Device Emulation

Capture screenshots exactly as they would appear on specific mobile devices, tablets, and other form factors. Device emulation automatically configures viewport, user agent, touch capabilities, and pixel density to match real devices.

Device Emulation Parameter

emulateDevice (`emulateDevice`)

Default: None
Description: Emulates a specific device profile
Example: emulateDevice=iphone_15_pro
Effect: Overrides viewport, user agent, and scale factor settings

How to Use Device Emulation

Get Available Devices

Retrieve the complete list of supported devices:

curl "https://edge.capture.page/screenshot/devices"

Use Device Key

Apply the device key from the API response:

https://cdn.capture.page/KEY/HASH/image?url=https://example.com&emulateDevice=iphone_15_pro

Device Categories

Smartphones

iPhone Models

Device	Key	Screen Size	Scale Factor
iPhone 15 Pro Max	`iphone_15_pro_max`	430×932	3
iPhone 15 Pro	`iphone_15_pro`	393×852	3
iPhone 15	`iphone_15`	393×852	3
iPhone 14	`iphone_14`	390×844	3
iPhone SE	`iphone_se`	375×667	2
iPhone 13 mini	`iphone_13_mini`	375×812	3

Android Phones

Device	Key	Screen Size	Scale Factor
Pixel 8 Pro	`pixel_8_pro`	412×915	3.5
Pixel 8	`pixel_8`	412×915	3
Pixel 7	`pixel_7`	412×915	2.625
Samsung Galaxy S23	`galaxy_s23`	360×780	4
Samsung Galaxy S21	`galaxy_s21`	360×800	3

Tablets

iPad Models

Device	Key	Screen Size	Scale Factor
iPad Pro 12.9"	`ipad_pro_12_9`	1024×1366	2
iPad Pro 11"	`ipad_pro_11`	834×1194	2
iPad Air	`ipad_air`	820×1180	2
iPad 10th Gen	`ipad_10`	810×1080	2
iPad Mini	`ipad_mini`	768×1024	2

Android Tablets

Device	Key	Screen Size	Scale Factor
Pixel Tablet	`pixel_tablet`	800×1280	2
Galaxy Tab S9	`galaxy_tab_s9`	800×1280	2.25
Galaxy Tab A8	`galaxy_tab_a8`	800×1280	1.75

Other Devices

Device	Key	Screen Size	Scale Factor
Desktop HD	`desktop_hd`	1920×1080	1
Desktop 4K	`desktop_4k`	3840×2160	1
Laptop	`laptop`	1366×768	1
Surface Pro	`surface_pro`	1368×912	2

Usage Examples

Mobile Screenshot

iPhone 15 Pro screenshot:

https://cdn.capture.page/KEY/HASH/image?url=https://example.com&emulateDevice=iphone_15_pro

Tablet Screenshot

iPad Air in landscape:

https://cdn.capture.page/KEY/HASH/image?url=https://example.com&emulateDevice=ipad_air_landscape

Responsive Testing

Test multiple devices:

const devices = ['iphone_15', 'ipad_air', 'desktop_hd'];

devices.forEach(device => {
  const url = `https://cdn.capture.page/KEY/HASH/image?url=site.com&emulateDevice=${device}`;
  // Generate screenshots for each device
});

Device Properties

Automatic Configuration

When using device emulation, these properties are automatically set:

Viewport Dimensions
- Width and height match device screen
- Proper orientation (portrait/landscape)
User Agent String
- Authentic user agent for the device
- Includes OS version and browser info
Device Scale Factor
- Correct pixel density (DPR)
- Ensures crisp rendering on high-DPI screens
Touch Capabilities
- hasTouch: Enable touch events
- isMobile: Mobile viewport behavior
Device Metrics
- Screen orientation
- Device type detection
- Platform-specific features

Common Use Cases

Mobile App Landing Pages

Test how app store landing pages appear:

// iOS App Store appearance
&emulateDevice=iphone_15_pro

// Google Play Store appearance
&emulateDevice=pixel_8

Responsive Design Testing

Verify responsive breakpoints:

