[android] getting the screen density programmatically in android?

How to get the screen density programmatically in android?

I mean: How to find the screen dpi of the current device?

This question is related to android dpi screen-density

The answer is


Yet another answer:

/**
* @return "ldpi", "mdpi", "hdpi", "xhdpi", "xhdpi", "xxhdpi", "xxxhdpi", "tvdpi", or "unknown".
*/
public static String getDensityBucket(Resources resources) {
    switch (resources.getDisplayMetrics().densityDpi) {
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW:
            return "ldpi";
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM:
            return "mdpi";
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH:
            return "hdpi";
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH:
            return "xhdpi";
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH:
            return "xxhdpi";
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH:
            return "xxxhdpi";
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_TV:
            return "tvdpi";
        default:
            return "unknown";
    }
}

The following answer is a small improvement based upon qwertzguy's answer.

double density = getResources().getDisplayMetrics().density;
if (density >= 4.0) {
   //"xxxhdpi";
}
else if (density >= 3.0 && density < 4.0) {
   //xxhdpi
}
else if (density >= 2.0) {
   //xhdpi
}
else if (density >= 1.5 && density < 2.0) {
   //hdpi
}
else if (density >= 1.0 && density < 1.5) {
   //mdpi
}

In Android you can get the screen density like this:

public static String getScreenDensity(Context context)
{
    String density;
    switch (context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().densityDpi)
    {
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW:
            density = "LDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_140:
            density = "LDPI - MDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM:
            density = "MDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_180:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_200:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_220:
            density = "MDPI - HDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH:
            density = "HDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_260:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_280:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_300:
            density = "HDPI - XHDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH:
            density = "XHDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_340:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_360:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_400:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_420:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_440:
            density = "XHDPI - XXHDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH:
            density = "XXHDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_560:
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_600:
            density = "XXHDPI - XXXHDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH:
            density = "XXXHDPI";
            break;
        case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_TV:
            density = "TVDPI";
            break;
        default:
            density = "UNKNOWN";
            break;
    }

    return density;
}

And in Kotlin like this:

fun getScreenDensity(context: Context): String {
    val density: String
    when (context.resources.displayMetrics.densityDpi) {
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW -> density = "LDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_140 -> density = "LDPI - MDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM -> density = "MDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_180, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_200, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_220 -> density = "MDPI - HDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH -> density = "HDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_260, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_280, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_300 -> density = "HDPI - XHDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH -> density = "XHDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_340, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_360, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_400, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_420, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_440 -> density =
            "XHDPI - XXHDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH -> density = "XXHDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_560, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_600 -> density = "XXHDPI - XXXHDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH -> density = "XXXHDPI"
        DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_TV -> density = "TVDPI"
        else -> density = "UNKNOWN"
    }

    return density
}

Make sure to regularly check if new densities are added.


This also works:

 getResources().getDisplayMetrics().density;

This will give you:

0.75 - ldpi

1.0 - mdpi

1.5 - hdpi

2.0 - xhdpi

3.0 - xxhdpi

4.0 - xxxhdpi

enter image description here

ref: density

enter image description here

ref 2


Try this...

In kotlin

fun determineScreenDensityCode(): String {
      return when (resources.displayMetrics.densityDpi) {
         DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW -> "ldpi"
         DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM -> "mdpi"
         DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH -> "hdpi"
         DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_280 -> "xhdpi"
         DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_360, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_400, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_420 -> "xxhdpi"
         DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH, DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_560 -> "xxxhdpi"
         else -> "Unknown code ${resources.displayMetrics.densityDpi}"
     }
}

You can call by println("density: ${determineScreenDensityCode()}") and the output will be System.out: density: xxxhdpi


I am using following code to access DPI from modules (no need for having access to a context object):

(Resources.getSystem().getDisplayMetrics().xdpi
Resources.getSystem().getDisplayMetrics().ydpi)/2

To get dpi:

DisplayMetrics dm = new DisplayMetrics();
getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(dm);

// will either be DENSITY_LOW, DENSITY_MEDIUM or DENSITY_HIGH
int dpiClassification = dm.densityDpi;

// these will return the actual dpi horizontally and vertically
float xDpi = dm.xdpi;
float yDpi = dm.ydpi;

If you want to retrieve the density from a Service it works like this:

