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Wait, I thought the whole point of retina was to be a set PPI based on optimum viewing distance. Are we now expected to believe that the new iPad Mini and the iPad Air have different optimum viewing distances that happen to result in the exact same resolution?

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I think it is a set PPI or above, since 'retina' was marketed as the point at which the eye couldn't detect the pixels. Presumably anything more dense would be considered the same. Since the 10" is a so-called retina display, it stands to reason that a 7" display with the same resolution also is retina.

Okay, that makes sense. I take it the screen sizes are also close enough in size that font size difference problems will be minimized? I've been wondering how Apple is going to respond to the need to sell better hardware while keeping their design targets minimal, which IRC is a major developer selling point for them in comparison to Android.

Well, in this respect it's the same situation the old iPad mini was in a year ago, and I haven't heard of major problems.

Retina is "anything past what the eye can discern pixels for"

Just like smooth is "anything the hand can't feel bumps on"

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