While not nearly as important as performance or camera, screen aspect ratio is one of the things that potential buyers should consider while looking for a smartphone. Let's have a look at some advantages and disadvantages of the latest trend - 18:9 aspect ratio.
Advantages of 18:9
More convenient scrolling. If you are reading any website or ebook, you can see more content at once and scroll less often.
Better virtual reality experience
Most VR headsets were designed with 18:9 aspect ratio in mind. Since the screen is wider, there is more screen real estate available per eye.
Better multitasking
Ever since Android 7.0 came out, smartphone users can take advantage of split-screen functionality with two apps opened side by side at the same time. The wider the screen, the more usable this split-screen mode becomes.
Ability to use 6-inch devices with small hands.
18:9 screen ratio means that even those with smaller hands can comfortably hold with one hand smartphones with relatively big screens.
Getting the latest and the greatest specifications
Even if you are not convinced by other advantages of 18:9 aspect ratio, the truth is that if you want to get any Android smartphone with good specifications released in 2018, you will have to live with 18:9 screen.
Disadvantages: of 18:9
Lack of content optimization
Most apps were not meant to be displayed on screens with 18:9 aspect ratio. Especially in case of older, non-maintained apps, that can lead to their unexpected behaviors such as shifting text, image artifacts or even unexpected shutdowns.
Video letterboxing
Letterboxing simply means that there are black bars on the sides of the video in full screen model You can mitigate it by zooming in, but then top and bottom of the video will be cropped.
Uncomfortable typing with 2 hands
If you switch from 6-inch device that had 16:9 aspect ratio, to 6-inch device that has 18:9 aspect ratio, your screen will be narrower. That will mean that the keyboard is also narrower. And while it may improve typing experience with one hand, it could also make typing with 2 hands much more uncomfortable.
The power of habit
If you are used to 16:9 aspect ratio, switching to 18:9 may take you some time. The older you are, the more painful it will be.
You can check out recommended smartphones here: https://steemit.com/technology/@hwtrendsetter/recommended-smartphones-september-2018