Abstract: A differential Hall effect magnetic read head exhibiting improved resolution. The head includes dual Hall elements in which the elements are oriented so that their major surface is perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium and biased so that they respond to the component of magnetic flux which is parallel to the surface of the recording medium. Operation in this manner enables information recorded at extremely high densities to be easily read. In an alternative embodiment, a single Hall element is utilized and direct and delayed outputs are differentially compared in order to detect flux transitions.