Do You Need Separate Recordings for Different Apple Screen Sizes?

What Apple actually requires

Apple does not require separate screen recordings — it requires separate video files at specific dimensions for each device class you want to target. Those video files can be created from the same underlying screen recordings, just exported at different dimensions.

The three device classes for current iPhone preview uploads are:

• 6.9" display (iPhone 16 Pro Max, 15 Pro Max, 14 Pro Max): 886 × 1920 px portrait
• 6.5" display (iPhone 15 Plus, 14 Plus, 13 Pro Max, 12 Pro Max): 886 × 1920 px portrait
• 5.5" display (iPhone 8 Plus, 7 Plus, 6s Plus): 1080 × 1920 px portrait

You do not need to cover all three. Apple requires at least one size; adding more simply extends reach to users on those device classes.

The key detail: 6.9" and 6.5" share dimensions

The 6.9" and 6.5" device classes both use 886 × 1920 px for portrait previews. That means a single recording and export at that resolution works for both. You upload the same file to both slots in App Store Connect.

Only the 5.5" class requires a different dimension (1080 × 1920 px), which means a separate export — though not necessarily a separate recording.

Do you need a separate physical recording per size?

Usually no. If you record on a 6.9" iPhone (the largest current device), the footage contains more pixels than the smaller sizes need. A video editor can export the same edit at 886×1920 (for 6.9"/6.5") and at 1080×1920 (for 5.5") by slightly adjusting the crop.

The one case where a separate physical recording helps: if your app's UI looks noticeably different on older 5.5" devices — different layout, different content density, or a different visual hierarchy. In that case, recording specifically on a 5.5" device ensures the footage accurately represents what users on that device will see.

The practical recommendation for most apps

1. Record on iPhone 16 Pro Max (or the largest current model you have)
2. Edit once — build your preview in a 886×1920 canvas
3. Export at 886×1920 — upload this to both the 6.9" and 6.5" slots in App Store Connect
4. Decide on 5.5" — only add it if you want to explicitly target users on older devices

This approach covers the vast majority of current iPhone users with a single recording session and two exports (or one, if you skip the 5.5").

When to add the 5.5" size

If your analytics show a meaningful portion of your user base on iPhone 8 Plus or similar older devices, adding the 5.5" size is worth the extra export. If your app targets primarily current-generation users, the 6.9"/6.5" combined slot is sufficient for most launches.

Decision guide:

• More than 10% of your users on 5.5" devices: add it. Small effort, real audience reach.
• 1–10% of users on 5.5" devices: borderline. If production cost is already sunk, add it. If it means a separate recording session, probably skip.
• Less than 1%: skip. Focus elsewhere.

What about iPad sizes?

If your app supports iPad, it has its own preview slots. iPad dimensions:

• iPad 13" / 12.9": 1200 × 1600 px portrait or 1600 × 1200 px landscape
• iPad 11" / 10.5" / 9.7": same as above

iPad recordings almost always need to be captured separately on an actual iPad. Scaling iPhone footage to iPad dimensions looks stretched, and iPad UI often differs significantly from iPhone UI (different layouts, split views, sidebars). Plan iPad as its own recording session if iPad matters to your app.

Apple Watch and Vision Pro

Apple Watch and Vision Pro listings also support previews, with their own dimension requirements. These are rarely relevant for standard iPhone apps. If your app is watchOS-only or visionOS-native, you will need preview assets captured specifically from those platforms.

Export workflow: one edit, multiple masters

The efficient workflow for covering multiple device classes:

1. Record once on the largest target device (iPhone 16 Pro Max for current builds)
2. Edit in a 886×1920 timeline. All motion graphics, overlays, and music sync happen here.
3. Export Master A: 886×1920. Upload to 6.9" and 6.5" slots.
4. Export Master B: 1080×1920, with a slight reframe to accommodate the wider canvas. Upload to 5.5" slot.
5. If iPad is supported: separate recording session on iPad, separate edit timeline at 1200×1600 or 1600×1200.

Most specialist studios charge a small per-size uplift (€50–100) for additional exports beyond the primary size, since the reframing work is genuinely additional but not expensive.

FAQ

Can I just upload the same file to all three iPhone slots?

Only if the dimensions match. 886×1920 works for 6.9" and 6.5" but not 5.5" (which requires 1080×1920). A file uploaded to a wrong-dimension slot will fail validation.

Does skipping the 5.5" size hurt my App Store visibility?

No. Apple does not rank listings based on preview completeness. Users on 5.5" devices will simply see screenshots instead of a preview.

If I record on an older iPhone, will my preview look outdated?

Potentially yes — new iOS features, updated status bars, and refreshed UI styling from iOS updates will be missing. Always record on the most current device and iOS version you can.

Can I mix orientations across device classes?

No. All previews across all device classes must match the app's supported orientation. If your app is portrait-only, every preview slot must be portrait.

How often do I need to re-record for new iPhone releases?

Only if Apple changes the display dimensions or status-bar layout. 6.9" and 6.5" have been stable since 2019. A 2020 recording is technically still compliant — but UI freshness may have drifted.