It seems that just when we get used to our favorite app, devs swoop in and deliver a slew of changes that move buttons, overhaul UIs, and leave us feeling like a technophobe.
Instagram is no exception, and while we'll admit some of these changes are for the better, many are a baffling middle finger to the idea of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Thankfully, Meta is at least listening, as it finally rolls out a specific app that some of you have been asking for 15 years.
Taking aim at TikTok's dominance of the social media market, Instagram's dedicated iPad app brings Reels to the masses.
Even though the iPhone was relatively quick off the mark by getting an Instagram app in 2010, iPad owners have been left with a stretched app or an equally clunky web version. There were rumors of an iPad app arriving before the end of 2025, and it looks like insiders were on the money.
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Currently live on the App Store, the iPad-dedicated Instagram app takes the device's bigger screen into account and makes Reels its focus.
An iPad Instagram app has taken so long because it simply wasn't a priority for the company, which didn't want to spend the time and money putting teams on its creation.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri reiterated there simply wasn't a big enough iPad crowd to justify the resources, although he told YouTuber Marques Brownlee it would 'nice' to do an iPad app back in 2022.
As noted by Macgasm, the iPad community has grown exponentially since then. Apple's 2024 financial year reported that iPads generated nearly $27 billion in revenue, so Instagram would be foolish to ignore this corner of the market.
The outlet also reminds us that a Reels-centric iPad app can take on TikTok's similar swipe and scroll demographic.
Hyping this as more than just an XL Instagram for iPhone, the official blog explains how the experience has been redesigned to reflect our use of a bigger screen "for lean back entertainment."
The social media giant adds: "Now, when you open the app, you’ll drop into Reels, so you can get the entertaining content you love on a bigger screen. You’ll also see Stories at the top, so you can easily connect with the people that matter to you, and messaging is one tap away."
Meta also says it's been listening to complaints that we're missing those all-important posts from our BFFs or favorite accounts. The new 'Following' tab appears on iPad and should ensure you're only getting content from those you want to see. This includes a 'latest' feature that includes "chronological posts and reels from accounts you follow, with the most recent posts appearing first."
Navigation is a little different, as the iPad version boasts a persistent sidebar instead of the bottom bar found on iPhones. There's a multi-panel view that lets you scroll through a Reel and look at the comments without obscuring the video. You can also open up your DMs with chats on one side and a conversation on the other.
It might've taken 15 years, but by the looks of it, it was well worth the wait for iPad users to get their own glossy version of Instagram that's just for them.