Aspect Ratios

A display's aspect ratio refers to the ratio between its width and height. For example, a 4:3 display produces an image that is more square, where a 16:9 ratio produces an image that is more panoramic in shape.

There most common projector aspect ratios are 4:3 (XGA & SXGA), 16:10 (WXGA & WUXGA) and 16:9 (standard HDTV, 1080p).

Which is best for you? It depends what you plan to project. As always, your best bet is to match your display's aspect ratio with that of your source.

Common Aspect Ratio Resolutions

common aspect ratio resolutions

Business projector aspect ratios

Most people who use their projectors for presentations will find a 4:3 aspect ratio does the trick. However, the computer display industry has been moving away from the 4:3 format in recent years. If your laptop has a widescreen display, a projector with 16:9 or 16:10 resolution capabilities would be a better choice.

As noted in the video above though, most 16:10 / 16:9 projectors are capable of displaying 4:3 apect ratios without any issues. If you have a question about this, just give us a call at 1-888-248-0675 or start an online chat with one of our experienced reps. We know this can be a bit confusing and we'd love the opportunity to answer any questions you might have..

Home theater aspect ratios

16:9 is the standard aspect ratio of Blu-ray discs and HDTV signals. It is the only widescreen aspect ratio natively supported by the DVD. Most home theater projectors employ this aspect ratio.

Can I watch 4:3 content on a 16:9 display?

Native Projector Aspect Ratios

Sure! However, you will see black bars on the top and bottom or along the sides of your image when viewing material that does not match the native resolution of your projector.

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