Detect Current Device with UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() in Swift

This article will show how you can detect the current device with UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() in Swift.

When developing iOS applications in Swift, it is often necessary to adapt the user interface based on the type of device the app is running on. The UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() macro, along with the UIDevice class and the UIUserInterfaceIdiom enum, provides a way to identify the current device and make appropriate adjustments in your code.

Using UIDevice and UIUserInterfaceIdiom Enum

In Swift, you can use the UIDevice class and the UIUserInterfaceIdiom enum to detect the current device. The enum has three cases: .unspecified, .phone, and .pad. Here’s how you can use it:

if UIDevice.current.userInterfaceIdiom == .pad {
    // It's an iPad
} else if UIDevice.current.userInterfaceIdiom == .phone {
    // It's an iPhone or iPod touch
} else {
    // It's unspecified (could be other devices)
}

Alternatively, you can use a switch statement to handle different device types:

switch UIDevice.current.userInterfaceIdiom {
case .phone:
    // It's an iPhone or iPod touch
case .pad:
    // It's an iPad
case .unspecified:
    // It's unspecified (could be other devices)
@unknown default:
    // Handle unknown cases
}

Using UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() Macro

In Objective-C, the UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() macro is available for detecting the device type. However, it’s important to note that when working with Swift or Objective-C targeting iOS 3.2 and above, you can directly use [UIDevice userInterfaceIdiom] instead of the macro.

if UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() == .pad {
    // It's an iPad
} else if UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() == .phone {
    // It's an iPhone or iPod touch
} else {
    // It's unspecified (could be other devices)
}

Additional Considerations

While the previous section covered the basics of detecting the current device using UIDevice and UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM(), there are additional considerations and alternative approaches to enhance your device detection and improve the adaptability of your app.

Using GBDeviceInfo Framework

For a more comprehensive solution, you may consider using the GBDeviceInfo framework. This framework provides additional device information and can be helpful in more complex scenarios.

Checking iOS Version

To check the iOS version, you can create a Version struct:

struct Version {
    static let SYS_VERSION_FLOAT = (UIDevice.current.systemVersion as NSString).floatValue
    static let iOS8 = (Version.SYS_VERSION_FLOAT >= 8.0 && Version.SYS_VERSION_FLOAT < 9.0)
    // Add other versions as needed
}

Then, you can use it like this:

if Version.iOS8 {
    // Code specific to iOS 8
}

Conclusion

Detecting the current device is crucial for creating a responsive user interface in your iOS applications. Whether you choose to use the UIDevice class, the UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() macro, or a third-party framework like GBDeviceInfo, understanding the device type allows you to tailor the user experience to different screen sizes and capabilities.