Instagram has officially launched a dedicated application for the iPad, fulfilling years of user requests for a native experience on larger screens. This significant development, available globally for devices running iPadOS 15.1 and later, marks a new era for the platform on tablets.
The redesigned interface places a strong emphasis on Reels, Instagram's short-form video content, making it the primary focus upon opening the app. Stories remain prominently displayed at the top, with messaging easily accessible through a single tap, streamlining navigation. A new 'Following' tab offers users greater control over their content consumption, providing multiple viewing options including recommended posts, content from mutual followers, and a chronological feed. Users can personalize their experience by reordering these preferences.
The iPad app incorporates enhanced multitasking capabilities, allowing users to view messages and notifications simultaneously alongside their main feed. Additionally, the app permits comments to expand without interrupting video playback, offering a more fluid and interactive experience, particularly when engaging with Reels. This release addresses long-standing user feedback regarding the lack of a native iPad experience, which previously resulted in suboptimal visuals and missing functionalities when using a scaled-up version of the iPhone app.
The move signifies Meta's strategic focus on bolstering its short-form video offerings to compete more effectively with platforms like TikTok. While Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, had previously expressed reservations about developing an iPad app due to perceived limited demand, the platform's increasing focus on Reels, which accounts for a substantial portion of user engagement, appears to have shifted this perspective. An optimized version of the application for Android tablets is also currently under development.