RPi 5 bootloader unusable due to (lack of consideration for) overscan

[ali1234]

Describe the bug
The RPi5 bootload menu and QR code thing are unreadable because they are outside the television caption safe area. See screenshot.

1. Have a RPi 5.
2. Plug it into a TV and turn it on.

Expected behaviour
Anything important on the screen should be displayed inside the caption safe area, so that it is visible on any TV.

Actual behaviour
All the important information is outside the caption safe area, so it is not visible.

System
Copy and paste the results of the raspinfo command in to this section. Alternatively, copy and paste a pastebin link, or add answers to the following questions:

• RPi 5 4GB
• OS: None
• Firmware: Whatever version I got by running apt update about five minutes ago.
• Kernel: None

[ali1234]

Yes, this is on a HDMI connection. Yes, HDMI can have overscan on "HD ready" TVs.

[pelwell]

Is that the best that TV can do, or does playing with the aspect ratio button render the UI visible?

[ali1234]

It's the best it can do. The TV's native resolution is 1680x1050 and the RPi OS desktop correctly drives it at that resolution (with no cropping).

I assume the bootloader tries to use 1920x1080, and the TV handles that by just cropping the picture. That's why way more is missing from the sides than the top/bottom. The same cropping happens when manually changing the desktop resolution to 1920x1080.

The aspect ratio control just letterboxes the picture in various ways but does not show any more of the source.

[timg236]

Thanks for the feedback. I think this out of scope for the current bootloader menu but could be considered as part of a wider redesign.

[timg236]

Additional: The boot menu keyboard shortcuts are always the same i.e. the boot-order or 'n' for network install