Basically what i want to do is make the app auto-orient on tablets, and keep the app in portrait mode on phones.
I want to do this for the iOS splash screen as well, so the app to start in portrait mode on phones.

But this doesnt seem to work.

I found many threads that explain that this can be achieved by using

stage.autoOrients

and

stage.setAspectRatio

But this doesnt seem to work properly.

If i use this in the app code:

if(isTablet()) {
	stage.autoOrients = true;
	stage.setAspectRatio( StageAspectRatio.ANY );
}
else {
	stage.autoOrients = false;
	stage.setAspectRatio( StageAspectRatio.PORTRAIT );
}

and use these values in the descriptor:

<aspectRatio>any</aspectRatio>
<autoOrients>true</autoOrients>

it works correctly on iPad, but if i run the app on iPhone while holding the device in landscape mode - you can see the iOS orientation animation going on and the home bar on the iPhone X for example remains in landscape orientation.

On the other hand if i use this in the descriptor:

<aspectRatio>portrait</aspectRatio>
<autoOrients>false</autoOrients>

then it works correctly on iPhone, but on iPad it wont change the orientation to landscape if i start the app by holding the device in landscape orientation. I have to rotate the device again to force the orientation change.

Issue im having is actually same as this one:
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1219755

but i get the same results if im debugging or not, makes no difference for me

EDIT:

seems like its an old AIR bug, i have the same issue as described here:
https://tracker.adobe.com/#/view/AIR-4198273