Is 4:3 making a comeback? The retro monitor ratio and why some developers still prefer it
4:3 is the classic CRT monitor and early LCD aspect ratio. It's nearly square (1.33:1), which makes it terrible for widescreen video but excellent for reading documents, writing code, and viewing portrait-orientation content. It's the aspect ratio of the iPad and a small but passionate niche of portable monitors and e-ink displays.
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The 4:3 format refuses to die because a square-ish screen is genuinely useful for specific workflows. A 4:3 monitor in portrait mode (3:4) is essentially a full-page document viewer that shows an entire A4/Letter page at once without scrolling. Developers who work with long log files or vertical terminal output sometimes prefer a 4:3 secondary monitor. The modern revival is driven by portable USB-C monitors in the 10-15 inch range that mimic the iPad's shape.
Verdict
4:3 is a niche productivity format, not a general recommendation. It's worth considering as a secondary monitor in portrait mode for reading documentation, monitoring logs, or displaying dashboards. For a primary monitor, 16:9 or 16:10 is more practical for the content most people consume.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still buy 4:3 monitors?
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