What is 21:9 aspect ratio?

Question

Accepted Answer

21:9 (twenty-one-by-nine) is an ultrawide aspect ratio used in premium computer monitors, some smartphones, and cinematic content. It's significantly wider than standard 16:9 displays.

**Basic Definition:**

- **Ratio**: 21:9
- **Decimal**: 2.33:1 (21 ÷ 9 = 2.333...)
- **Shape**: Very wide, cinematic rectangle
- **Also Called**: Ultrawide, CinemaWide, 2.39:1 (similar)

**What 21:9 Looks Like:**

21:9 is **dramatically wider** than standard screens,almost as wide as cinema movies. Picture a 16:9 screen stretched horizontally by about 30%.

Example dimensions that are all 21:9:
- 2560 x 1080 (Ultrawide Full HD)
- 3440 x 1440 (Ultrawide QHD)
- 5120 x 2160 (Ultrawide 5K)

**Common 21:9 Resolutions:**

**Ultrawide Monitors:**
- **2560 x 1080** (UW-FHD, 1080p ultrawide)
- **3440 x 1440** (UW-QHD, 1440p ultrawide) - Most popular
- **3840 x 1600** (UW-QHD+)
- **5120 x 2160** (UW-5K, 5K ultrawide)

**Where 21:9 Is Used:**

**Computer Monitors:**
- Premium ultrawide displays
- 34" and 49" monitors
- Gaming monitors
- Professional workstations
- Content creation

**Cinema:**
- Digital Cinema Package (DCI) 2.39:1 (very close to 21:9)
- Anamorphic widescreen films
- Modern blockbusters
- IMAX sequences (some)

**Smartphones:**
- Sony Xperia series (21:9)
- Unique tall form factor
- Better one-handed use
- Cinematic video recording

**Why 21:9 Exists:**

**1. Cinematic Experience**
- Matches movie theater aspect ratios
- Minimal or no letterboxing on films
- Immersive viewing

**2. Productivity**
- Side-by-side applications
- More horizontal workspace
- Multiple windows simultaneously
- Better for spreadsheets and timelines

**3. Gaming Immersion**
- Wider field of view
- More peripheral vision
- Competitive advantage (some games)
- More immersive experience

**4. Content Creation**
- Video editing timelines
- More timeline visible
- Better for multi-track audio
- Professional workflows

**Advantages of 21:9:**

✅ **Cinematic Movies**: Perfect for 2.39:1 films (minimal letterboxing)
✅ **Gaming FOV**: Wider field of view in supported games
✅ **Multitasking**: Fit more windows side-by-side
✅ **Productivity**: Excel spreadsheets, timelines, code
✅ **Immersive**: More engaging viewing experience
✅ **No Bezel**: Replaces dual-monitor setup without center bezel
✅ **Video Editing**: See more of your timeline

**Disadvantages of 21:9:**

❌ **Limited Content**: Most video content is 16:9 (pillarboxing)
❌ **Game Support**: Not all games support 21:9 properly
❌ **Price**: Significantly more expensive than 16:9
❌ **Desk Space**: Requires wider desk
❌ **Streaming**: YouTube/Netflix mostly 16:9 (black bars)
❌ **Compatibility**: Some apps don't optimize for 21:9
❌ **Vertical Space**: Less vertical pixels than similar-priced 16:9 4K

**21:9 vs. Other Aspect Ratios:**

**21:9 vs. 16:9 (Standard Widescreen):**
- 21:9 is 31% wider relative to height
- 16:9 better content compatibility
- 21:9 better for productivity and movies
- 16:9 more common, cheaper

**21:9 vs. 32:9 (Super Ultrawide):**
- 32:9 is even wider (essentially two 16:9 side-by-side)
- 32:9 extreme, niche product
- 21:9 more practical balance
- 32:9 requires very large desk

**21:9 vs. 16:10 (Productivity):**
- 16:10 has more vertical space
- 21:9 has more horizontal space
- Different use cases
- 16:10 better for documents, 21:9 better for multitasking

**Gaming on 21:9:**

**Supported Games:**
- Most modern PC games support 21:9
- Competitive advantage (wider FOV)
- More immersive experience
- Racing games, simulators excellent

