Design Tablet-Optimized UI in Flutter

There are two main ways to design a tablet-friendly UI in Flutter:

• Using the ‘responsive_builder’ Package: This package allows you to define different layouts for different screen sizes.

• Using the ‘MediaQuery’ Widget: This widget provides information about the current device and allows you to adjust your UI layout accordingly.

Method 1: Using ‘responsive_builder’ Package

Step 1: Set Up Your Flutter Project

• Create a new Flutter project or navigate to your existing project.

• Add the ‘responsive_builder’ package to your ‘pubspec.yaml’ file:
  

dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  responsive_builder: ^0.7.0

• Run ‘flutter pub get’ to fetch the package.

Step 2: Implement responsive_builder

• Import the Package:

import 'package:responsive_builder/responsive_builder.dart';

• Utilize the ‘ResponsiveBuilder’ Widget:

Wrap your existing widgets with ‘ResponsiveBuilder’ and use it to define different UI elements for mobile and tablet.

Container(
  padding: EdgeInsets.all(getValueForScreenType<double>(
                context: context,
                mobile: 10,
                tablet: 30,
                desktop: 60,
              )),
  child: Text('Best Responsive Package'),
);

getValueForScreenType<bool>(
    context: context,
    mobile: false,
    tablet: true,
  ) ? MyWidget() : Container();

ScreenTypeLayout.builder(
  mobile: (BuildContext context) => Container(color: Colors.blue),
  tablet: (BuildContext context) => Container(color: Colors.yellow),
  desktop: (BuildContext context) => Container(color: Colors.red),
  watch: (BuildContext context) => Container(color: Colors.purple),
);

• Adjust the UI:

Adjust the container widget’s height, font size, and layout accordingly based on the device type.

Method 2: Using ‘MediaQuery’

Utilize ‘MediaQuery’ to Detect Screen Size

• Define App Constants:

class AppConstants {
  static Size size = MediaQueryData.fromView(WidgetsBinding.instance.window).size;
  static bool isMobile(BuildContext context) {
    final screenWidth = MediaQuery.of(context).size.width;
    return screenWidth < 600;
  }
}

• Conditional Layouts:

Use the isMobile() function to display different widgets based on the device type.

if (!AppConstants.isMobile(context))
  Row(
    children: [
      Expanded(
        child: TextFormField(
          controller: Controller1,
          hintText: "Mumbai Date",
          onTap: (_) => _selectDate(false),
        ),
      ),
      Expanded(
        child: TextFormField(
          controller: Controller2,
          hintText: "Mumbai Time",
          onTap: (_) => _selectTime(),
        ),
      ),
    ],
  );

The ‘isMobile()’ function works by getting the width of the current device screen using ‘MediaQuery.of(context).size.width’.

If the width is less than 600 pixels, it returns true and indicates that the device is a mobile device. Otherwise, it returns false.

Issues with the ‘responsive_builder’ Package and Recommendation for ‘MediaQuery’

While the ‘responsive_builder’ package is popular for building responsive UIs in Flutter, it has some potential issues:

• Dependence on the Package: If the package becomes unmaintained, it could break your app.
• Complexity: The package can be complex to use, especially for large and complex UIs.
• Performance: The package can add some overhead to your app, especially if used for many widgets.

For these reasons, it is generally recommended to use ‘MediaQuery’ to create tablet-optimized UIs.

‘MediaQuery’ is a built-in Flutter class that provides information about the current device and screen size, allowing you to create different layouts without relying on a third-party package.

Tips to Use MediaQuery to Create Tablet-Optimized UIs

• Use ‘MediaQuery.of(context).size.width’ to get the width of the current device screen.
• Use ‘MediaQuery.of(context).size.height’ to get the height of the current device screen.
• Use ‘MediaQuery.of(context).orientation’ to get the orientation of the current device screen.
• Use ‘MediaQuery.of(context).devicePixelRatio’ to get the device pixel ratio.

In today’s multi-device world, tablets have become indispensable companions. To truly captivate your audience, your Flutter app must seamlessly adapt to these larger screens.

By understanding the nuances of tablet UI design and leveraging powerful tools like MediaQuery, you can create immersive experiences that delight users.