Instagram Finally Lands on iPad
It’s taken 15 years, but on September 3, 2025, Instagram finally launched a proper iPad app. No more stretching out the iPhone version — this is a full redesign built for iPadOS 15.1 and above. And if you were hoping for a photo-focused experience, think again: Meta has put Reels front and centre.
This isn’t just about user requests finally being met. It’s a smart move in a bigger content war, especially with TikTok facing legal headaches in the U.S.
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What’s New
Reels First
Open the app and you’re straight into Reels. Instagram’s clearly positioning this as “lean-back entertainment” to rival how people use TikTok on tablets.
Designed for Big Screens
- Stories still live at the top.
- A new sidebar makes getting to DMs, notifications, and search a lot smoother on larger displays.
- Messaging uses a split-screen view, so you can keep a conversation open without losing your place.
Following Tab Refresh
Three new feed views:
- All: suggested posts and Reels from everyone you follow.
- Friends: just people you mutually follow.
- Latest: a chronological timeline.
You can reorder them so the one you care about most comes first.
Better Multitasking
Comments expand alongside Reels without pausing playback. Messages and inbox sit side-by-side. Basically, it feels like Instagram finally understands that iPad is made for doing more than one thing at once.
Why Now?
For years, Adam Mosseri brushed off the need for an iPad app. The audience was “too small,” he said. What’s changed? Two things:
- TikTok has dominated video on tablets.
- With TikTok under pressure in the U.S., Meta sees an opening to pull in both users and creators.
They’re even offering serious cash incentives — up to $50k — for creators who switch.
Bigger Picture
Here’s what I think this really signals:
- Short-form video is the battleground. Photos aren’t the driver anymore, and Instagram isn’t pretending otherwise.
- Creators come first. Between financial incentives and new tools like Meta’s CapCut rival “Edits,” it’s clear they’re working hard to keep creators in the ecosystem.
- Tablet design matters again. This is about more than convenience. It’s about immersive video consumption and making sure Instagram owns that screen.
Final Thoughts
I’ll be honest, this feels long overdue — but it’s still a big win for iPad users. I like how smooth the multitasking feels, though I’d personally love to set Latest as my default tab instead of Reels. No surprise Meta didn’t give us that option just yet.
Still, this is worth watching. It shows where Instagram is heading: video-first, tablet-ready, and very much in a fight to capture the audiences TikTok might lose.
