16:10 aspect ratio: Difference between revisions

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16:10, also known as 8:5, is an aspect ratio mostly used for computer displays and tablet computers. The width of the display is 1.6 times its height. This ratio is close to the golden ratio " $\varphi$ " which is approximately 1.618.

LCD computer displays using the 16:10 ratio started to appear in the mass market from 2003. By 2008 16:10 had become the most common aspect ratio for LCD monitors and laptop displays. Since 2010, however, 16:9 has become the mainstream standard, driven by the 1080p standard for high definition television.^[1]

History

Computer displays

Industry moves towards 16:10 from 2003 to 2008

Until about 2003, most computer monitors had a 4:3 aspect ratio and some had 5:4. Between 2003 and 2006, monitors with 16:10 (8:5) aspect ratios became commonly available, first in laptops and later also in standalone monitors. Reasons for this transition were productive uses for such monitors, i.e. besides widescreen movie viewing and computer game play, are the word processor display of two standard letter pages side by side, as well as CAD displays of large-size drawings and CAD application menus at the same time.^[2]^[3]

In 2005–2008, 16:10 overtook 4:3 as the most sold aspect ratio for LCD monitors. At the time, 16:10 also had 90% of the notebook market and was the most commonly used aspect ratio for laptops.^[1] However, 16:10 had a short reign as the most common aspect ratio.

Industry moves away from 16:10 in 2008 to 16:9

Around 2008–2010, there was a rapid shift by computer display manufacturers to the 16:9 aspect ratio and by 2011 16:10 had almost disappeared from new mass market products. According to Net Applications, by October 2012 the market share of 16:10 displays had dropped to less than 23 percent.^[4]

The primary reason for this move was considered to be production efficiency^[5] - since display panels for TVs use the 16:9 aspect ratio, it became more efficient for display manufacturers to produce computer display panels in the same aspect ratio as well. A 2008 report by DisplaySearch also cited five reasons which apart from the cost efficiency, included the ability for PC and monitor manufacturers to expand their product ranges by offering products with wider screens and higher resolutions, helping consumers to adopt such products more easily and "stimulating the growth of the notebook PC and LCD monitor market".^[1]

There has been criticism towards the lack of vertical screen real estate in 16:9 displays when compared to 16:10 displays of the same screen diagonal.^[6] For this reason, some considered 16:9 displays less suitable for productivity-oriented tasks, such as editing documents or spreadsheets and using design or engineering applications.

Tablets

Tablets started to enjoy mainstream popularity during the late 2000s. Modern releases can be found in various aspect ratios, of which 16:10 is, as of 2013, one of the most popular.

Common screen resolutions

This is a list of common screen resolutions with the 16:10 aspect ratio.

Name	Dimensions	Diagonal screen size
WXGA	1280×800	13–15 in (33–38 cm)
WXGA+	1440×900	13–19 in (33–48 cm)
WSXGA+	1680×1050	15–22 in (38–56 cm)
WUXGA	1920×1200	17–28 in (43–71 cm)
WQXGA	2560×1600	30 in (76 cm)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Product Planners and Marketers Must Act Before 16:9 Panels Replace Mainstream 16:10 Notebook PC and Monitor LCD Panels, New DisplaySearch Topical Report Advises". DisplaySearch. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
^ NEMATech Computer Display Standards http://www.millertech.com/Technical_Specs.htm
^ "Introduction--Monitor Technology Guide". necdisplay.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-15. (currently offline)
^ "Screen Resolutions". Net Applications. October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-26.
^ Miller, Michael J. (2008-03-21). "Where Displays Are Heading". PC Magazine. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
^ "Gateway's 16:10 displays show common sense". The Inquirer. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2012-07-09.

[displaysearch-1] "Product Planners and Marketers Must Act Before 16:9 Panels Replace Mainstream 16:10 Notebook PC and Monitor LCD Panels, New DisplaySearch Topical Report Advises". DisplaySearch. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2011-09-08.

[2] NEMATech Computer Display Standards http://www.millertech.com/Technical_Specs.htm

[3] "Introduction--Monitor Technology Guide". necdisplay.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-15. (currently offline)

[4] "Screen Resolutions". Net Applications. October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-26.

[5] Miller, Michael J. (2008-03-21). "Where Displays Are Heading". PC Magazine. Retrieved 2012-07-09.

[6] "Gateway's 16:10 displays show common sense". The Inquirer. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2012-07-09.

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 Around 2008–2010, there was a rapid shift by computer display manufacturers to the 16:9 aspect ratio and by 2011 16:10 had almost disappeared from new mass market products. According to [[Net Applications]], by October 2012 the market share of 16:10 displays had dropped to less than 23 percent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=17 |title=Screen Resolutions |publisher=Net Applications |date=October 2012 |accessdate=2012-11-26 }}</ref>
-The primary reason for this move was considered to be production efficiency<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forwardthinking.pcmag.com/displays/283041-where-displays-are-heading |title=Where Displays Are Heading |publisher=PC Magazine |last=Miller |first=Michael J. |date=2008-03-21 |accessdate=2012-07-09 }}</ref> - since display panels for TVs use the [[16:9]] aspect ratio, it became more efficient for display manufacturers to produce computer display panels in the same aspect ratio as well. A 2008 report by DisplaySearch also cited a number of other reasons, including the ability for PC and monitor manufacturers to expand their product ranges by offering products with wider screens and higher resolutions, helping consumers to adopt such products more easily and "stimulating the growth of the notebook PC and LCD monitor market".<ref name="displaysearch"/>
+The primary reason for this move was considered to be production efficiency<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forwardthinking.pcmag.com/displays/283041-where-displays-are-heading |title=Where Displays Are Heading |publisher=PC Magazine |last=Miller |first=Michael J. |date=2008-03-21 |accessdate=2012-07-09 }}</ref> - since display panels for TVs use the [[16:9]] aspect ratio, it became more efficient for display manufacturers to produce computer display panels in the same aspect ratio as well. A 2008 report by DisplaySearch also cited five reasons which apart from the cost efficiency, included the ability for PC and monitor manufacturers to expand their product ranges by offering products with wider screens and higher resolutions, helping consumers to adopt such products more easily and "stimulating the growth of the notebook PC and LCD monitor market".<ref name="displaysearch"/>
 There has been criticism towards the lack of vertical screen real estate in 16:9 displays when compared to 16:10 displays of the same screen diagonal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1723060/gateways-displays-common-sense |title=Gateway's 16:10 displays show common sense |publisher=The Inquirer |date=2010-07-16 |accessdate=2012-07-09 }}</ref> For this reason, some considered 16:9 displays less suitable for productivity-oriented tasks, such as editing documents or spreadsheets and using design or engineering applications.