New Home Screen Widget Sizes in iOS 15

With the release of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Apple expanded Home Screen customization by introducing the Extra Large widget size alongside existing formats. While the standard iPhone interface maintained its existing lineup of widget dimensions, the iOS 15 software cycle brought this new, expansive form factor to devices running iPadOS 15 via Apple's unified WidgetKit framework. Below is a breakdown of the new size, how it functions, and how it compares to previous widget options.

The New Extra Large Widget

The primary addition in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 is the Extra Large (systemExtraLarge) widget.

  • Dimensions and Scale: The Extra Large widget occupies a footprint roughly equivalent to two standard Large widgets side-by-side (a 4x4 or 8x2 grid area depending on orientation and layout scaling).
  • Platform Availability: While introduced under the iOS 15 SDK, this size is exclusive to iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey. The physical screen dimensions of iPhones running iOS 15 do not accommodate the Extra Large layout, meaning iPhone users remain limited to the three original sizes.
  • Purpose: It provides a high-density canvas for apps that require extensive data presentation without opening the application, making it ideal for large-screen multitasking.

First-Party Apps Using the Extra Large Size

Apple redesigned several of its native widgets to take advantage of the Extra Large canvas in iOS 15 / iPadOS 15:

  • Files: Displays large file previews and quick access to recently opened documents.
  • Apple TV: Showcases up to a dozen Up Next titles, movie artwork, and continue-watching queues.
  • Photos: Highlights memories and featured photos in a massive banner format.
  • Mail: Displays unread message subjects, senders, and message previews side-by-side.
  • Podcasts: Shows currently playing episodes alongside recently updated shows.

Complete Widget Size Overview in iOS 15

Following the iOS 15 release, the full family of WidgetKit home screen sizes includes:

  1. Small (systemSmall): A 2x2 grid square displaying quick, single-purpose metrics (such as the current temperature or battery levels).
  2. Medium (systemMedium): A 4x2 horizontal banner capable of showing wider datasets (such as a calendar week view or top news headlines).
  3. Large (systemLarge): A 4x4 block equivalent to four standard app rows, holding detailed overviews like daily agendas or full-sized photo frames.
  4. Extra Large (systemExtraLarge): The new format introduced in iOS 15/iPadOS 15, offering a widescreen layout designed exclusively for larger displays.