Instagram is set to launch a dedicated app for iPad, available for download starting Wednesday, September 3rd. This new app is designed specifically for Apple’s tablet and differs notably from the existing mobile app.
The iPad app will feature a feed that opens directly to Reels, Instagram’s answer to TikTok. This change comes after years of requests from users and follows reports in April about Meta’s plans to develop an iPad app amid TikTok’s regulatory challenges in the U.S. Historically, the development of an Instagram app for iPad was not prioritized, but shifting market dynamics may have influenced this decision.
The iPad app will include several familiar features: Stories will continue to appear at the top of the homepage, and users can access a “Following” tab to view feeds that resemble the mobile experience, including a chronological option. The iPad’s larger screen will facilitate a more user-friendly interface, displaying comments alongsidevideos and integrating direct messages in a manner similar to desktop Messenger.
Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, previously stated that demand for an iPad app was not significant enough to prioritize its development. Factors that may have changed include an increase in tablet usage among younger audiences and TikTok’s uncertain regulatory status in the U.S.
The introduction of the iPad app highlights Instagram’s ongoing commitment to Reels, as the company has extended video lengths, added reposting capabilities, and sought to engage popular TikTok creators. This suggests that Instagram envisions a significant role for short-form video content within its future on tablets.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/769460/instagram-ipad-app-launch-reels