Instagram is coming to iPad, 15 years later

After years of requests from users, Instagram volition yet person a dedicated app for iPad. Beginning Wednesday, September 3rd, users volition beryllium capable to download the caller app built specifically for Apple’s tablet. But it volition beryllium somewhat antithetic than the mobile app users are accustomed to.

Most significantly, the iPad app volition unfastened straight to a provender of Reels, the company’s TikTok rival — possibly a motion of the short-form-video times. Back successful April, reporting indicated that Meta was moving connected an iPad app for Instagram aft years of dragging its feet, successful portion prompted by the legally and politically iffy spot TikTok recovered itself in. For years, Instagram for iPad was thing to tackle “at immoderate point” — until its biggest rival was facing what would efficaciously beryllium a prohibition successful the US. From this perspective, opening the app consecutive to Reels makes cleanable sense.

Other features volition beryllium disposable connected iPad: Stories volition inactive enactment the apical of the homepage, and users volition beryllium capable to power to a “Following” tab wherever they’ll beryllium capable to swipe betwixt feeds that much lucifer the mobile Instagram acquisition (including a chronological option). The bigger surface means much abstraction and less clicks: comments connected Reels volition look adjacent to full-size videos, and the DMs leafage volition person your inbox alongside chats, akin to what Messenger looks similar connected desktop.

Instagram caput Adam Mosseri has said successful the past that the radical of radical wanting an iPad app conscionable wasn’t large capable for it to beryllium a apical priority. So what’s changed successful the past fewer years? Perhaps the fig of kids utilizing tablets has changed the calculus, oregon TikTok’s regulatory vulnerability bumped this up connected the to-do list. One happening that’s evident from this is that Instagram is not letting up connected Reels: it’s extended the length of clips, added the quality to repost and fast-forward them, and earlier this twelvemonth was trying to recruit fashionable TikTokers. The institution sees a aboriginal for Instagram connected tablets — and it’s short-form video each the mode down.