Sunday debate: Classic 16:9 vs. Taller screen ratios

03 June 2018
The tall screens started as a trend, but is there good reason behind it or is everybody just blindly following it?

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • Yd6
  • 05 Dec 2021

Jay Babu, 08 May 202116:9 is the best and I can manage with 18:9 as the last lim... moreBecause people buy them that's why. Most of people just look at the phone design and find it more charming when it is 20:9, they be in love with it and they buy it, this is it. The other thing is the metric of the screen size with the diagonal which allows the companies to present taller screens advertised with a big diagonal which are in reality smaller screens when comparing with the same diagonal in 16:9, so people are just "scammed" they think they are getting bigger screens when in reality are not.

    • K
    • Kan
    • PWc
    • 28 Oct 2021

    Gessler, 24 Sep 2021I tried to get used to a poco x3, but gave up and returned ... moreI am sure u will buy a 20:9 phone 2 years later

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      • Gessler
      • gsw
      • 24 Sep 2021

      Lowranger, 12 Aug 2021Just joined this forum to add my 2¢... I've had a G... moreI tried to get used to a poco x3, but gave up and returned to a Mi Max 3 (18:9) and 6,9 screen. With custom rom as fast as any other modern super duper idiotic narrow screen phone and videos and daily use just pure joy. 16:9 or 18:9 or no phone, sorry industry, but these 20 or 21:9 screens are horrible to use for just anything!

        Just joined this forum to add my 2¢...

        I've had a Galaxy Note 4 since 2016 and I love it.

        16:9 display, 1440 x 2560, 5.7" diagonal

        Great for streaming videos, movies, football games.

        Sadly, Sprint is phasing out CDMA the end of this year so my Note 4 will be useless to me.

        And 2 weeks ago AT&T TV stopped supporting my device.

        So I ordered a Samsung A52 which arrived today.

        It has a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 6.5" diagonal screen.

        I HATE IT !

        When on AT&T TV I hold it up next to my Note 4 and the visible image is SMALLER in both width and height (landscape mode).

        Think letterbox mode.

        I'm 62 with fading eyesight and I need BIGGER displays, not smaller ones.

        Thanks for letting me vent

          • K
          • Kami
          • 3EB
          • 10 Aug 2021

          Samsung has numerous models in the market ~ A, J, M and S series to name just a few and all with these ridiculous screen formats up to 22:9 and everyone follows them.

          Why don't they or one of the great phones from the competition tries again with a useable 16:9 display. Many, many customers are waiting…

            Josephine, 02 Aug 2021I felt it too, after upgrading my phone to OnePlus 9, 6.55... moreGlad that we have same experience and opinion, I am not alone here.

            I don’t mind future TV change to 20:9 aspect ratio to show cinema movie, TV screen is big basically not affecting much. But smartphone screen is small, 20:9 aspect ratio makes it narrower; I frequently type wrong word on tiny keyboard.

            16:9 or 18:9 is the best for bezel less Smartphone.

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              • Josephine
              • tu2
              • 02 Aug 2021

              Henry G, 17 Jul 2021My main disappointment when changing Smartphone in 2021, is... moreI felt it too, after upgrading my phone to OnePlus 9, 6.55 inch 20:9 ratio.

              Wording is small, some contents cannot be enlarged, must standby magnifying glass all the time, very troublesome.

              It is stupid to design 20:9 aspect ratio for smartphone! Prefer 16:9 or 18:9 aspect ratio.

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                • Wald0
                • 3bM
                • 25 Jul 2021

                Manufacturers simply DO NOT listen to consumers when it comes to phones. Look how long it took them to understand we want a battery that will last more than one day. You'll probably never see a 16:9 display again because they know what's they want you to have, not what you want them to give you. As for the thin bezels... that's a joke. If you look at most phones, the viewable area of the display falls well short of the bezels. For example the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 2mm black area between the viewable part of the display and the bezel... all the way around. So they brag about the super thin bezels, but the bragging is useless because the display doesn't even get close to them. I think, in this case, the law should be manufacturers can only publish the viewable area of the display, not the size of the panel.

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                  • Ph 5.5
                  • tu2
                  • 24 Jul 2021

                  Henry G, 21 Jul 2021Thank you Ph 5.5 for hearing my cry. I imagine if Samsung... moreYou are right Henry G, phone manufacturer didn’t take customer feedback seriously, they just produce what is in-trend and what competitor does, look modern but not practical.

                  I have colleagues and friends upgraded their smartphone last year and this year 2021, all of them not happy with 19.5:9 and 20:9 aspect ratio screen, wish to have 16:9 back.

                    Ph 5.5, 20 Jul 2021I can imagine your frustrations Henry G, to enjoy the same ... moreThank you Ph 5.5 for hearing my cry.
                    I imagine if Samsung Galaxy S21+ is 6.7 inch and 18:9 ratio, achieved both Tall and Wide screen, I will be the happiest person in the world, but is not.

