QVGA (Quarter Video Graphics Array) is a type of resolution for a display which as dimensions of 320×240 pixels. These types of displays can be found in common hand held devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs, and hand held game devices, for example. The majority of the time, these displays are found to be portrait display rather than landscape (wide screen). These displays are also sometimes called a Quarter VGA as well. There is a common misconception that QVGA is a video format; however, this is not the case. QVGA is simply a resolution of screen, and nothing more.

The name QVGA derives from the fact that it is a 1/4th of the 640×480 resolution, which was a standard set resolution on monitors and devices a few years ago, and is still used commonly today. The original IBM machine used this resolution, and that machine utilized a VGA (Video Graphics Array) screen. This resolution was more heavily used in the 1980’s on computer screens and similar devices with VGA screens.

Back in the 1980’s the VGA resolution was king. In fact, it was hard to find a computer that did not utilize this screen size. The VGA resolution can produce up to 16 bits of color on the 640×480 resolution. Today, this does not sound too hot, but back then it got the job done.

The QVGA screen itself, however, is not known t be directly related to the actual VGA interface or even chip-set. The name QVGA only really applies to the resolution, which should be understood. These types of screen resolutions can be found on other devices such as a digital camera screen, and a few other similar devices developed by Samsung and Fujifilm. A few other devices that use QVGA screens are the TDS Ranger and Recon, the Cingular 3125, the Motorola Q, Sony-Ericsson P990i, and the HTC Excalibur.

QVGA screens can run about 15 to 30 frames per second. For how the screen is operates and is sized, this is not actually too bad. The screen has definitely found its way onto mobile devices and has been quite successful since then. An increasing number of cell phones are beginning to use this type of display. It has good screen response rates and also has a nice overall picture (read: clarity and contrast). The QVGA screen definitely has some life left in it for the following years to come, and we’ll be seeing it for quite a while I think.

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