Image credit – iHelp BR
One of the rumors for 2018’s iPhones is that Apple could be looking to introduce a larger 6.5-inch model. However it seems that the change won’t just be in its display size, but also some of its software functionality where due to its larger size, it could support iPad-like landscape mode.
This is according to a recent discovery in the iOS 12 beta by the folks at iHelp BR where they managed to force the iOS simulator tool to run iOS 12 and Xcode at 1242×2688, which for those unfamiliar is the rumored resolution of the 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus. In doing so, they also discovered that some stock iOS applications were optimized for a potentially broader landscape layout as you can see in the image above.
Due to iPhones generally sporting a smaller display compared to iPads, a UI that works on the iPad might not necessarily work on the smaller iPhone’s display. However by packing a larger display, it allows for more screen real estate which allows developers to add more elements that might not have otherwise fit into the screen without being cramped.
We’re not sure if this necessarily “confirms” a larger 6.5-inch iPhone, but it’s hard to ignore the implications of this discovery. In any case it’s probably best to take it with a grain of salt for now, but hopefully we’ll learn more in the coming months.