// Mobile breakpoint
&emulateDevice=iphone_15

// Tablet breakpoint
&emulateDevice=ipad_air

// Desktop view
&emulateDevice=desktop_hd

Check how content appears on mobile social apps:

// Instagram mobile view
&emulateDevice=iphone_14&waitFor=.instagram-embed

// Twitter mobile view
&emulateDevice=pixel_7&selector=.tweet-container

E-commerce Mobile Experience

// Product page on mobile
&emulateDevice=galaxy_s23&waitFor=.product-gallery

// Checkout flow on tablet
&emulateDevice=ipad_pro_11&selector=.checkout-form

Advanced Techniques

Landscape Orientation

Many devices support landscape mode:

// Portrait (default)
&emulateDevice=iphone_15_pro

// Landscape
&emulateDevice=iphone_15_pro_landscape

Combining with Other Options

With Page Enhancements

// Mobile dark mode
&emulateDevice=iphone_15&darkMode=true

// Tablet without ads
&emulateDevice=ipad_air&blockAds=true

With Timing Options

// Wait for mobile menu
&emulateDevice=pixel_8&waitFor=.mobile-nav

// Delay for animations
&emulateDevice=galaxy_s21&delay=2

With Selection

// Capture mobile header only
&emulateDevice=iphone_14&selector=header

// Specific mobile component
&emulateDevice=pixel_7&selectorId=mobile-carousel

Best Practices

1. Test Key Devices

Focus on your audience's most-used devices:

// Analytics-driven device selection
const topDevices = [
  'iphone_15',      // 35% of mobile traffic
  'iphone_14',      // 25% of mobile traffic
  'galaxy_s23',     // 20% of mobile traffic
  'ipad_air'        // 15% of tablet traffic
];

2. Consider Network Conditions

Mobile devices often have slower connections:

// Allow extra time for mobile loading
&emulateDevice=iphone_15&delay=3

// Wait for lazy-loaded mobile content
&emulateDevice=pixel_8&waitFor=.mobile-content-loaded

3. Test Both Orientations

If your app supports rotation:

// Portrait mode
&emulateDevice=ipad_pro_11

// Landscape mode
&emulateDevice=ipad_pro_11_landscape

4. Verify Touch Interactions

Some sites have mobile-specific features:

// Mobile menu that requires touch
&emulateDevice=iphone_15&waitFor=.hamburger-menu

// Swipeable galleries
&emulateDevice=galaxy_s23&selector=.touch-gallery

Performance Considerations

Scale Factor Impact

Higher scale factors mean larger images:

iPhone 15 Pro (3x): 1179×2556 actual pixels
Galaxy S23 (4x): 1440×3120 actual pixels
iPad Pro (2x): 2048×2732 actual pixels

Optimization Tips

Use appropriate image formats
Consider bandwidth limitations
Cache device-specific screenshots
Monitor processing times

Resource Usage

// Lower resource usage
&emulateDevice=iphone_se  // 2x scale factor

// Higher resource usage
&emulateDevice=galaxy_s23  // 4x scale factor

Troubleshooting

Device Not Recognized

If device key is invalid:

Verify against devices endpoint
Check for typos in device key
Fallback to manual viewport settings

Unexpected Rendering

Some sites detect emulation:

Try bypassBotDetection option
Use manual viewport as alternative
Check for device-specific redirects

Missing Mobile Features

If mobile-specific content missing:

Verify user agent is set correctly
Check for JavaScript device detection
Allow time for mobile content to load

Manual Alternative

If device emulation doesn't work as expected, manually configure:

// Manual iPhone 15 Pro settings
&vw=393&vh=852&scaleFactor=3&userAgent=Mozilla%2F5.0%20(iPhone%3B%20CPU%20iPhone%20OS%2017_0%20like%20Mac%20OS%20X)

// Manual iPad Air settings
&vw=820&vh=1180&scaleFactor=2&userAgent=Mozilla%2F5.0%20(iPad%3B%20CPU%20OS%2017_0%20like%20Mac%20OS%20X)