diff --git a/dist/css/ionic-ios7.css b/dist/css/ionic-ios7.css
index e36923ea27..45d6b83842 100644
--- a/dist/css/ionic-ios7.css
+++ b/dist/css/ionic-ios7.css
@@ -840,6 +840,7 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   -webkit-box-orient: horizontal;
   -moz-box-orient: horizontal;
   background-color: white;
+  background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #dddddd, #dddddd 50%, transparent 50%);
   border-color: #dddddd;
   color: #333333;
   position: fixed;
@@ -851,39 +852,56 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   height: 49px;
   border-style: solid;
   border-top-width: 1px;
-  font-size: 16px; }
+  line-height: 49px;
+  background-size: 0; }
   .tabs.tabs-default {
     background-color: white;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #dddddd, #dddddd 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #dddddd;
     color: #333333; }
   .tabs.tabs-secondary {
     background-color: whitesmoke;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #bbbbbb, #bbbbbb 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #bbbbbb;
     color: #333333; }
   .tabs.tabs-primary {
     background-color: #4a87ee;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #3b6dc2, #3b6dc2 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #3b6dc2;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-success {
     background-color: #66cc33;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #5bb22f, #5bb22f 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #5bb22f;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-info {
     background-color: #43cee6;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #3bb3c8, #3bb3c8 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #3bb3c8;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-warning {
     background-color: #f0b840;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #d29f31, #d29f31 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #d29f31;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-danger {
     background-color: #ef4e3a;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #c73927, #c73927 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #c73927;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-dark {
     background-color: #ef4e3a;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #c73927, #c73927 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #c73927;
     color: white; }
+  @media (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (min-resolution: 144dpi), (min-resolution: 1.5dppx) {
+    .tabs {
+      padding-top: 2px;
+      border-top: none !important;
+      border-bottom: none !important;
+      background-position: top;
+      background-size: 100% 1px;
+      background-repeat: no-repeat; } }
 
 .tabs-top {
   top: 44px; }
@@ -895,7 +913,6 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   display: block;
   overflow: hidden;
   box-sizing: border-box;
-  padding-top: 4px;
   width: 0;
   height: 100%;
   color: inherit;
@@ -909,33 +926,29 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   opacity: 0.7; }
 
 .tabs-icon-top .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-right .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-left .tab-item {
-  position: relative;
-  padding-top: 0;
-  font-size: 10px; }
+.tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item {
+  font-size: 10px;
+  line-height: 14px; }
 
-.tabs-icon-left .tab-item i {
-  position: absolute;
-  left: 4px;
-  display: flex;
-  height: 100%;
-  align-items: center; }
-
-.tabs-icon-right .tab-item i {
-  position: absolute;
-  right: 4px;
-  display: flex;
-  height: 100%;
-  align-items: center; }
-
-/* Icon for tab  */
 .tab-item i {
   display: block;
-  margin: 1px auto -3px auto;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+  height: 32px;
   font-size: 32px; }
 
+.tabs-icon-left .tab-item,
+.tabs-icon-right .tab-item {
+  font-size: 10px; }
+  .tabs-icon-left .tab-item i,
+  .tabs-icon-right .tab-item i {
+    font-size: 24px;
+    display: inline-block;
+    vertical-align: top;
+    line-height: 49px; }
+
+.tabs-icon-only i {
+  line-height: inherit; }
+
 /* Navigational tab */
 /* Active state for tab */
 .tab-item.active, .tab-item:active {
@@ -955,13 +968,6 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   .tab-item.active.tab-item-dark, .tab-item:active.tab-item-dark {
     color: #444444; }
 
