How to target iPhone 3GS AND iPhone 4 in one media query?

Myles Gray picture Myles Gray · Feb 17, 2011 · Viewed 42.5k times · Source

I am trying to implement alternate layouts for both the iPad/iPhone and older iPhones as well.

I have established that the best method is to use @media from the CSS3 spec.

As such these are my media queries at the minute:

@media screen and (max-width: 1000px) { ... }

Above is for small desktop and laptop screens.

@media screen and (max-width: 700px) { ... }

Above is for the iPad and VERY small desktop/laptop screens.

@media screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { ... }

Above is for iPhone 3GS- and mobile devices in general.

However, the new iPhone 4 with Steve Jobs's all-singing all-dancing "retina" display means that it has a pixel ratio of 2-1 meaning 1 pixel actually appears to the browser as 2x2 pixels making its resolution (960x640 - meaning it will trigger the iPad layout rather than the mobile device layout) so this requires ANOTHER media query (only so far supported by webkit):

@media screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) { ... }

Now, the thing is... I want my nice shiny new iPhone 4 layout amalgamated with the iPhone 3GS and mobile device layout as they will both have exactly the same inner CSS code,

Therefore making my question;

How do I create an @media rule that points both the iPhone 4, 3GS and other mobiles to the same styles?

Answer

BoltClock picture BoltClock · Feb 17, 2011

Because the iPhone and iPod touch measure max-device-width in logical pixels rather than physical pixels even with the Retina display (as they should), the original media query used for the iPhone should be enough:

@media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) {
    /* iPhone CSS rules here */
}

You'll only need (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) if you need to target the Retina display separately.