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Displays of the Year: iPhone X and iPad Pro win awards

Apple’s two most premium devices have been recognized for their excellent screens, as iPhone X and iPad Pro both won awards at the Display Industry Awards.

The average consumer probably doesn’t think too hard about display quality when comparing devices. They’re all pretty much fine, right? But Apple keeps pushing for better and better displays, and the difference is apparent when you put its flagship devices side-by-side with older models.

iPhone X won for “delivering striking colors, true blacks, a million-to-one contrast ratio and superior, system-wide color management.” Also praised were technologies like Dolby Vision and HDR10, which combine to massively improve image quality. “In addition, True Tone dynamically adjusts the white balance of the display to match surrounding light for a more natural, paper-like viewing experience.” All amazing technologies that are perhaps under-appreciated by users.

iPad Pro, meanwhile, won “Display of the Year” alongside Sharp’s new 70-inch 8K LCD TV. The judges were impressed by it’s “innovative ProMotion technology, developed to enhance visual performance” and noted that it’s “the first display in mainstream consumer products” to automatically adjust the screen’s refresh rate based on the iPad’s current application. This allows a high 120Hz refresh rate for fluid scrolling, smooth motion content, and high fidelity response to the Apple Pencil, and a power-saving 24Hz refresh rate for more static functions.

The incredible display is one of the key reasons to pick an iPad Pro over the entry-level iPad – for more detail on the difference between models, be sure to check out our comprehensive iPad buyer’s guide.

It’s interesting to note that no other smartphone or tablet was recognized at the awards. Whatever you think of competing devices, it’s clear that Apple rules the roost when it comes to the high end.