-/* Label for tab */
-.tab-label {
-  margin-top: 1px;
-  color: #fff;
-  font-weight: bold;
-  font-size: 10px; }
-
 .menu {
   position: absolute;
   top: 0;
diff --git a/dist/css/ionic-scoped.css b/dist/css/ionic-scoped.css
index 17c54f9958..6b2122ae20 100644
--- a/dist/css/ionic-scoped.css
+++ b/dist/css/ionic-scoped.css
@@ -136,10 +136,8 @@
    * 
    * A navigation bar with any number of tab items supported.
    */
-  /* Icon for tab  */
   /* Navigational tab */
   /* Active state for tab */
-  /* Label for tab */
   /**
    * Modals are independent windows that slide in from off-screen.
    */
@@ -1756,6 +1754,7 @@
     -webkit-box-orient: horizontal;
     -moz-box-orient: horizontal;
     background-color: white;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #dddddd, #dddddd 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #dddddd;
     color: #333333;
     position: fixed;
@@ -1767,39 +1766,56 @@
     height: 49px;
     border-style: solid;
     border-top-width: 1px;
-    font-size: 16px; }
+    line-height: 49px;
+    background-size: 0; }
     .ionic .tabs.tabs-default {
       background-color: white;
+      background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #dddddd, #dddddd 50%, transparent 50%);
       border-color: #dddddd;
       color: #333333; }
     .ionic .tabs.tabs-secondary {
       background-color: whitesmoke;
+      background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #bbbbbb, #bbbbbb 50%, transparent 50%);
       border-color: #bbbbbb;
       color: #333333; }
     .ionic .tabs.tabs-primary {
       background-color: #4a87ee;
+      background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #3b6dc2, #3b6dc2 50%, transparent 50%);
       border-color: #3b6dc2;
       color: white; }
     .ionic .tabs.tabs-success {
       background-color: #66cc33;
+      background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #5bb22f, #5bb22f 50%, transparent 50%);
       border-color: #5bb22f;
       color: white; }
     .ionic .tabs.tabs-info {
       background-color: #43cee6;
+      background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #3bb3c8, #3bb3c8 50%, transparent 50%);
       border-color: #3bb3c8;
       color: white; }
     .ionic .tabs.tabs-warning {
       background-color: #f0b840;
+      background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #d29f31, #d29f31 50%, transparent 50%);
       border-color: #d29f31;
       color: white; }
     .ionic .tabs.tabs-danger {
       background-color: #ef4e3a;
+      background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #c73927, #c73927 50%, transparent 50%);
       border-color: #c73927;
       color: white; }
     .ionic .tabs.tabs-dark {
       background-color: #ef4e3a;
+      background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #c73927, #c73927 50%, transparent 50%);
       border-color: #c73927;
       color: white; }
+    @media (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (min-resolution: 144dpi), (min-resolution: 1.5dppx) {
+      .ionic .tabs {
+        padding-top: 2px;
+        border-top: none !important;
+        border-bottom: none !important;
+        background-position: top;
+        background-size: 100% 1px;
+        background-repeat: no-repeat; } }
   .ionic .tabs-top {
     top: 44px; }
   .ionic .tab-item {
@@ -1809,7 +1825,6 @@
     display: block;
     overflow: hidden;
     box-sizing: border-box;
-    padding-top: 4px;
     width: 0;
     height: 100%;
     color: inherit;
@@ -1822,28 +1837,25 @@
     font-family: "Helvetica Neue-Light", "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
     opacity: 0.7; }
   .ionic .tabs-icon-top .tab-item,
-  .ionic .tabs-icon-right .tab-item,
-  .ionic .tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item,
-  .ionic .tabs-icon-left .tab-item {
-    position: relative;
-    padding-top: 0;
-    font-size: 10px; }
-  .ionic .tabs-icon-left .tab-item i {
-    position: absolute;
-    left: 4px;
-    display: flex;
-    height: 100%;
-    align-items: center; }
-  .ionic .tabs-icon-right .tab-item i {
-    position: absolute;
-    right: 4px;
-    display: flex;
-    height: 100%;
-    align-items: center; }
+  .ionic .tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item {
+    font-size: 10px;
+    line-height: 14px; }
   .ionic .tab-item i {
     display: block;
-    margin: 1px auto -3px auto;
+    margin: 0 auto;
+    height: 32px;
     font-size: 32px; }
+  .ionic .tabs-icon-left .tab-item,
+  .ionic .tabs-icon-right .tab-item {
+    font-size: 10px; }
+    .ionic .tabs-icon-left .tab-item i,
+    .ionic .tabs-icon-right .tab-item i {
+      font-size: 24px;
+      display: inline-block;
+      vertical-align: top;
+      line-height: 49px; }
+  .ionic .tabs-icon-only i {
+    line-height: inherit; }
   .ionic .tab-item.active, .ionic .tab-item:active {
     opacity: 1; }
     .ionic .tab-item.active.tab-item-default, .ionic .tab-item:active.tab-item-default {
@@ -1860,11 +1872,6 @@
       color: #f0b840; }
     .ionic .tab-item.active.tab-item-dark, .ionic .tab-item:active.tab-item-dark {
       color: #444444; }
-  .ionic .tab-label {
-    margin-top: 1px;
-    color: #fff;
-    font-weight: bold;
-    font-size: 10px; }
   .ionic .menu {
     position: absolute;
     top: 0;
diff --git a/dist/css/ionic.css b/dist/css/ionic.css
index ee8729909d..e1d2edf70d 100644
--- a/dist/css/ionic.css
+++ b/dist/css/ionic.css
@@ -2209,6 +2209,7 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   -webkit-box-orient: horizontal;
   -moz-box-orient: horizontal;
   background-color: white;
+  background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #dddddd, #dddddd 50%, transparent 50%);
   border-color: #dddddd;
   color: #333333;
   position: fixed;
@@ -2220,39 +2221,56 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   height: 49px;
   border-style: solid;
   border-top-width: 1px;
-  font-size: 16px; }
+  line-height: 49px;
+  background-size: 0; }
   .tabs.tabs-default {
     background-color: white;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #dddddd, #dddddd 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #dddddd;
     color: #333333; }
   .tabs.tabs-secondary {
     background-color: whitesmoke;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #bbbbbb, #bbbbbb 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #bbbbbb;
     color: #333333; }
   .tabs.tabs-primary {
     background-color: #4a87ee;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #3b6dc2, #3b6dc2 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #3b6dc2;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-success {
     background-color: #66cc33;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #5bb22f, #5bb22f 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #5bb22f;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-info {
     background-color: #43cee6;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #3bb3c8, #3bb3c8 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #3bb3c8;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-warning {
     background-color: #f0b840;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #d29f31, #d29f31 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #d29f31;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-danger {
     background-color: #ef4e3a;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #c73927, #c73927 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #c73927;
     color: white; }
   .tabs.tabs-dark {
     background-color: #ef4e3a;
+    background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, #c73927, #c73927 50%, transparent 50%);
     border-color: #c73927;
     color: white; }
+  @media (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5), (min-resolution: 144dpi), (min-resolution: 1.5dppx) {
+    .tabs {
+      padding-top: 2px;
+      border-top: none !important;
+      border-bottom: none !important;
+      background-position: top;
+      background-size: 100% 1px;
+      background-repeat: no-repeat; } }
 
