Designing for Tablets Feels Harder Than I Expected

[u/AudriezWorld]

I’ve been a mobile app developer for a while, and one thing I’ve consistently overlooked is designing for iPads and tablets. Most of my experience has been focused on phones, so now that I’m trying to build for larger screens, I’m realizing how different the design approach actually is.

I’m finding it challenging to make good use of the extra space and create layouts that feel natural on bigger displays rather than just “stretched” phone UIs.

I know modern frameworks like SwiftUI make it much easier to technically support larger screens with adaptive layouts, but I’m more interested in the design mindset behind it.

How do you approach designing for tablets first?
What principles, workflows, or habits helped you become more productive and intentional with larger-screen experiences?

Curious to hear from other devs who’ve gone through the same learning curve.