this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2024
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AFAIK Apple does not release an iPhone emulator to the public. There is one third party emulator I’m aware of but that’s mainly intended for security research and not general development.
Hard disagree.
Xcode has a simulator that can run any model of iPhone or iPad. Works exactly like a real device.
Yes, that’s what I mean. It’s a simulator, not an emulator. It does not work exactly like a real device. For simple stuff, sure, but if you dive below the surface even a little it’s very different.
One example is anything to do with the GPU / Metal. It has a very different set of capabilities and limitations than actual iOS hardware.
Oh, I haven't needed to touch that yet. Good to know for the future!
Yup, that's exactly what I'm talking about. I think it's a real emulator given how crappy it runs, but I could be wrong.
If you want to test something performance sensitive, it sucks. But for regular edit/reload dev cycle, I much prefer it.
Also for anything UI related. You want to test how it actually feels to use, e.g. if you can reach the UI elements with one hand. Using it with a mouse on a monitor just doesn’t give you a good sense of that. Especially if your UI involves gestures.