Term of the Moment
automotive Ethernet
Definition: mobile compatibility
Windows is the only environment with desktop/tablet compatibility. Most Windows desktop/laptop apps can also run on Windows tablets. Starting with Windows 8, new lightweight tablets were a departure from earlier models (see Tablet PC). See hybrid laptop and Windows tablet.
Phone/Tablet Compatibility
iPhone apps run in iPad tablets, and Android phone apps run in Android tablets. Using different methods, iPads and Android tablets can scale apps to fill the screen. Developers only need to create one version, and users with phones and tablets only have to buy one app. In many cases, however, separate phone and tablet apps are necessary. See mobile device vendor control and how to select a mobile device.
Windows Phone/Tablet Compatibility
Desktop-Mobile Compatibility
Smartphone-Tablet Compatibility
Phone/Tablet Compatibility
iPhone apps run in iPad tablets, and Android phone apps run in Android tablets. Using different methods, iPads and Android tablets can scale apps to fill the screen. Developers only need to create one version, and users with phones and tablets only have to buy one app. In many cases, however, separate phone and tablet apps are necessary. See mobile device vendor control and how to select a mobile device.
Windows desktop and tablet apps are the same. When Microsoft was selling its phones, vendors had to publish both a phone and desktop/tablet app in order to support all Windows environments. Both phone and RT tablets are long gone. See Windows Phone, Windows RT and Windows 8.
Windows apps run on Windows 10 tablets, but Mac apps do not run on Apple's mobile devices (see iOS).
Even if the same app runs in both phone and tablet, the chances are that a tablet version will be created to use the larger screen.