Getting Started with Your iPhone
Learn fundamental skills for the major types of iPhone including home buttons and using split-screens.
The excerpt below is from the previous edition of "My Phone for Seniors, 7th Edition" covering the iPhone 12.
From the author of
From the author of
From the author of
)
To get going with your iPhone, you need to understand how to use the features provided by your specific model. The differences between these models impact some fundamental tasks you do, such as moving to the Home screen. While these differences are significant, there aren’t many of them. In this chapter, you learn about these fundamental tasks for the type of iPhone you have.
Getting Started
In Chapter 1, “Getting to Know Your iPhone,” you learned the major ways you interact with an iPhone to do things such as opening apps, moving among Home screens, and working with the Settings app. Almost all of these tasks are performed in the same way on all models of iPhone. In that chapter, you also learned that there are some differences in models that impact how you perform certain tasks. In this chapter, you learn the details about these differences for the specific model of iPhone that you use.
In this book, iPhone models are grouped into the following major types that have corresponding sections in this chapter (you only need to read the sections that cover the model you have):
iPhones without a Home button—This group includes the newest generation of iPhone models, which are the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max along with the older X, XR, Xs, and Xs Max. The most distinguishable difference with these models compared to prior generations is that the screen is almost as large as the frame. These models use facial recognition technology (Face ID) and generally have more advanced features in cameras, speed, and more, than do the earlier models. If you have one of these models, read the section “Getting Started with iPhones without a Home Button.”
iPhones with a Home button—These prior generations of iPhones have the Touch ID/Home button as their major distinguishing external feature. Because of this button, their screens are a bit smaller than those on models without this button relative to the overall size of the phones. The models in this group with higher numbers have more features and capabilities than models with lower numbers. Models in the group are the SE (first and second generations), 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus. If you have one of these models, read the section “Getting Started with iPhones with a Home Button.”
Max and Plus Models—These models are larger than others and include models without and with a Home button. Because of their large size, these models have the ability to use a split-screen, which can make them easier and faster to use. The models in this group are iPhone 12 Pro Max, 11 Pro Max, Xs Max, 8 Plus, 7 Plus, and 6s Plus. If you have one of these models, read “Using the Split-Screen on iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro Max, Xs Max, or Plus Models” to learn how to take advantage of its split-screen capability.