At Apple, I almost never tested my work in the simulator. Some of the frameworks and technologies I needed weren’t available there. And I wanted to see how my changes looked with my real data, and how they felt on a real device.

At Bitrig it’s the opposite. Simulator Use and Select to Edit are so powerful, and Auto-Run and Add Screenshot so convenient, that I often don’t install the app on my iPhone until the feature is done.

But sometimes I still need to test on a real device, and it’s tough to give up the productivity boosts and creature comforts of the Bitrig simulator.

Today, that changes:

Bitrig now streams your connected devices into the Preview tab, right alongside your simulators.

You can:

• Interact with your phone from your Mac. Click, scroll, and type in your app, streamed live at 60 fps, right in the Preview tab. On the new touchscreen MacBook Pro, you can use multi-touch gestures directly.

• Use your favorite simulator tools. Select to Edit and Add Screenshot let you point Bitrig at exactly what to change. And easily switch Dark Mode, text size, and other device settings.

• Let Bitrig check its work. Bitrig now taps through your app on device just like it does in the simulator, reading the screen and logs, so it can test features that need real hardware, like the new Siri AI developer preview.

• Record it in 3D. Record a demo of your app running on your real device, in the same 3D frame as the simulator. Rotate your phone or fold and unfold iPhone Duo, and the 3D device in the Preview tab follows along as you record.

Getting started is simple. Plug in your iPhone or iPad, and Bitrig pairs with it and walks you through turning on Developer Mode. Apple Watch and Apple TV will need to be paired in Xcode first.

Once it’s paired, you can unplug your device and it stays connected to your Mac over Wi-Fi. You can even pick it from Bitrig Remote when you’re away from home. Testing on your device also spares your Mac’s CPU and memory, since there’s no simulator to run.

Bitrig works in any app on your phone, not just yours. Point at a design you like with Select to Edit, and Bitrig can study its screenshot and layout for inspiration. You can even ask it to order your dinner on DoorDash.

So the next time you’re torn between the convenience of the simulator and the fidelity of a real device, don’t be. Pick your iPhone in the Preview tab, and get the best of both.