WindowManager wm = (WindowManager) this.getSystemService(Context.WINDOW_SERVICE);
DisplayMetrics metrics = new DisplayMetrics();
wm.getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(metrics);

Blundell's answer as a static helper method:

private static String getDensityName(Context context) {
    float density = context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().density;
    if (density >= 4.0) {
        return "xxxhdpi";
    }
    if (density >= 3.0) {
        return "xxhdpi";
    }
    if (density >= 2.0) {
        return "xhdpi";
    }
    if (density >= 1.5) {
        return "hdpi";
    }
    if (density >= 1.0) {
        return "mdpi";
    }
    return "ldpi";
}

Try this:

DisplayMetrics dm = context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics();
int densityDpi = dm.densityDpi;

Another way to get the density loaded by the device:

Create values folders for each density

  • values (default mdpi)
  • values-hdpi
  • values-xhdpi
  • values-xxhdpi
  • values-xxxhdpi

Add a string resource in their respective strings.xml:

<string name="screen_density">MDPI</string>    <!-- ..\res\values\strings.xml -->
<string name="screen_density">HDPI</string>    <!-- ..\res\values-hdpi\strings.xml -->
<string name="screen_density">XHDPI</string>   <!-- ..\res\values-xhdpi\strings.xml -->
<string name="screen_density">XXHDPI</string>  <!-- ..\res\values-xxhdpi\strings.xml -->
<string name="screen_density">XXXHDPI</string> <!-- ..\res\values-xxxhdpi\strings.xml -->

Then simply get the string resource, and you have your density:

String screenDensity = getResources().getString(R.string.screen_density);

If the density is larger than XXXHDPI, it will default to XXXHDPI or if it is lower than HDPI it will default to MDPI

R.strings.screen_density values

I left out LDPI, because for my use case it isn't necessary.


You Should Try This. Just Added a Method which will find and Show the Toast. That in Which Category the Device Falls.

public static int differentDensityAndScreenSize(Context context) {
  int value = 20;
  String str = "";
  if ((context.getResources().getConfiguration().screenLayout & Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_MASK) == Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_SMALL) {
   switch (context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().densityDpi) {
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW:
    str = "small-ldpi";
    value = 20;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM:
    str = "small-mdpi";
    value = 20;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH:
    str = "small-hdpi";
    value = 20;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH:
    str = "small-xhdpi";
    value = 20;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH:
    str = "small-xxhdpi";
    value = 20;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH:
    str = "small-xxxhdpi";
    value = 20;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_TV:
    str = "small-tvdpi";
    value = 20;
    break;
   default:
    str = "small-unknown";
    value = 20;
    break;
   }

  } else if ((context.getResources().getConfiguration().screenLayout & Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_MASK) == Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_NORMAL) {
   switch (context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().densityDpi) {
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW:
    str = "normal-ldpi";
    value = 82;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM:
    str = "normal-mdpi";
    value = 82;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH:
    str = "normal-hdpi";
    value = 82;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH:
    str = "normal-xhdpi";
    value = 90;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH:
    str = "normal-xxhdpi";
    value = 96;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH:
    str = "normal-xxxhdpi";
    value = 96;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_TV:
    str = "normal-tvdpi";
    value = 96;
    break;
   default:
    str = "normal-unknown";
    value = 82;
    break;
   }
  } else if ((context.getResources().getConfiguration().screenLayout & Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_MASK) == Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_LARGE) {
   switch (context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().densityDpi) {
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW:
    str = "large-ldpi";
    value = 78;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM:
    str = "large-mdpi";
    value = 78;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH:
    str = "large-hdpi";
    value = 78;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH:
    str = "large-xhdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH:
    str = "large-xxhdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH:
    str = "large-xxxhdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_TV:
    str = "large-tvdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   default:
    str = "large-unknown";
    value = 78;
    break;
   }

  } else if ((context.getResources().getConfiguration().screenLayout & Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_MASK) == Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_XLARGE) {
   switch (context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().densityDpi) {
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW:
    str = "xlarge-ldpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM:
    str = "xlarge-mdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH:
    str = "xlarge-hdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH:
    str = "xlarge-xhdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH:
    str = "xlarge-xxhdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH:
    str = "xlarge-xxxhdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_TV:
    str = "xlarge-tvdpi";
    value = 125;
    break;
   default:
    str = "xlarge-unknown";
    value = 125;
    break;
   }
  }
// The Toast will show the Device falls in Which Categories.
Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, ""+str, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

  return value;
 }

http://www.androidwarriors.com/2016/01/how-to-find-different-devices-screen.html


Actualy if you want to have the real display dpi the answer is somewhere in between if you query for display metrics:

