Widescreen and Fullscreen
Widescreen is a display that has a ratio of 16:9. It looks like a 4:3 screen but is actually wider. The standard 16:9 widescreen screen uses the same aspect ratio as an HDTV, which is considered the ideal for viewing films and videos.
The term “widescreen” is generally used to describe TV and movie screens, though it can also be used for computer monitors. If you’re referring to a movie, it’s generally used to describe films that are presented in a widescreen format.
When watching a movie in full screen, almost half of the visuals (mainly the visuals on the farther left and right sides of the original footage) are lost.
The full screen is simply a screen that looks like an old-fashioned 4:3 screen, but has been stretched out to look like the 16:9 standard. The size of the image is the same as a 4:3 screen, but it looks like a 16:9 screen. The term “full screen” is generally used to describe the feature of stretching the screen visuals on computer monitors and mobile devices.
Though full screen has been the standard format for decades, widescreen is fast becoming a more popular choice not only because of the availability of more HD TVs as compared with full screen TVs these days, but also because widescreen TVs keep movies’ original composition.
Windscreen vs Fullscreen: Key Differences
Aspect | Widescreen | Fullscreen (4:3) |
---|---|---|
Aspect Ratio | Typically 16:9 (e.g., 1920×1080) | Typically 4:3 (e.g., 1024×768) |
Width | Wider screen, more horizontal space | Narrower screen, less horizontal space |
Height | Shorter height compared to width | Taller height compared to width |
Field of View | Broader field of view | Narrower field of view |
Movie Format | Common for modern movies | Older standard for movies, early TV shows |
TV Standard | Standard for HDTVs and modern displays | Standard for older CRT and early HDTVs |
Gaming | Preferred for modern gaming | Used in older video games, retro gaming |
Content Compatibility | May require letterboxing for older content | Compatible with older content, may pillarbox modern content |
Aesthetic | Often considered more modern | May feel outdated, nostalgic |
Key Takeaways
- The term “widescreen” is generally used to describe TV and movie screens, though it can also be used for computer monitors. If you’re referring to a movie, it’s generally used to describe films that are presented in a widescreen format.
- Fullscreen is simply a screen that looks like an old-fashioned 4:3 screen, but has been stretched out to look like the 16:9 standard.
- A widescreen DVD has a 16:9 aspect ratio while a full-screen DVD has a 4:3 aspect ratio. Technically speaking, the aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of the image in relation to its height.
- While using full screen mode there is a option open to choose if you want to view the content at a higher resolution or to reduce its size.
- Widescreen is better for viewing movies than full screen.
- There are two types of widescreen display: the portable and the desktop.
- Desktop widescreen displays are generally bigger than a laptop or tablet, but they’re also much more difficult to carry around.
- Portable widescreen displays are much smaller than a standard TV, but they’re also much more portable.
- When watching a movie in full screen, almost half of the visuals (mainly the visuals on the farther left and right sides of the original footage) are lost.