Instagram Might Finally Release an iPad-Friendly App

The Information reports that Meta is working on an iPad version of Instagram. An official Instagram app from Meta would be a much-needed improvement to the iPad, where Instagram is currently only an expanded duplicate of the iPhone app.

After ignoring Apple’s tablet for more than ten years, why would Meta now take this action? The Information claims that TikTok’s ambiguous legal standing in light of Trump’s tariffs and the divest-or-ban bill may be the necessary push.

The business has previously publicly opposed creating an Instagram app for the iPad. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri provided an explanation in response to a post by Marques Brownlee in February 2022 (more than three years ago) on Meta’s continued lack of an iPad Instagram app.

“We get this one a lot,” Mosseri said. “It’s still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority. Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now we’re very heads down on other things.”

In 2023, Mosseri said something similar. “Not working on it right now,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing to do at some point. But we have only so many people working at Instagram, so we’ve got to pick the most important things to do to improve Instagram at any given moment. And right now, it’s not quite making the cut.”

It’s a respectable experience to use the Instagram app in Stage Manager on compatible iPads, and the web app has gotten better recently. However, it’s long overdue for a native version that really utilizes the massive display.