
However, the standard aspect ratio for wide displays was 16:9, which is not possible with 768 pixels, so the nearest value was chosen, 1366×768. Just extending the width and keeping the same height was also simpler technically because you would only have to tweak the horizontal refresh rate timing to achieve it. For simplicity and backward compatibility, the XGA resolution was kept as a basis when making the WXGA resolution (so that XGA graphics could be easily displayed on WXGA screens). Maybe that helped reduce costs.Īt the time the first computer wide-screens became popular, the usual resolution on 4:3 panels was 1024×768 (the XGA display standard). It is the closest to 16:9 that they could get by keeping the 768 vertical resolution from 1024×768, which had been widely used for the manufacturing of early 4:3 LCD displays.

However, at only 0.05%, the resulting error is insignificant.Ĭitations are not provided, but it is a reasonable explanation. As 768 does not divide exactly into the “9” size, the aspect ratio is not quite 16:9 – this would require a horizontal width of 1365.33 pixels.

Yet, 1366×768 is 683:384, a seemingly wild break from the standard.

Why in the world is the screen resolution 1366×768 a real thing? It has an aspect ratio of 683:384, which is the weirdest thing I have ever heard of while living in a 16:9 world.Īll the screens and resolutions I am familiar with have been the 16:9 aspect ratio. I know that there is a previous question about this, but it does not have any real answers despite having been viewed 12,400 times (in addition to the fact that it has been closed). SuperUser reader meed96 wants to know why the 1366×768 screen resolution exists:
