IMO these are the best breakpoints:
@media (min-width:320px) { /* smartphones, portrait iPhone, portrait 480x320 phones (Android) */ }
@media (min-width:480px) { /* smartphones, Android phones, landscape iPhone */ }
@media (min-width:600px) { /* portrait tablets, portrait iPad, e-readers (Nook/Kindle), landscape 800x480 phones (Android) */ }
@media (min-width:801px) { /* tablet, landscape iPad, lo-res laptops ands desktops */ }
@media (min-width:1025px) { /* big landscape tablets, laptops, and desktops */ }
@media (min-width:1281px) { /* hi-res laptops and desktops */ }
Edit: Refined to work better with 960 grids:
@media (min-width:320px) { /* smartphones, iPhone, portrait 480x320 phones */ }
@media (min-width:481px) { /* portrait e-readers (Nook/Kindle), smaller tablets @ 600 or @ 640 wide. */ }
@media (min-width:641px) { /* portrait tablets, portrait iPad, landscape e-readers, landscape 800x480 or 854x480 phones */ }
@media (min-width:961px) { /* tablet, landscape iPad, lo-res laptops ands desktops */ }
@media (min-width:1025px) { /* big landscape tablets, laptops, and desktops */ }
@media (min-width:1281px) { /* hi-res laptops and desktops */ }
In practice, many designers convert pixels to em
s, largely because em
s afford better zooming. At standard zoom 1em === 16px
, multiply pixels by 1em/16px
to get em
s. For example, 320px === 20em
.
In response to the comment, min-width
is standard in "mobile-first" design, wherein you start by designing for your smallest screens, and then add ever-increasing media queries, working your way onto larger and larger screens.
Regardless of whether you prefer min-
, max-
, or combinations thereof, be cognizant of the order of your rules, keeping in mind that if multiple rules match the same element, the later rules will override the earlier rules.
Best Answer
This question is a bit old but I couldn't find a better answer when I googled it.
Most desktops now are touch enabled, so detecting it is irrelevent.
The best way to detect them is by screen size.
With Modernizr you can use
if (Modernizr.mq('only all and (max-width: 480px)')) { ...}