 .tabs-top {
   top: 44px; }
@@ -2264,7 +2282,6 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   display: block;
   overflow: hidden;
   box-sizing: border-box;
-  padding-top: 4px;
   width: 0;
   height: 100%;
   color: inherit;
@@ -2278,33 +2295,29 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   opacity: 0.7; }
 
 .tabs-icon-top .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-right .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-left .tab-item {
-  position: relative;
-  padding-top: 0;
-  font-size: 10px; }
+.tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item {
+  font-size: 10px;
+  line-height: 14px; }
 
-.tabs-icon-left .tab-item i {
-  position: absolute;
-  left: 4px;
-  display: flex;
-  height: 100%;
-  align-items: center; }
-
-.tabs-icon-right .tab-item i {
-  position: absolute;
-  right: 4px;
-  display: flex;
-  height: 100%;
-  align-items: center; }
-
-/* Icon for tab  */
 .tab-item i {
   display: block;
-  margin: 1px auto -3px auto;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+  height: 32px;
   font-size: 32px; }
 
+.tabs-icon-left .tab-item,
+.tabs-icon-right .tab-item {
+  font-size: 10px; }
+  .tabs-icon-left .tab-item i,
+  .tabs-icon-right .tab-item i {
+    font-size: 24px;
+    display: inline-block;
+    vertical-align: top;
+    line-height: 49px; }
+
+.tabs-icon-only i {
+  line-height: inherit; }
+
 /* Navigational tab */
 /* Active state for tab */
 .tab-item.active, .tab-item:active {
@@ -2324,13 +2337,6 @@ a.subdued‎ {
   .tab-item.active.tab-item-dark, .tab-item:active.tab-item-dark {
     color: #444444; }
 
