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
  • Y2j
  • 09 Jun 2018

Does anyone know any other flagship level smartphones like the Huawei Mate 10 that have a 16:9 ratio? I want to upgrade my oneplus one.

    Predictive memorys, 08 Jun 201816:9 display ratio is better than so call modern ratio, bec... more6- Most of the Modern ratio must also come with bezelless and notch, this make the device no bezel for grips and only can hold the side frame it is more strained, the notch is weird trends because the display should always be rectangular without blocking by any sensors or polished with curved corners.

    While the 16:9 has the best ratio for grip and it can also trim some bezel but definitely not bezel-less, it can have space for better front camera hardware and dual front stereo speakers most important doesn't block the viewing area.

      I remember when LG firstly introduced the world of abnormalized ratio... they are loudly taking for 1:1 split screen, but how? there's navigation bar and status bar, so it can't be 1:1... also, why not 21:9 (like their BL40) with equal height of normal smartphone? so it could be even narrower, also with more standardized ratio?

        Anonymous, 06 Jun 2018According your statement taller display ratio have more ext... morewell, 21:9 because content creator are only between 4:3, 16:9, or 21:9. It is a standardized ratio, unlike the awkward 18:9, 18.7:9, 18.5:9, or any unordinary nowadays phone screen ratio.

          Anonymous, 04 Jun 2018Yep 16:9 now and some content is moving to 21:9... nobody u... moreActually, 21:9 are older than 16:9. Most cinema camera like Cinemascope in 50s are all wide formats, but of course, none of them is 18:9. 16:9 was created because it has the half difference between 4:3 and 21:9

            16:9 display ratio is better than so call modern ratio, because:

            1- Web contain is more balance when you view either portrait or landscape mode, while the modern ratio design has narrowed the landscape mode which is not ideal but it portrait mode viewing field longer for showing the ads and the web blocks which making the screen area so call "modern"!

            2- 16:9 display ratio with more than 5.5 inch screen already force user stretching their finger press the Notification and also the Navigator fields, the so call "modern display" has taller display which making the thumb is getting even more strain to stretch the user thumb to press the Notification and Navigator in daily usage, while the back fingerprint scanner is also force user stretching their forefinger too either left hand or right handed.

            3- The multiple window can show better on 16:9 display ratio because you will only use the main window more than you use 2 or 3 tiny windows at the same time, when you open 2 or 3 windows for apps at the same time you get smaller viewing area and the so call "modern display" is much much worsen because you can't always open 2 or 3 apps at the same display it split the screen become smaller than ideal and you can only use the main app in 1 display most of the time to enjoy the larger view range.

            4- When watching YouTube videos, 16:9 display have the perfect ratio to show all the video contains. The so call "modern display" has narrowed display which making the viewing area cropped by zoom in the video to fit full the display, another solution is keep the back bar on the two side which making the smartphone look so call "modern"! I think this kind of modern display is only from hypocrite minded definitely not from reality usage because the black bar is odd ugly and unmatchable with bezel colors. When viewing photo gallery the back bar solutions is even prominent! So the "modern display" is a black bar monster!

            5- When it comes to durability the modern display has more longer rectangular shape, it is much fragile than a more squared 16:9 display ratio, because drop impact is more prominent when the shape is taller designed and even taller will get more jeopardous to break the screen compared to even squared designs.

            I vote the 16:9 display ratio. The taller Modern display is not that "Modern".

              Anonymous, 06 Jun 2018Smart people know that only 16:9 is the good screen ration ... moreYes. 21:9 display ratio is worsening

                domjan, 05 Jun 2018The 18:9 ratio is great BUT without the notch. Infinity dis... moreTotal agree on this one.

                  I believe that tall aspect ratio makes more sense. Google identified this as well, and their split screen mode is proof. It facilitates one-handed usage as well.

                    I only prefer the classic aspect ratio.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • JG0
                      • 06 Jun 2018

                      Smart people know that only 16:9 is the good screen ration for phones. The narrower ratios like 18:9 are shit.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • JG0
                        • 06 Jun 2018

                        The only reason why people vote for 18:9 is that they already own a phone with 18:9 screen and they are trying to validate themselves and their purchase decision. They're brainwashed by marketing that promotes the 18:9 screen and wasted their money on a 18:9 screen phone.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • tZj
                          • 06 Jun 2018

                          The Scientist Pigeon, 03 Jun 201821:9 is what Smartphones must be. In my opinion Smartpho... moreAccording your statement taller display ratio have more extensive multimedia entertainment, so 21:9 display ratio is not well come, I think the 24:9 display ratio is way better than 21:9 display ratio. 24:9 display ratio can display dual windows with 4:3 for each area, it can play multiple apps, watch 2 of 4:3 photos at the same time, when gaming the multiple windows for messaging, playing music can display lyrics at the same time.....

