In brief
Before March 2019, third-party apps must support at least the third-generation iPad Pro or iPhone XS Max, and all new apps must use the iOS 12.1 SDK or later. Developers should retest and update layouts as needed, particularly to accommodate the iPad Pro's removal of the Home button.
After each year's iPhone and iPad launches, Apple typically requires app developers to support the new devices within a specified period. Now that the new generation of iPad Pro has officially launched, Apple has required third-party apps to support at least one of two new devices—the third-generation iPad Pro or the iPhone XS Max—before March 2019.
Apple has detailed its new app requirements on its iOS developer page. The requirements state that, before March next year, all new apps must be built using the iOS 12.1 SDK or later to support the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro or the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max—Apple's largest tablet and largest phone.
Although the third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro has the same screen size and resolution as the first-generation 12.9-inch model, the removal of the Home button means existing apps need to make use of the space at the bottom of the screen. Apple wants developers to retest and update their apps as needed, redefine the areas used for display and interaction, support adaptive layouts, and resolve other UI issues.
Apple has also created a special compatibility mode called “Universal Illustrations” for the newly released generation of iPad Pro. This mode creates a consistent status bar at the top of the screen, a gesture area at the bottom, and split-screen windows on the left and right for multitasking apps. This gives users a consistent way to interact while multitasking, instead of placing status bars with completely different UI designs side by side as before—a clear improvement.
After last year's iPhone X introduced an all-screen design, Apple strongly urged developers to update their apps to support its screen. Developers can therefore carry those same updates over to the iPhone XS without difficulty. Most third-party apps only need minor adjustments for the larger screens of the iPhone XR and XS Max, depending on the applicable app version.
Original article URL: https://goo.gl/Uev3B8