-/* Label for tab */
-.tab-label {
-  margin-top: 1px;
-  color: #fff;
-  font-weight: bold;
-  font-size: 10px; }
-
 .menu {
   position: absolute;
   top: 0;
diff --git a/scss/ionic/_mixins.scss b/scss/ionic/_mixins.scss
index 798e200be3..67ee58ddac 100644
--- a/scss/ionic/_mixins.scss
+++ b/scss/ionic/_mixins.scss
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@
 
 @mixin tab-style($bgColor, $borderColor, $color) {
   background-color: $bgColor;
+  background-image: linear-gradient(0deg, $borderColor, $borderColor 50%, transparent 50%);
   border-color: $borderColor;
   color: $color;
 }
diff --git a/scss/ionic/_tabs.scss b/scss/ionic/_tabs.scss
index dc3027e037..7ffc89b5f2 100644
--- a/scss/ionic/_tabs.scss
+++ b/scss/ionic/_tabs.scss
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
   border-style: solid;
 
   border-top-width: 1px;
-  font-size: 16px;
+  line-height: $tabs-height;
 
   &.tabs-default {
     @include tab-style($tabs-default-bg, $tabs-default-border-color, $gray-dark);
@@ -45,6 +45,20 @@
   &.tabs-dark {
     @include tab-style($tabs-danger-bg, $tabs-danger-border-color, $white);
   }
+
+  background-size: 0;
+  @media (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5),
+         (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5),
+         (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5),
+         (min-resolution: 144dpi),
+         (min-resolution: 1.5dppx) {
+    padding-top: 2px;
+    border-top: none !important;
+    border-bottom: none !important;
+    background-position: top;
+    background-size: 100% 1px;
+    background-repeat: no-repeat;
+  }
 }
 
 .tabs-top {
@@ -57,8 +71,6 @@
   overflow: hidden;
   box-sizing: border-box;
 
-  padding-top: 4px;
-
   // Required to force box elements to be the same size;
   width: 0;
   height: 100%;
@@ -72,44 +84,39 @@
   white-space: nowrap;
 
   font-weight: 400;
-  font-size: 14px;
+  font-size: $tabs-text-font-size;
   font-family: $light-sans-font-family;
 
   opacity: 0.7;
 }
 
 .tabs-icon-top .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-right .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item,
-.tabs-icon-left .tab-item {
-  position: relative;
-  padding-top: 0;
-  font-size: 10px;
+.tabs-icon-bottom .tab-item {
+  font-size: $tabs-text-with-icon-font-size;
+  line-height: $tabs-text-font-size;
 }
 
-.tabs-icon-left .tab-item i {
-  position: absolute;
-  left: 4px;
-  display: flex;
-  height: 100%;
-  align-items: center;
-}
-
-.tabs-icon-right .tab-item i {
-  position: absolute;
-  right: 4px;
-  display: flex;
-  height: 100%;
-  align-items: center;
-}
-
-/* Icon for tab  */
 .tab-item i {
   display: block;
-  margin: 1px auto -3px auto;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+  height: $tabs-icon-size;
   font-size: $tabs-icon-size;
 }
 
+.tabs-icon-left .tab-item,
+.tabs-icon-right .tab-item {
+  font-size: $tabs-text-with-icon-font-size;
+  i {
+    font-size: $tabs-icon-size - 8;
+    display: inline-block;
+    vertical-align: top;
+    line-height: $tabs-height;
+  }
+}
+
+.tabs-icon-only i {
+  line-height: inherit;
+}
 
