The Instagram app on iOS is filled with many features to enjoy and, while users may also take advantage of it on the iPad, it is literally the same experience as it is only a retrofit from the iPhone.
However, reports now suggest that Meta is currently working on a native Instagram iPad app that would fill the entire screen and no longer require users to utilize the 2x zoom to see more details.
Apple's iPads may have evolved into a bezel-less design, but using the Instagram app on the device gives users massive black voids around it as the app cannot truly fit on the tablets, which has been the case for the past 15 years.
Meta's Instagram Is Reportedly Working on an iPad App
According to the latest report from The Information, Meta, particularly the Instagram team, is now working on a dedicated iPad version of its Instagram app after a long time of keeping it as a port. This was revealed by an unnamed current employee of Instagram, saying that Meta is looking to capitalize on Instagram's experiences amidst the TikTok US ban fiasco.
Meta is now looking to grow the Instagram experience and rake in more users on the platform as it is now turning its attention to the iPad. The company is said to be focused on driving more users to opt for Instagram instead of TikTok.
It was revealed by the Instagram employee that the current iPhone port of the app to the iPad that appears zoomed-in on the experience is "not a good experience."
iPad Users Missed Out on Instagram for 15 Years
It has been 15 years since an iPad version of Instagram arrived for global users, but then again, it is only the iPhone's iOS version that was ported to the larger screens.
While this allowed users to still access Instagram on their Apple tablets, it is not the "true" iPad experience as its current version is optimized for the iPhone.
Using Instagram on an iPad Is a Challenge
Various developers have made their apps available on different Apple platforms like iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, but this was something missing from Meta for the longest time now. Meta has fielded questions regarding the native Instagram app for the iPad, and over the years, they claimed that it was not under development, with its CEO saying that it has other priorities.
When Instagram started, it was an app made for smartphones as it focused on a photo-sharing, which then allowed videos and other experiences. There have been various compromises that iPad users have resorted to in order to enjoy the Instagram experience, and one of it centers on accessing it via the web.
For those who rely on the app, they either have to suffer from the 1x zoom of the app, which is in the iPhone aspect ratio, or use the 2x feature that makes Instagram larger but is pixelized and features low quality images.