DisplayMetrics dm = new DisplayMetrics();
getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(dm);
int dpiClassification = dm.densityDpi;
float xDpi = dm.xdpi;
float yDpi = dm.ydpi;

densityDpi * 160 will give you the values/suggestion which density you should use

0.75 - ldpi - 120 dpi
1.0 - mdpi - 160 dpi
1.5 - hdpi - 240 dpi
2.0 - xhdpi - 320 dpi
3.0 - xxhdpi - 480 dpi
4.0 - xxxhdpi - 640 dpi

as specified in previous posts

but dm.xdpi won't give you always the REAL dpi of given display: Example:

Device: Sony ericsson xperia mini pro (SK17i)
Density: 1.0 (e.g. suggests you use 160dpi resources)
xdpi: 193.5238
Real device ppi is arround 193ppi


Device: samsung GT-I8160 (Samsung ace 2)
Density 1.5 (e.g. suggests you use 240dpi resources)
xdpi 160.42105
Real device ppi is arround 246ppi

so maybe real dpi of the display should be Density*xdpi .. but i'm not sure if this is the correct way to do!


public static String getDensity(Context context) {
    String r;
    DisplayMetrics metrics = new DisplayMetrics();

    if (!(context instanceof Activity)) {
        r = "hdpi";
    } else {
        Activity activity = (Activity) context;
        activity.getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(metrics);

        if (metrics.densityDpi <= DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW) {
            r = "ldpi";
        } else if (metrics.densityDpi <= DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM) {
            r = "mdpi";
        } else {
            r = "hdpi";
        }
    }

    return r;
}

Here are some density constants, source:

enter image description here

There are, in addition to the standard densities, 5 Intermediate ones. Taking into account this fact, the following code will be a complete working example:

float density = getResources().getDisplayMetrics().density;

if (density == 0.75f)
{
    // LDPI
}
else if (density >= 1.0f && density < 1.5f)
{
    // MDPI
}
else if (density == 1.5f)
{
    // HDPI
}
else if (density > 1.5f && density <= 2.0f)
{
    // XHDPI
}
else if (density > 2.0f && density <= 3.0f)
{
    // XXHDPI
}
else
{
    // XXXHDPI 
}

Alternatively, you can find density constants using the densityDpi:

int densityDpi = getResources().getDisplayMetrics().densityDpi;

switch (densityDpi)
{
    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW:
        // LDPI
        break;

    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM:
        // MDPI
        break;

    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_TV:
    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH:
        // HDPI
        break;

    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XHIGH:
    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_280:
        // XHDPI
        break;

    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXHIGH:
    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_360:
    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_400:
    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_420:
        // XXHDPI
        break;

    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_XXXHIGH:
    case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_560:
        // XXXHDPI
        break;
}

This should help on your activity ...

void printSecreenInfo(){

    Display display = getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay();
    DisplayMetrics metrics = new DisplayMetrics();
    display.getMetrics(metrics);

    Log.i(TAG, "density :" +  metrics.density);

    // density interms of dpi
    Log.i(TAG, "D density :" +  metrics.densityDpi);

    // horizontal pixel resolution
    Log.i(TAG, "width pix :" +  metrics.widthPixels);

     // actual horizontal dpi
    Log.i(TAG, "xdpi :" +  metrics.xdpi);

    // actual vertical dpi
    Log.i(TAG, "ydpi :" +  metrics.ydpi);

}

OUTPUT :

I/test( 1044): density :1.0

I/test( 1044): D density :160

I/test( 1044): width pix :800

I/test( 1044): xdpi :160.0

I/test( 1044): ydpi :160.42105

DisplayMetrics metrics = new DisplayMetrics();
getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(metrics);

switch(metrics.densityDpi) {
     case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_LOW:
         break;

     case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_MEDIUM:
         break;

     case DisplayMetrics.DENSITY_HIGH:
         break;
}

This will work on API level 4 and higher.


This should work.

DisplayMetrics dm = new DisplayMetrics();
getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(dm);
int width = dm.widthPixels; //320
int height = dm.heightPixels; //480