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1.4The iOS Fragmentation (Yes, It Exists)
iOS fragmentation is less severe than Android but still meaningful. The key factors:
Device Screen Variations
| Device | Screen Size | Resolution | Safe Area Insets | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone SE (3rd gen) | 4.7" | 750x1334 | None (home button) | Smallest current iPhone |
| iPhone 13 mini | 5.4" | 1080x2340 | Top notch + bottom bar | Compact layout constraints |
| iPhone 15 | 6.1" | 1179x2556 | Dynamic Island + bottom bar | Standard reference device |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 6.7" | 1290x2796 | Dynamic Island + bottom bar | Largest phone display |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 6.7" | 1284x2778 | Dynamic Island + bottom bar | Same physical size, different PPI |
| iPad mini (6th gen) | 8.3" | 1488x2266 | Small bezels | Tablet layout trigger |
| iPad Pro 12.9" | 12.9" | 2048x2732 | ProMotion 120Hz | Desktop-class layout |
iOS Version Adoption
Apple pushes updates aggressively, but not everyone updates:
- ~75% of iPhones run the latest major version within 3 months
- ~15% run the previous major version
- ~10% run two or more versions behind (older devices that cannot update)
The practical implication: you must support at least iOS N and iOS N-1. If your user base skews older or enterprise, support N-2.