For over a decade, iPad users opening Instagram faced a jarring experience: a blown-up version of the iPhone app, fuzzy at the edges, awkwardly centered on the tablet’s expansive display. This frustrating compromise might soon vanish. According to multiple reports, Meta is finally developing a native Instagram app for iPad and it could arrive before 2025 ends.
Why This Matters Now
The timing isn’t accidental. Meta recently launched a dedicated WhatsApp app for iPads after years of resistance, signaling a strategic shift toward embracing Apple’s tablet ecosystem. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Meta employees are “actively testing” Instagram for iPad, with development at “full steam ahead”. If testing stays on track, users could see the app by late 2025.
The Long Road to an iPad App
Instagram’s absence on iPad has been one of tech’s great mysteries. Since both the iPad and Instagram debuted in 2010, users demanded a native experience. Past excuses included:
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Technical limitations: Low-resolution photos looked poor on larger screens, and Instagram’s square-centric format clashed with the iPad’s dimensions.
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Resource priorities: Meta historically focused on mobile and desktop, dismissing tablets as “computers” best served by web browsers.
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Corporate tensions: Some speculate Meta withheld iPad apps as retaliation against Apple after clashes over privacy and the removal of Meta’s data-tracking app Onavo.
What’s Changing?
Three forces are driving Meta’s reversal:
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TikTok’s threat: With TikTok facing a potential U.S. ban, Meta sees an opportunity to capture its audience. TikTok already offers a polished iPad app a competitive edge Meta can no longer ignore.
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User demand: Creators, photographers, and everyday users consistently lobbied for iPad optimization. Editing photos or videos on a cramped phone screen stifles productivity, while the iPad’s canvas enables precision.
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Technical readiness: Instagram now supports 3:4 aspect ratios and higher-resolution media addressing earlier concerns about image quality on larger displays.
What to Expect From the App
Leaks hint at significant upgrades:
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True tablet interface: No more stretched layouts. The app will leverage the iPad’s screen with adaptive grids, streamlined navigation, and dynamic split-view options.
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Enhanced editing tools: Optimized cropping, filters, and text overlays designed for touch and Apple Pencil input.
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Multitasking support: Drag-and-drop media, picture-in-picture video, and seamless switching between accounts.
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Content discovery: A richer explore page showcasing Reels and Stories in landscape-friendly formats.
The Bigger Picture
Meta’s pivot underscores tablets’ growing role in social media. As iPads dominate the tablet market—with over 50% global share ignoring them means forfeiting engagement and ad revenue. A native Instagram app could also boost Meta’s ecosystem lock-in, making it easier for users to hop between Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram without leaving their iPads.
User Reactions: “Finally, but Why So Late?”
iPad owners express cautious excitement. As one MacRumors commenter noted: “It’s ridiculous that one of the most media-focused apps has ignored the iPad for so long”. Others highlight the absurdity of Meta releasing an iPad app for business tools like Meta Business Suite years before its consumer flagship.
Fifteen years is an eternity in tech. While Instagram’s iPad app is overdue, its arrival marks a win for creators and casual users alike. If Meta delivers a thoughtfully designed experience not just a port it could redefine how we create and consume content beyond the phone screen. As Gurman bluntly put it: “The dream of an iPad-optimized Instagram experience is finally close to becoming a reality”.
Update (June 4, 2025): Meta has not confirmed a release date. Threads, Meta’s Twitter competitor, may not receive a simultaneous iPad app
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