 /* Navigational tab */
 
@@ -140,11 +147,3 @@
   }
 }
 
-/* Label for tab */
-.tab-label {
-  margin-top: 1px;
-  color: #fff;
-  font-weight: bold;
-  font-size: 10px;
-}
-
diff --git a/scss/ionic/_variables.scss b/scss/ionic/_variables.scss
index 1ef94af79e..7536ea7ee4 100644
--- a/scss/ionic/_variables.scss
+++ b/scss/ionic/_variables.scss
@@ -312,32 +312,34 @@ $bar-dark-border-color:       $button-dark-border;
 // Tabs
 // -------------------------------
 
-$tabs-height:                  49px !default;
-$tabs-icon-size:               32px !default;
+$tabs-height:                     49px !default;
+$tabs-text-font-size:             14px !default;
+$tabs-text-with-icon-font-size:   10px !default;
+$tabs-icon-size:                  32px !default;
 
-$tabs-default-bg:              $brand-default;
-$tabs-default-border-color:    $button-default-border;
+$tabs-default-bg:                 $brand-default;
+$tabs-default-border-color:       $button-default-border;
 
-$tabs-secondary-bg:            $brand-secondary;
-$tabs-secondary-border-color:  $button-secondary-border;
+$tabs-secondary-bg:               $brand-secondary;
+$tabs-secondary-border-color:     $button-secondary-border;
 
-$tabs-primary-bg:              $brand-primary;
-$tabs-primary-border-color:    $button-primary-border;
+$tabs-primary-bg:                 $brand-primary;
+$tabs-primary-border-color:       $button-primary-border;
 
-$tabs-info-bg:                 $brand-info;
-$tabs-info-border-color:       $button-info-border;
+$tabs-info-bg:                    $brand-info;
+$tabs-info-border-color:          $button-info-border;
 
-$tabs-success-bg:              $brand-success;
-$tabs-success-border-color:    $button-success-border;
+$tabs-success-bg:                 $brand-success;
+$tabs-success-border-color:       $button-success-border;
 
-$tabs-warning-bg:              $brand-warning;
-$tabs-warning-border-color:    $button-warning-border;
+$tabs-warning-bg:                 $brand-warning;
+$tabs-warning-border-color:       $button-warning-border;
 
-$tabs-danger-bg:               $brand-danger;
-$tabs-danger-border-color:     $button-danger-border;
+$tabs-danger-bg:                  $brand-danger;
+$tabs-danger-border-color:        $button-danger-border;
 
-$tabs-dark-bg:                 $brand-dark;
-$tabs-dark-border-color:       $button-dark-border;
+$tabs-dark-bg:                    $brand-dark;
+$tabs-dark-border-color:          $button-dark-border;
 
 
 // Lists
diff --git a/test/tab-bars-icons-right.html b/test/tab-bars-icons-right.html
index ad7e46c5a6..4b81203131 100644
--- a/test/tab-bars-icons-right.html
+++ b/test/tab-bars-icons-right.html
@@ -30,24 +30,24 @@
     
     <nav id="tab-bar" class="tabs tabs-icon-right tabs-default">
       <a class="tab-item tab-item-danger" href="#">
-        <i class="icon-game-controller-a"></i>
         Fun
+        <i class="icon-game-controller-a"></i>
       </a>
       <a class="tab-item tab-item-danger">
-        <i class="icon-locked"></i>
         Security
+        <i class="icon-locked"></i>
       </a>
       <a class="tab-item tab-item-danger">
-        <i class="icon-heart"></i>
         Simple
+        <i class="icon-heart"></i>
       </a>
       <a class="tab-item tab-item-danger">
-        <i class="icon-leaf"></i>
         Light
+        <i class="icon-leaf"></i>
       </a>
       <a class="tab-item tab-item-danger">
-        <i class="icon-waterdrop"></i>
         Clean
+        <i class="icon-waterdrop"></i>
       </a>
     </nav>
 
diff --git a/test/tab-bars-only-icons.html b/test/tab-bars-only-icons.html
index 79245b8894..d975106016 100644
--- a/test/tab-bars-only-icons.html
+++ b/test/tab-bars-only-icons.html
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
     </main>
     
-    <nav id="tab-bar" class="tabs tabs-default">
+    <nav id="tab-bar" class="tabs tabs-icon-only tabs-default">
       <a class="tab-item tab-item-danger" href="#">
         <i class="icon-game-controller-a"></i>
       </a>