Smartphone screens are getting taller and taller as the years go by. 16:9 was a standard, then we jumped to 18:9, and now most phones have 19:9 displays. That seems to be changing, though, and Samsung is aiming to get on board. Well, it already did, but not with its flagships. According to a new report, the Galaxy S11 will sport 20:9 display aspect ratio.
This information is based on a leaked HTML 5 browser test, so you should take it with a grain of salt. It’s still more reliable than a random rumor from an unknown source, though. That change also makes sense, as it seems like more and more OEMs are pushing towards 20:9 display. Whether that’s a good thing, that’s a completely different conversation.
In any case, the device tested in the HTML 5 benchmark uses the SM-G416U model name. That is essentially the company’s placeholder when it is testing the Galaxy S series smartphones. That is also why we think this is the upcoming Galaxy S11.
HTML 5 test suggests the Galaxy S11 will feature a 20:9 display & Android 10
This leaked test, courtesy of GalaxyClub.nl, reveals that the phone (alleged Galaxy S11) runs Android 10, and packs a 20:9 display. 20:9 display aspect ratio isn’t mentioned, per se, but the 854 x 384 resolution is, and that comes down to 20:9.
That resolution should not worry you, though. It’s probably just a test display. The resolution tends to be a bit off, even though aspect ratios are usually spot on for testing purposes.
If this information ends up being true, the Galaxy S11 will become the first flagship from the company to sport a 20:9 display.
Just to be clear, this will not be the first phone from Samsung to include such a display. Both the Galaxy A70 and A80 feature 20:9 displays, so this change is kind of expected for the company’s flagship lineup as well.
The Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series device include 19:9 displays. As we already mentioned, that’s still a standard. OEMs are still trying to cram in larger displays into smartphones, while keeping them as narrow as possible. That is actually why the move from 16:9 began.
20:9 displays take some getting used to, as you usually end up with really tall phones, that are quite narrow at the same time.
The Galaxy S11 may include a 20:9 display, and may look odd at first, but not as odd as the Xperia 1 or 5. Sony’s flagships feature 21:9 display aspect ratios, which makes them extremely tall.
A move to a 20:9 display aspect ratio may not be the best idea
A change to 20:9 or 21:9 aspect ratio may not be the best idea, though. Most media content is still in 16:9 format. Consuming that content on smartphones with 19:9 displays requires you to crop it, or deal with thick black bars. That is even more pronounced on 20:9 and 21:9 displays. Taller phones are also not really convenient to carry around in the pocket, so that’s another negative. It’s all a matter of personal preference, though.
The Galaxy S11 is expected to arrive in the first quarter next year. The phone will probably arrive in either February or March, though February is a more likely timeframe. The device is expected to arrive prior to MWC 2020.