iOS 26 is set to introduce full-resolution screen recording capabilities for iPhones and iPads, marking a significant upgrade from previous versions.
The screen recording feature, introduced in iOS 11, has been capped at a maximum resolution of 1920 pixels in either height or width. This limitation meant that modern iPhones, such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, recorded at a resolution of 884×1920, approximately two-thirds of the device’s full display resolution.
The iOS 26 beta addresses this limitation by upgrading screen recordings to the device’s native resolution. For instance, on an iPhone 16 Pro Max, screen recordings will now be captured at 1320×2868, providing a much clearer and more detailed recording.
Interestingly, despite the increase in resolution, the file sizes of screen recordings remain relatively similar. A 12-second recording on iOS 26 Beta 6 was 24.2 MB, representing only a 5.3 MB increase from the 18.9 MB file size on Beta 1.
This update is particularly beneficial for app developers, who rely on screen recordings to examine finer details within their applications. The improved resolution allows for better visibility and clarity during the development process.
In addition to the resolution upgrade, iOS 26 will introduce other new features related to screenshots and screen recordings. These include HDR recording, the option to disable CarPlay screenshots, and Visual Lookup.
The public beta of iOS 26 is currently available, with a full release expected in the coming weeks.
