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.