Is 1680x1050 a good resolution?

Is 1680x1050 Still a Good Resolution in 2024?

Once a staple of mid-range monitors, 1680x1050 resolution—commonly known as WSXGA+—occupied a sweet spot between standard 16:9 and more pixel-dense displays. While newer standards like 1080p and 1440p dominate today’s market, 1680x1050 still holds up in certain contexts.

If your monitor is designed for this resolution, sticking with it makes sense. Running a display at its native resolution ensures the sharpest image and avoids scaling issues. And there’s another advantage: performance. With fewer pixels to push than 1080p or higher, your GPU has an easier job, which can translate to smoother frame rates in games or better responsiveness in graphic-intensive applications—especially on older or budget hardware.

That said, 1680x1050 isn’t as widely supported as it once was. Many modern websites, apps, and games are optimized for 1920x1080 or common ultrawide formats, which can lead to slight letterboxing or UI scaling quirks. Additionally, pixel density on smaller screens (like 20–22 inches) may not feel as crisp by today’s standards.

For general use—web browsing, office work, or media consumption—1680x1050 remains perfectly functional. It's especially practical if you're extending the life of an older system or prefer a balance between clarity and performance. But if you're investing in a new setup, you’ll likely benefit more from higher-resolution panels offering sharper text and better multitasking real estate.

In short: not cutting-edge, but far from obsolete. If your screen natively supports 1680x1050 and meets your needs, there’s no urgent reason to upgrade.