Physical Pixel Resolution
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Resolution checker
Read physical pixel resolution, logical OS scaling, browser viewport, DPR, and color depth live. Resize the window or rotate your device — the dashboard updates automatically at 100% browser zoom.
Device Info
—- Logical Resolution
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- Pixel Ratio DPR
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- Color Depth
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- Refresh Rate
- Sampling…
Screen Parameters
—- Physical Resolution
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- Aspect Ratio
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- Total Pixels
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- Available Area
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Resolution Compare
HD
1280px
FHD
1920px
QHD
2560px
4K
3840px
Yours —
Window & Scaling
- Browser Window
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- System Scale
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- Orientation
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- Dynamic Range
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Live resolution checker — physical pixels, DPR, and scaling
TestMyGears reads screen metrics in the browser: physical and logical resolution, device pixel ratio, color depth, refresh-rate estimate, and HD/FHD/QHD/4K comparison bars — so you can confirm a panel matches its spec sheet before deeper display tests.
Physical vs logical readout
The hero card shows physical pixels while Device Info lists logical resolution and DPR. Mismatch between advertised 4K and FHD-class physical pixels is a red flag on used gear.
Resolution compare bars
Horizontal bars plot your width against HD, FHD, QHD, and 4K tiers. A star marks your current pixel count so you can see where the panel sits in one glance.
Window and scaling context
Browser viewport, OS scale, orientation, and HDR capability sit beside the core numbers — useful when fractional Windows scaling or multi-monitor setups skew everyday readings.
Core parameters explained
Quick definitions for the numbers in the dashboard above.
Resolution
Horizontal × vertical pixel count. Higher resolution on the same screen size raises PPI and sharpens text — if scaling is set correctly.
Color depth
Bits per pixel in the display pipeline. 24-bit (8-bit per channel) is standard; 30-bit (10-bit) smooths gradients for photo and video work.
Aspect ratio
Width-to-height ratio — 16:9 is universal, 16:10 adds vertical space for coding, 21:9 suits cinema and multitasking.
Refresh rate
Screen redraws per second in Hz. 60Hz is fine for office use; 120Hz+ reduces motion blur; 240Hz+ targets competitive gaming.
Three checks after you unbox
Run these in order on a new monitor or laptop panel while your return window is still open.
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Confirm physical resolution
Physical pixels in the hero card should match the factory spec sheet. Large gaps often mean wrong GPU output or cable bandwidth limits. See also: resolution tiers .
Tip Maximize the browser window on the target display before comparing numbers.
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Check scaling ratio
DPR above 1 means HiDPI scaling is active — normal on Retina MacBooks and many Windows 125–200% setups. See also: scaling scenarios .
Tip A 4K panel stuck at 1× DPR makes UI elements uncomfortably tiny.
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Verify refresh rate
The Device Info card estimates Hz via requestAnimationFrame. Stuck near 60 on a 144Hz label warrants a cable or OS setting check. See also: refresh rate test .
Tip Keep this tab focused while Hz samples — background tabs throttle timers.
Mainstream resolution standards
HD · 1280 × 720
Entry-level laptops and budget monitors. Fine for basic browsing and 720p video, but grainy on 24"+ panels.
FHD · 1920 × 1080
The most common desktop standard. Ideal for 24–27" monitors around 92–110 PPI and high-refresh esports panels.
QHD · 2560 × 1440
Sweet spot for 27" productivity at ~109 PPI. Strong balance of clarity and GPU cost for 1440p gaming.
4K UHD · 3840 × 2160
Best on 32"+ displays, HDR workflows, and photo/video work. Needs HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 for high refresh.
When resolution readings matter most
New monitor QA
- Physical pixels should match the box label before you run pixel or color tests.
- Cable bandwidth caps can silently downshift 4K panels to 1080p output.
- Compare logical and physical values when Windows scaling is above 100%.
Laptop & Retina checks
- HiDPI scaling often reports 1920×1080 logical on a 3840×2160 panel.
- Fractional DPR (1.25, 1.5) can make non-integer-scaled assets look soft.
- External monitor hot-plug may reset scaling until you re-open display settings.
Used gear verification
- Seller claims of 4K or QHD should match physical pixel readouts here.
- Phone panels pack 400–500+ PPI — do not compare raw numbers to desktop monitors.
- Screenshot resolution alone does not prove native panel output.
Multi-monitor desks
- Open the checker on each display — mixed DPI setups need per-panel scaling.
- Browser window size reflects the monitor the tab is on, not the whole desk.
- HDR and color depth can differ between primary and secondary outputs.
Optimizing screen resolution settings
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Native resolution
Always use your monitor's native resolution. Non-native modes blur text because LCD panels need 1:1 pixel mapping.
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Scaling ratio
4K: try 150–200% OS scaling. 1440p: 100–125%. Fractional scales (125%, 150%) are normal on Windows and macOS.
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Cable standards
4K@60Hz needs HDMI 2.0+ or DisplayPort 1.2+. 4K@120Hz needs HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4.
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Driver updates
Keep GPU drivers current. Some resolution and refresh combinations disappear on outdated drivers.
Resolution checker FAQs
Why doesn't detected resolution match the spec?
OS scaling reports logical pixels separately from physical pixels. A 4K panel at 200% scaling may show 1920×1080 logical while physical stays 3840×2160. Check both values in the dashboard.
Is higher resolution always better?
Not without enough PPI. Ideal desktop density is often 90–140 PPI. Too low looks soft; too high without scaling makes UI elements tiny.
Why does phone resolution seem so high?
Phones pack 400–500+ PPI into a small diagonal. A 24" 1080p monitor is only ~92 PPI — the numbers are not directly comparable across form factors.
Why isn't DPR a whole number?
Windows supports 125%, 150%, and 175% scaling, producing DPR values like 1.25 or 1.5. Fractional DPR can make non-integer-scaled assets look slightly soft.
Refresh rate detection seems inaccurate?
The estimate uses requestAnimationFrame in this tab. Background throttling, VSync, or battery saver modes can temporarily report lower Hz until the tab is focused.
How do I get optimal resolution on external monitors?
Confirm GPU output, use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+ for high resolutions, set native resolution in OS display settings, then re-open this checker at 100% browser zoom.