                            Ivan is right, it's more logical to have talked screens, they make screens bigger and better fits in consumers hands, completely agree

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • IW@
                              • 05 Jun 2018

                              Anonymous, 05 Jun 201816:9 is vastly superior and so much more pleasant and a vas... moreThe only time I think 18:9 is justified is if the phone has a screen diagonal of 6.8" or larger (like in the Zenfone 3 Ultra), which at its 16:9 aspect ratio and 6.8" screen, can benefit from width slimming using an 18:9 aspect ratio instead (losing screen area as a consequence). That is, if you really like big phones. The 6.4" Mi Max/Mi Max 2 with 16:9 aspect ratio is perfect. Any 6.4" or smaller diagonal phone should have 16:9 instead.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • IW@
                                • 05 Jun 2018

                                16:9 is vastly superior and so much more pleasant and a vastly better aspect ratio compared to the stupid 18:9 or other more elongated, remote control aspect ratios. Practically all photos and videos look larger in a 16:9 screen than in an 18:9 screen of the same diagonal measurement. Besides, nobody likes reading text or viewing news and webpages like they were reading ingredients from the label of a tall and narrow shampoo bottle. However, whether we like it or not, greedy phone manufacturers will have their way. They want to make your 16:9 phone look outdated so that you will upgrade to tgeir newer 16:9 models, that is why they push the change to this horrendous, despicable, moronic 18:9 and narrower aspect ratios. That way, they'll get more sales of their newer 18:9 or longer phone models. When all phones are already in 18:9, they'll come up again with another aspect ratio change to 21:9 to make 18:9 look old and outdated.

                                  • d
                                  • domjan
                                  • Nnr
                                  • 05 Jun 2018

                                  The 18:9 ratio is great BUT without the notch. Infinity display should be in 6 inch max and more pocket friendly 5.45 inch or Sony brilliant pocket friendly XZ2 compact 5 inch infinity display which my girlfriend says is the perfect size for her hands.

                                    • K
                                    • Kangal
                                    • uCX
                                    • 05 Jun 2018

                                    Kangal, 05 Jun 201816:9 is better. Weird, long aspect ratios (and a notch) ... moreTo add to this, just because 16:9 is the industry standard does NOT mean I think it is ideal.

                                    In fact, if I were to "go back in time" I would probably influence Steve Jobs and his iPhone legacy as that would have a ripple effect. And I would have him instead use the aspect ratio of Root Two (aka 1:1.414). The International Standards ISO 216, like A4 paper, which is roughly 13:9.

                                    Here's some advantages:
                                    - allows perfect side-by-side multitasking (just like A4 A5 paper)
                                    - is more tablet friendly (eg Compare the iPad 2 to the Samsung Tab 10.1)
                                    - scales up by doubling/powers of 2 (ie Predictable/Absolute)
                                    - can be pixel-matched to progress of hardware/binary (Moore's Law)

                                    To emphasise that last point, here's how it would look:
                                    E1=1, 2,4,8,16,32,64
                                    E7=128 x 90 resolution
                                    E7+=180 x 128
                                    E8=256 x 180
                                    E8+=362 x 256
                                    E9=512 x 362 (iPhone 1/3G/3GS)
                                    E9+=724 x 512 (iPhone 4/4S/4C)
                                    E10=1024 x 724 (iPhone 5/5S/SE)
                                    E10+=1448 x 1024 (iPhone 6/7/8)
                                    E11=2048 x 1448 (iPhone 6/7/8 Plus)
                                    E11+=2896 x 2048 (iPhone X/Y/Z)
                                    E12=4096 x 2896
                                    E12+=5792 x 4096
                                    E13=8192 x 5792
                                    E13+=11584 x 8192
                                    ... ... ... etc etc

                                      • K
                                      • Kangal
                                      • uCX
                                      • 05 Jun 2018

                                      16:9 is better.

                                      Weird, long aspect ratios (and a notch) don't give you more content. In fact, they take screen away and actually make it SMALLER. The only time they make it larger is when reading a book. Not to mention MOST phones are LCD, so this means that the unused pixels, which take a large 13% of space are WASTING BATTERY LIFE. And one thing that no-one notices, talks about, but FRUSTRATES me is that when you take a photo with this "new trend" you cannot view it natively on your device.
                                      Here let me explain:
                                      - You spend thousands of dollars on an iPhone X. It has a curved screen, with a notch, and a weird 19.5:9 ratio. You take a photo with the cutting-edge camera. However the photo is actually in the industry standard 16:9 ratio. You look at the screen to know what the camera is seeing. And you frame your shot to exclude some things appearing on the top and bottom (and notch). And you look at the photo, and it looks perfect. There's no letterboxing. You go home, transfer the photo to your PC. Bam! You realise there was the unwanted subject protruding in the notch, from the top, from the bottom. Now you cannot go back and reshoot that photo. So your only recourse is to crop the photo. So you now have lost detail you could've had. And during cropping you realise you have to crop much more than you wanted so you can hit the industry standard 16:9 to share to other people (and not just iPhone X's).

                                      Then why did the industry move this way?
                                      Greed. Having screens that are more rectangular means area-wise they are smaller, so the screens are cheaper to manufacture. On top of this, it means the OEMs don't have to make innovations. They simply mask/hide those large top and bottom bezels with a thin screen on top. This tricks people to think the bezels have shrunk, and that the Screen to Body ratio has shot-up from ~70% to ~85%, when in reality it hasn't, when in fact the phone grows longer in physical size. And even more salt to the wound, this comes at the cost of one of the biggest innovations in smartphone history: loss of front-firing stere loudspeakers (which can double as two earpieces).

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • tDP
                                        • 05 Jun 2018

                                        It's all too late, nearly all OEMs produce new phones in 18:9 ratio, from low-end to flagships. No new, internally capable phones in 16:9 save for some such as Xiaomi Mi A1 and some others. The newest bet is Nokia 6.1 and 8 Sirocco.

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