Earlier this week I broke down some of the elements it takes to create an outstanding cell phone screen. Coincidentally, this week is also SID 2011, a conference in LA devoted entirely to display technology. Toshiba's LCD panel pictured above is one gem on exhibit. It boasts a 720x1,280-pixel HD resolution on its 4-inch screen, which gives it a pixel ratio of 367 pixels per inch (ppi). The iPhone 4's Retina Display is the current king, boasting 367ppi on a significantly smaller 3.5-inch screen with a 960x640-pixel resolution, but if this Toshiba-made effort makes it to market before an updated iPhone, Apple will have lost its major marketing claim to fame.

In addition, Toshiba's display panel features a high contrast ratio and an impressive color gamut (72 percent NTSC ratio), both elements that go into reproducing color and sharpness on the screen. We're still a ways from knowing which manufacturer will partner with Toshiba to introduce the smartphone screen, but it should arrive on a handset later this year, according to Engadget.