Google says apps should support 18:9 and 18:5:9 ratios

Mar 30, 2017 14:14 GMT  ·  By

A new trend emerged in the smartphone market, with the recent launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and LG’s G6. The G6 comes with 18:9 aspect ratio, while Samsung’s newest flagships feature 18:5:9 aspect ratio, showing more content on their Infinity Displays.

Samsung’s premium phones offer increased screen size, smaller bezels and a relatively compact overall size for a phone, to make it easy for users to navigate and swipe on the screen using only one hand.

However, taller and wider screens could pose some issues for Android developers, considering that some applications are created for the more common 16:9 aspect ratio. Such an app running on a display with 18:9 or even 18:5:9 aspect ratios would have unpleasant bars at the top and the bottom of the screen.

Android apps should support aspect ratios of 2.1 or higher

This is why Google has started encouraging Android developers to optimize their applications to the new aspect ratio. Google released a post on the company’s blog urging developers to “take full advantage of the larger display formats.” After the update, the applications would fully cover the wider and longer display, thus eliminating unsightly bar at the top. "We recommend that you design your app to support aspect ratios of 2.1 or higher," reads the post on Android Developer’s blog.

LG G6 launched the trend of smartphones with wider displays, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ followed with 18:5:9 aspect ratio in their Infinity Displays, while more premium smartphones will surely follow the trend this year and the next. Such displays do allow more content to be shown and create more engaging experiences for users.

Infinity Display on Galaxy S8
Infinity Display on Galaxy S8

Samsung’s Infinity Display covers 80% of the front panel and is 18% larger than the screen on the previous Galaxy S7 flagship. More content is displayed on the screen that smoothly curves at the edges, while smaller top and bottom bezels mark a major design change in the Galaxy S line.

Google urges developers to update apps (2 Images)

Left: app with aspect ratio set at 16:9, right 18:5:9
Infinity Display on Galaxy S8
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