Will you take advantage of the new 21:9 aspect ratio on the Apple TV?

Apple has recently released the beta version of tvOS 18.2, the operating system that manages the Apple TV 4K streaming devices. This update, which was anticipated after WWDC 2024, introduces support for wider aspect ratios, specifically 21:9, along with other options that go beyond the standard 16:9, which has dominated the design of current televisions.

The inclusion of these new aspect ratios is significant because many users have faced letterboxing or pillarboxing issues. These situations occur when a video does not properly fit the screen format, leaving black bars on the sides or at the top and bottom of the viewed content. Most contemporary productions, especially from streaming platforms like Netflix, Max, Paramount+, and Apple TV+, are produced in a 16:9 format, so they do not require an additional format to adjust to such screens. In the case of the Apple TV 4K, the interface is also designed in 16:9, offering a cohesive visual experience.

However, there are users who employ ultra-wide projectors or screens that do not conform to the 16:9 aspect ratio. For them, watching content on the Apple TV 4K was a frustration, as they had to deal with these annoying black bars. With the launch of tvOS 18.2 in December, the software will be able to automatically identify the aspect ratio of the connected screen and reconfigure itself accordingly. If this detection fails, a new settings menu will be offered that allows users to manually choose the appropriate aspect ratio. The available options will include 16:9, 21:9, 2.37:1, 2.39:1, 2.40:1, DCI 4K, and 32:9.

This update will be particularly beneficial for those using 21:9 projectors or anamorphic lenses that need a ratio like 2.39:1, allowing the Apple TV 4K to display fully proportioned and undistorted images. Despite these advancements, the director of user experience at Cloud 9 AV, a company dedicated to home theater installation in Toronto, commented that the impact could be limited, as most home theater installations in recent years have adopted 16:9 screens. While pillarboxing situations will likely continue to occur when viewing 16:9 content on ultra-wide screens, content prepared in 21:9 formats will be able to be displayed in full screen, without visual restrictions.

As this new functionality is rolled out, it is expected that app developers and streaming services will update their platforms to ensure that their content fits the new aspect ratio options, which will eventually lead to a smoother integration into the user viewing experience.