Does iPad Pro default to desktop view or mobile view for Safari?

[KadMac]

Some of the videos I have watched seem to point to the direction that the iPad Pro defaults to the desktop view of Safari rather than the mobile view. I know Safari has had an option to automatically request desktop view when in mobile view but it didn't always work for every website.

Part of the reason I gave up on my iPad for a MacBook Air was that I wanted to surf the web in desktop view all the time. If I can stay in desktop view for everything, it truly seems like a pro device and is much more tempting to buy.

Anyone else see this in the preview videos from different tech sites? Does 100% desktop view make a difference for you or make the Pro feel more like a laptop replacement?

 

[Bill Av]

I've been trying it out on my iPad Pro, and it seems to me that most pages I visit default to the desktop version of the site. So far, I've only noticed that Feedly seems to default to the mobile version.

 

[gidoin]

I get google results in mobile view, any way to change that?

 

[Max(IT)]

as far as I know, iPads default to desktop view.

 

[friedmud]

It's important to note that the _iPad_ doesn't default to anything. It's the websites themselves that decide what to serve up based on your web-browser and device.

When you connect to a web server your browser sends a "user-agent" string that tells the website some information about your browser and device (the website can also use other techniques to query information about your device).

Here are some example user-agent strings for iOS devices:

http://m.webapps-online.com/online-tools/user-agent-strings/dv/operatingsystem51849/ios

Using this information the website then makes a decision about what kind of formatting to apply for your case and sends the website to you.

So: if the website detects an iPhone/iPad it might send you a "mobile" website. It could even detect an iPad and send you a website specifically made for iPads! Or it could detect an iPad and serve up the "normal" (desktop) version of the site.

The important part is that the iPad (or even iPhone) doesn't make the choice at all.

So how does "Request Desktop Version" work? It sends a fake user-agent string that mimicks Safari on the desktop... basically it masquerades as a full desktop browser. The site doesn't know any better so it just served up the normal website.

 

[Zorn]

It's important to note that the _iPad_ doesn't default to anything. It's the websites themselves that decide what to serve up based on your web-browser and device.

When you connect to a web server your browser sends a "user-agent" string that tells the website some information about your browser and device (the website can also use other techniques to query information about your device).

Here are some example user-agent strings for iOS devices:

http://m.webapps-online.com/online-tools/user-agent-strings/dv/operatingsystem51849/ios

Using this information the website then makes a decision about what kind of formatting to apply for your case and sends the website to you.

So: if the website detects an iPhone/iPad it might send you a "mobile" website. It could even detect an iPad and send you a website specifically made for iPads! Or it could detect an iPad and serve up the "normal" (desktop) version of the site.

The important part is that the iPad (or even iPhone) doesn't make the choice at all.

So how does "Request Desktop Version" work? It sends a fake user-agent string that mimicks Safari on the desktop... basically it masquerades as a full desktop browser. The site doesn't know any better so it just served up the normal website.

Also important to note that many sites now don't even rely on the user agent, but instead make a decision of how to display themselves based on what resolution they detect. The iPad Pro resolution is higher than many desktop computers, so these sites often give you a very desktop-ish view even though it's not deciding based on user agent.

 

[xmichaelp]

"desktop" and "mobile" view is quickly becoming a non-factor. If you look at a site like the Verge or Washington Post you'll see the page scales for any device you use it as. Sooo much better than crappy mobile sites.

I hope with more devices like the iPad pro with multitasking mobile sites will finally die. I'm looking at you New York Times and Wikipedia.

 

[Jasmynp]

@friedmud, I didn't know the tech/terms behind that. Thanks for sharing.

 

[friedmud]

@friedmud, I didn't the tech/terms behind that. Thanks for sharing.

No problem! Glad it was useful!

 

[Ghost31]

I can't even open YouTube in safari while I have the YouTube app installed. Kinda annoying

 

[Acorn]

puffin pro is a great web browser that supports flash. it has a setting that defaults to desktop websites. plus since it supports flash certain websites like youtube desktop version work perfectly when it wont work in safari. its also lightening fast. i have had different browsers now chrome safari atomic web ect.. puffin pro is the best of all of them..

 

[Vivian125]

I've been trying it out on my iPad Pro, and it seems to me that most pages I visit default to the desktop version of the site. So far, I've only noticed that Feedly seems to default to the mobile version.

How come my Tiny iPhone XS Max wont be default to Desktop version in safarri? But my iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro shows more information just as much as Other PC/Destop/Other Laptops/ Macbook out there? Considering that iPad Mini 4 has lesser ram than XS max?

Its strange that even the iPad Mini 4 has only 2Gb ram is already default to desktop version but my XS max is forever mobile version?

 

[BeforeTheMeds]

How come my Tiny iPhone XS Max wont be default to Desktop version in safarri? But my iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro shows more information just as much as Other PC/Destop/Other Laptops/ Macbook out there? Considering that iPad Mini 4 has lesser ram than XS max?

Its strange that even the iPad Mini 4 has only 2Gb ram is already default to desktop version but my XS max is forever mobile version?

Because it has nothing to do with ram.

 

[Shirasaki]

How come my Tiny iPhone XS Max wont be default to Desktop version in safarri? But my iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro shows more information just as much as Other PC/Destop/Other Laptops/ Macbook out there? Considering that iPad Mini 4 has lesser ram than XS max?

Its strange that even the iPad Mini 4 has only 2Gb ram is already default to desktop version but my XS max is forever mobile version?

Because your tiny iPhone XS Max don’t have a screen large enough to sufficiently display a webpage without serious optimisation. That’s why. It has nothing to do with RAM.

 

[Dr McKay]

Mine defaults to desktop view all the time, but I have encountered a few sites that still know I'm on an iPad and give me the mobile site anyway.

I wonder how they know, I just checked my user agent string and it says “Intel Macintosh OS X 10.15.0”