**Issues:**
- Some games have poor 21:9 implementation
- UI elements may not scale properly
- Competitive games may restrict FOV
- Cutscenes sometimes have black bars
- Console games generally don't support 21:9

**Popular Games with Great 21:9 Support:**
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Assassin's Creed series
- The Witcher 3
- Racing simulators

**Productivity on 21:9:**

**Excellent For:**
- Video editing (Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve)
- Audio production (see entire DAW timeline)
- Software development (code + preview side-by-side)
- Trading/finance (multiple charts)
- Data analysis (Excel with many columns visible)

**Less Ideal For:**
- Document editing (wasted horizontal space)
- Web browsing (most sites don't use full width)
- Reading (too wide to read comfortably)

**Popular 21:9 Monitors:**

**Gaming:**
- LG 34GN850-B (3440x1440, 144Hz)
- Samsung Odyssey G9 (49", actually 32:9)
- Dell Alienware AW3423DW (3440x1440, OLED)

**Productivity:**
- LG 34WK95U (5120x2160, 5K ultrawide)
- Dell UltraSharp U3415W (3440x1440)
- BenQ PD3420Q (3440x1440)

**Budget:**
- LG 29WK600 (2560x1080)
- AOC CU34G2X (3440x1440)

**Content Creation in 21:9:**

**Video Editing:**
- Native 21:9 footage is rare
- Mostly editing 16:9 content on 21:9 monitor
- Benefit: More timeline visible
- Can export to 21:9 for cinematic look

**Filming in 21:9:**
- Some phones support 21:9 video (Sony Xperia)
- Desktop cameras rarely shoot 21:9 natively
- Usually crop 16:9 to 21:9 in post
- Creates cinematic effect

**Streaming:**
- Stream in 16:9 (standard for platforms)
- Use 21:9 monitor for workspace
- OBS/Streamlabs: 16:9 canvas on 21:9 display

**Who Should Buy 21:9:**

✅ **Movie Enthusiasts**: Love cinematic content
✅ **Gamers**: Play supported games, want immersion
✅ **Video Editors**: Need to see entire timeline
✅ **Traders/Data Analysts**: Multiple charts/data streams
✅ **Software Developers**: Code + preview simultaneously
✅ **Multitaskers**: Constantly have multiple windows open

**Who Should Avoid 21:9:**

❌ **Budget Conscious**: 21:9 is expensive
❌ **Console Gamers**: Consoles don't support 21:9
❌ **Document/Reading Heavy**: Too wide for comfortable reading
❌ **Small Desk**: Requires significant horizontal space
❌ **Streamers**: Content must be 16:9 anyway
❌ **Content Primarily 16:9**: Will have black bars often

**21:9 Phones (Sony Xperia):**

Sony's Xperia phones use 21:9:
- Very tall, narrow design
- Better one-handed use
- Unique form factor
- Great for multitasking apps
- Record cinematic video natively
- Niche product

**The Future of 21:9:**

21:9 will remain a **premium niche** product:
- Growing gaming/productivity market
- Won't replace 16:9 as mainstream standard
- Continued support in games/software
- Price decreasing slowly
- 32:9 emerging for extreme enthusiasts

Use our aspect ratio calculator to find perfect 21:9 dimensions, or check out our 21:9 calculator for more details.

Basic Definition:

What 21:9 Looks Like:

Common 21:9 Resolutions:

Ultrawide Monitors:

Where 21:9 Is Used:

Computer Monitors:

Cinema:

Smartphones:

Why 21:9 Exists:

1. Cinematic Experience

2. Productivity

3. Gaming Immersion

4. Content Creation

Advantages of 21:9:

Disadvantages of 21:9:

21:9 vs. Other Aspect Ratios:

21:9 vs. 16:9 (Standard Widescreen):

21:9 vs. 32:9 (Super Ultrawide):

21:9 vs. 16:10 (Productivity):

Gaming on 21:9:

Supported Games:

Issues:

Popular Games with Great 21:9 Support:

Productivity on 21:9:

Excellent For:

Less Ideal For:

Popular 21:9 Monitors:

Gaming:

Productivity:

Budget:

Content Creation in 21:9:

Video Editing:

Filming in 21:9:

Streaming:

Who Should Buy 21:9:

Who Should Avoid 21:9:

21:9 Phones (Sony Xperia):

The Future of 21:9:

Related Resources

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