Instagram has finally released its own dedicated iPad app after more than a decade of waiting, nearly 15 years after both the social media platform and Apple tablet were first released.
The app is now available for download, offering a mix of the familiar Instagram features with new design options that take advantage of the larger iPad screen.
Unlike iPhone version, the iPad app drops users straight into Reels. This makes sense because Instagram appears to be interested in turning the iPad into a more video-friendly platform, providing a user with more space to enjoy short-form content.
Other classic Instagram features are still there. Stories will remain displayed on top of the screen, and the Following tab helps users to track the posts of the most important accounts. In early use, the app works best in portrait orientation, and that is how the content of Instagram is naturally designed.
Instagram wrote a press release that the app was built with the iPad’s display in mind
“When developing the Instagram app for iPad, we wanted to take advantage of the larger screen to give people more features with fewer taps. We have made it easier to catch up on your messages and notifications with layouts that display both tabs. When you watch reels, you can expand the comments while the reel stays at full size, making it easy to catch up on the best reactions without missing a moment.”
This means that users of iPad can now chat, see notifications, and engage with content more fluidly without bouncing between screens.
