Screenshots for 5.5" iPhone

Question

Created Apr ’23

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I have a new app which requires iOS 16. App Store Connect wants me to upload screenshots of various sizes, mostly optional - but 5.5" with square corners and physical home button is required.

As I understand it, the only device that can run iOS 16 and that has a 5.5" screen is the iPhone 8 plus.

I have an iPhone 6 plus, which has the right dimensions, but it doesn't run iOS 16. The newer phones with physical home buttons (i.e. the SE 2 and 3) have 4.7" screens.

Apple won't sell me anything older than an iPhone 12, even refurbished. Do I need to buy an iPhone 8 plus from eBay? Is there something that I can do to prevent the app from running on this device, and thereby make this screenshot size not required?

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Answer 1

Claude31 OP

Apr ’23

It seems you are looking at the question in the wrong way or maybe I missed something.

The screenshots can be generated from simulators (Cmd-S on a screen).

Hence no need to buy an iPhone 8plus or try to exclude some type of device from running the app.

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Answer 2

endecotp OP

Apr ’23

The screenshots can be generated from simulators (Cmd-S on a screen).

The simulators are not perfect, and I don't generally use them. It is of course something that I have considered, but it would be a lot of work.

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Answer 3

mattbierner OP

Apr ’23

This requirement is a pain for AR apps as these don't run in the simulator.

One possible workaround is to create images that aren't exact screenshots. For example, a graphic that features a screenshot prominently but also includes other graphic elements, such as explanation text and a background graphic. AFAIK this isn't against App Store guidelines so long as the screenshot is prominent, but your milage may vary for getting through review especially if the screenshots are obviously from a different format device

For my AR apps, I usually build in functionality to capture just the AR content with all UI elements hidden. I then capture a few screenshots of the AR in action on a real device. Then I hack the app so it can run in the simulator, but in place of the actual AR content, I show one of the images I captured. That lets me create fairly authentic screenshots without having to own a huge number of old physical devices

I really hope this requirement is relaxed though as it's quite burdensome if your app can't nicely run in the simulator

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Answer 4

endecotp OP

Apr ’23

I've had an app rejected for including extraneous content in the screenshots, so I'd be cautious about "including other graphic elements".

On the other hand I have used iPad screenshots from wrong devices, scaled to the correct dimensions, and that hasn't been noticed. Taking screenshots on an SE 2 or 3 and scaling up is an option.

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