iPhone 5, 16:9 letterbox

[sootie]

The iPhone 5s resolution was supposed to eliminate letterbox bars on video, why does this happen?

 

[Tea-Aholic]

iPhone's display is 16:9. Movies/films are shot in 21:9. If you want no letterboxing...

 

[sootie]

iPhone's display is 16:9. Movies/films are shot in 21:9. If you want no letterboxing...

Image

Just when you think your out they box you back in

 

[Gav2k]

It also depends on the source of the video

 

[Minhimalism]

The iPhone 5s resolution was supposed to eliminate letterbox bars on video, why does this happen?

All of my 1080p/720p videos that I convert or watch on youtube do not Letter box.

 

[jabingla2810]

16:9 is a standard aspect ratio, but it is not the only one.

Some movies go for a super widescreen for a more cinematic feel.

Some old movies and TV are 4:3, so with them you will have vertical black bars.

It's not a problem with the iPhone or any hardware.

 

[Dechter]

As many have posted, the iPhone 5 is 16:9 aspect ratio which is the same as your HDTV. Films released in cinemas are generally 1.85:1 (flat) or 2.35:1 (scope). Some of those films are cropped to 16:9 for home video, but many are still shown in their original aspect ratio, hence the letterbox display you are seeing.