                    16:9 vs. Taller screen ratios was debate from 3rd Jun 2018, and the future is now 2021, why phone manufacturer didn’t notice at all?

                    Huawei is Smart, back in 2017 they offer 2 aspect ratios, if you like Wider phone, choose Mate 10 16:9 ratio, if you like Taller phone, ok Mate 10 Pro 18:9 ratio.

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                      • Ph 5.5
                      • tu2
                      • 20 Jul 2021

                      Henry G, 17 Jul 2021My main disappointment when changing Smartphone in 2021, is... moreI can imagine your frustrations Henry G, to enjoy the same Video Size as Huawei Mate-10 5.9 inch 16:9 ratio, you probably need to get 7.1-inch smartphone 20:9 ratio, but that is too Tall and not really practical, the closer you can get is Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 6.9 inch 20:9 ratio.

                      I used to have Huawei Mate-8, 6 inch 16:9 ratio, I love that phone.

                      Let’s wait more people upgrading their phone this year or next year, they need to use it to know it. Hopefully phone manufacturer will realize and bring back 16:9 or 18:9 in near future. Cheers.

                        I have a Huawei Mate 10. The day I will need to replace it, if no phone with display ratio 16:9 exists, then I will probably go back to an old school Nokia.
                        I really hate all other screen ratios.

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                          • Apple
                          • phH
                          • 18 Jul 2021

                          Henry G, 17 Jul 2021My main disappointment when changing Smartphone in 2021, is... moreI agreed with Henry G, new smartphone in 2020 & 2021 is 20:9 aspect ratio.

                          Those having older phone in 2017 and 2018 modal will most likely upgrade their phone in 2020, 2021 or 2022, they will face Display Aspect Ratio Shock, jump from 16:9 to 20:9, unless they get a Super Big Size Phone to compensates smaller image issue.

                          Phone manufacturer not revised this until most user changed their smartphone.

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                            • Anonymousss
                            • ibc
                            • 18 Jul 2021

                            The first criteria I searching for phone to upgrade in 2021 is Wider Screen either 16:9 or 19:9, then the Right Display Size that suit me 6.5 inch to 7 inch. Processor / RAM / Camera / Features / Brand / Price was secondary important.
                            I ended up buying Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra = 6.9 inch 19.3:9 aspect ratio.

                              My main disappointment when changing Smartphone in 2021, is the 20:9 aspect ratio screen, everything is smaller now.

                              Moving from Huawei Mate 10 (5.9 inch 16:9 ratio) to Samsung Galaxy S21+ (6.7 inch 20:9 ratio), expecting the screen size to be larger, but the Tall Phone Effect has caused the image, video and wording smaller, I’m not able to enjoy reading, watching video and photo like before, need to zoom in and enlarge most of the time.

                              How to tell the Phone Company to bring back 16:9 or 18:9 for future smartphone design?
                              Please stop the stupid 20:9 for Smartphone.

                                • H
                                • Henry G
                                • ibc
                                • 17 Jul 2021

                                My main disappointment when changing Smartphone in 2021, is the 20:9 aspect ratio screen, everything is smaller now.

                                Moving from Huawei Mate 10 (5.9 inch 16:9 ratio) to Samsung Galaxy S21+ (6.7 inch 20:9 ratio), expecting the screen size to be larger, but the Tall Phone Effect has caused the image, video and wording smaller, I’m not able to enjoy reading, watching video and photo like before, need to zoom in and enlarge most of the time.

                                How to tell the Phone Company to bring back 16:9 or 18:9 for future smartphone design?
                                Please stop the stupid 20:9 for Smartphone.

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                                  • erkin
                                  • Jc5
                                  • 02 Jul 2021

                                  keyboards are too narrrow in 19:8 and in that 21:9 kind of phones, and reading is also not pleasant. give us 16:9 back.

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                                    • Landor
                                    • mQ3
                                    • 25 May 2021

                                    Please return to 16:9 !! At least no more than 18:9..

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                                      • Pan
                                      • HB0
                                      • 19 May 2021

                                      When you browse or read a document, best format is 16:9.
                                      The much longer formats result in either too narrow or too shallow display.

                                      Considering the ease of handling (so, not too wide) can go with Samsung previous 18.5:9.
                                      But even longer formats are ridiculous. They aim to give larger inches, but eventually with less surface.

                                      And phones then are obliged to dump the notification led and multiple top cameras that were super useful. And punch a hole in the screen!

                                      Please use 18:5 aspect, thin border on top, no border bottom, minimal bezel, no curve and yes 3.5" jack.

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                                        • Jay Babu
                                        • DkB
                                        • 08 May 2021

                                        16:9 is the best and I can manage with 18:9 as the last limit. I don't know why the companies are creating so many taller displays which doesn't seems to have any extra benefit.

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