Xcode | Why use a launch screen file over launch images source?

Question

As far as I can tell these are two similar ways to do the same thing. If a launch screen file doesn't offer any advantages over a launch images source then why did Apple offer it? What am I missing?

Answer 1

This answer assumes you're talking about iOS, even though you didn't mention or tag iOS in your original question.

A launch image is simply a static (non-changing) placeholder image.

"Launch Screen" (or more accurately "LaunchScreen" or "LaunchScreen.storyboard"), is the default name of the storyboard for a Launch Screen File; it is a very simple xib or storyboard file that appears before the rest of the app gets loaded up. The advantage to this is that a dev can use auto layout to reposition things subtly depending on the size of the screen (iPhone vs. iPad, iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6+, etc.).

Answer 2

You must use Launch Screen File if you want support iPhone 6 Plus or iPhone 6 according to Apple's Doc .