Screen & Aspect Ratio Visualizer
Why does GBA look blurry on some screens? Why does PS2 have thick black borders on 16:9 displays? Select any classic console and any modern handheld below to inspect the exact live rendered letterboxing, active diagonal size, and integer scaling multiplier.
*Black areas indicate non-illuminated OLED pixels or letterbox bars on the physical handheld screen.
Why 4:3 Screens Rule PS1, PS2 & GC
PlayStation 1, PS2, GameCube, N64, and Dreamcast were designed for 4:3 CRT televisions. On a 4:3 handheld (like the Retroid Pocket Mini or RG406V), 100% of the display is used without black bars.
The GBA 3:2 Scaling Trap
Game Boy Advance has a unique 3:2 ratio (240x160). When stretched to 4:3 or 16:9 without integer scaling, text shimmering and uneven pixel scaling occur. 3:2 looks best on 16:9 widescreen or 3:2 dedicated screens.
The 1:1 Square Phenomenon
Consoles like the Anbernic RG Cube (720x720) allow stacking Nintendo DS and 3DS dual screens vertically with almost zero wasted space, plus native 8:7 SNES pixel-art scaling.