Android splash screen image sizes to fit all devices

Android Splash Screen Image Sizes

A splash screen is the first thing users see when they open your app. A well-designed splash screen can create a positive first impression and build brand recognition. To ensure your splash screen looks great on all devices, you need to understand the recommended image sizes.

Understanding Splash Screen Requirements

Android splash screens are typically displayed for a brief duration while the app loads. The ideal size for your splash screen image depends on several factors, including the device’s screen density and resolution.

Screen Densities

Android devices have different screen densities, which are measured in dots per inch (dpi). Common screen densities include:

• ldpi (Low Density): 120dpi
• mdpi (Medium Density): 160dpi
• hdpi (High Density): 240dpi
• xhdpi (Extra High Density): 320dpi
• xxhdpi (Extra Extra High Density): 480dpi
• xxxhdpi (Extra Extra Extra High Density): 640dpi

Recommended Image Sizes

To accommodate different screen densities, it’s essential to provide your splash screen image in multiple resolutions. Here’s a table outlining recommended image sizes:

Implementing Splash Screens in Android Studio

Here’s a basic guide on implementing splash screens in Android Studio:

Step 1: Create a Drawable Resource

Create a new drawable resource in your project. Name it something like “splash_screen” and choose a .png image format for your splash screen. This resource folder typically lives under your project directory and should be called “drawable” (i.e., /app/src/main/res/drawable).

Step 2: Update your AndroidManifest.xml

Update your AndroidManifest.xml file to use the splash screen as the initial launcher activity. You can achieve this by adding the following within your `` tag.

<application ...>
    <activity
        android:name=".MainActivity"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme.Launcher"
        android:exported="true">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name=".SplashScreenActivity"
        android:exported="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme.Launcher" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>
</application>

Step 3: Design Your Splash Screen Activity

You’ll need to create a new activity to handle your splash screen display. For example, we could call this activity “SplashScreenActivity.” In this activity, you can add any required logic to launch your main activity after a set delay. For instance, you could launch your main activity after a timeout of a few seconds using a `Handler`:

package com.example.myproject;

import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.Handler;
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

public class SplashScreenActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_splash_screen);

        new Handler().postDelayed(() -> {
            Intent intent = new Intent(SplashScreenActivity.this, MainActivity.class);
            startActivity(intent);
            finish();
        }, 3000); // 3000 milliseconds (3 seconds)
    }
}

Next, create an XML layout file called “activity_splash_screen.xml”. In this layout, define the background of your splash screen, for example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@drawable/splash_screen">

</RelativeLayout>

Step 4: Create a Theme for Your Splash Screen

Create a new style in your styles.xml. This style will be applied to the Splash Screen Activity. To do this, create a new style within your styles.xml (usually in the `app` directory’s `res/values/` folder).

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.DarkActionBar">
        ...
    </style>
    <style name="AppTheme.Launcher" parent="AppTheme">
        <item name="android:windowBackground">@drawable/splash_screen</item>
        <item name="android:windowNoTitle">true</item>
        <item name="android:windowActionBar">false</item>
        <item name="android:windowFullscreen">true</item>
    </style>
</resources>

Best Practices

• Use a simple and visually appealing design.
• Keep the duration of the splash screen brief (typically 1-3 seconds).
• Use a progress indicator to give users feedback if your app takes longer to load.
• Test your splash screen on various devices with different screen sizes and densities.

Conclusion

By following these recommendations, you can create an effective splash screen that looks great and functions flawlessly across various Android devices.