On YouTube, a title claiming "21:9" proves nothing. Here are the channels that genuinely publish in that format, with the measurement to back it up.
15 channels verified, 5 of them publishing in 32:9. Every measurement was taken by reading the dimensions YouTube actually encodes, and the video ID is listed so anyone can repeat the check. See also our guide to black bars on YouTube.
Gameplay at 5120×1440 on CRG9 and Odyssey G9 displays, including games that need a fix to fill that format. Useful for seeing what a game actually looks like once the 32:9 patch is applied.
Measured on video mkUNIWikiqQ:
stream encoded at 3840×1080, a ratio of 3.556.
Sunsets and HDR landscapes at very high resolution, posted in both 21:9 (7680×3240) and 32:9 (7680×2160). One of the few backgrounds genuinely suited to a 32:9 panel without any cropping at all.
Measured on video 0lJm8ENELrI:
stream encoded at 7680×2160, a ratio of 3.556.
A 32:9 channel mixing gameplay and demo footage. The name says it all, and the measurements back it up: a ratio of 3.556, exactly two 16:9 displays side by side.
Measured on video h7vvUm1b7cg:
stream encoded at 3840×1080, a ratio of 3.556.
One of the few channels in true 32:9, shot on a Samsung Odyssey G9. Worth noting: the source is 5120×1440, but YouTube re-encodes it to 3840×1080. The 3.556 ratio is preserved exactly; the resolution is not.
Measured on video agIZzIVy7CU:
stream encoded at 3840×1080, a ratio of 3.556.
The most extreme case we've come across: 32:9 encoded at 7680 pixels wide, in Dolby Vision HDR. This is the content to pull up when someone wants to see what a very wide, very bright display can do at the limit of its capabilities.
Measured on video Q6aJTn9n5tQ:
stream encoded at 7680×2160, a ratio of 3.556.
Screensavers built for OLED panels, running as very long loops with slow-moving images that limit the risk of burn-in. Posted in native 21:9 at 4K resolution.
⚠ The channel posts every screensaver in two versions; only the titles prefixed with "21:9" are in ultrawide format.
Measured on video UniYcVep5Co:
stream encoded at 3840×1606, a ratio of 2.391.
Game-by-game performance testing, with an on-screen frame rate counter. Because the capture is native 21:9, the numbers are directly comparable to what your own display will deliver, which is rare.
⚠ Only videos with "21:9" in the title are in ultrawide format; the rest of the channel is 16:9.
Measured on video MAIEDrGwv6g:
stream encoded at 3440×1440, a ratio of 2.389.
A channel dedicated to World of Warcraft, posted in native 21:9 on a regular basis. Worth a look to see how an MMO actually handles stretching its interface across an ultrawide display.
Measured on video HGqYfS6tTFo:
stream encoded at 3440×1440, a ratio of 2.389.
Animated wallpapers posted directly at 3440×1440, the exact resolution of most 21:9 displays. No cropping needed: the video matches the panel pixel for pixel.
Measured on video T_-2PWUdW9E:
stream encoded at 3440×1440, a ratio of 2.389.
Nature ambiences in very long static shots — campfire, waterfall, rain. The ultrawide format really pays off here, since the image fills the entire screen for hours at a time.
⚠ Part of the catalog is 16:9; look for the "21:9 Ultrawide" mention in the title.
Measured on video oTYfcuQV4mY:
stream encoded at 3440×1440, a ratio of 2.389.
A mix of cinematic gameplay and edited sequences, posted in native 21:9. The games covered are often the ones that make the best use of the format, which overlaps heavily with our picks for the best 21:9 games.
Measured on video rNFW5XJVPK4:
stream encoded at 3440×1440, a ratio of 2.389.
21:9 gameplay posted at native resolution, with no cropping. The title format stays the same from one video to the next, which makes the channel easy to browse when you're hunting for a specific game in its true aspect ratio.
Measured on video oozbblzjymA:
stream encoded at 3440×1440, a ratio of 2.389.
A channel devoted entirely to 21:9 gameplay, with titles consistently tagged "3440x1440". The footage leans on cutscenes and wide shots rather than pure gameplay, which makes it a good showcase for putting a new display through its paces.
Measured on video Wt7DeGNx3rs:
stream encoded at 3440×1440, a ratio of 2.389.
21:9 at 4K resolution: 3840 pixels wide by 1608 tall, for a ratio of 2.388, nearly identical to that of a 3440×1440 display. It's the highest resolution we've found for 21:9 content on YouTube, which helps if your monitor goes beyond 1440p.
Measured on video En9peg7fbxQ:
stream encoded at 3840×1608, a ratio of 2.388.
Trailers and demo clips re-uploaded in a wide container, with no baked-in bars. The 2.33 ratio is slightly narrower than that of a 21:9 display, so very thin bars remain on the sides.
Measured on video Ttl8Gg-P-Ao:
stream encoded at 3840×1644, a ratio of 2.336.
For every channel we read the width and height of the video stream YouTube actually serves, rather than the value announced in the title or description. A video whose stream measures 3440×1440 is native 21:9; a video that measures 1920×1080 is 16:9, whatever its title says — and if the picture looks wide, it is because the bars were baked in before upload.
That check ruled out several channels that advertised 3440×1440 or 5120×1440 in their titles while delivering letterboxed 16:9. It also showed that the "shot in 2.39:1" short-film angle is almost entirely a false lead: two measured examples among others, a video titled "Mood Film (2.35:1)" and another "2.39:1 Aspect Cinematic Test", both come out at 1920×1080, that is strict 16:9, bars included in the image.
One limitation worth knowing: YouTube caps very wide formats. A 5120×1440 source comes back out at 3840×1080. The aspect ratio is preserved to the pixel, the resolution is not — so the picture still fills the screen, just a little less finely than the source.