Instagram Brings a New iPad Experience With Focus on Reels
Instagram has launched its first-ever dedicated iPad app, aiming to improve how users engage with its platform on larger screens. Until now, iPad owners relied on a stretched iPhone version with blurry visuals and missing features.
The new app, available globally on devices running iPadOS 15.1 and later, marks a major step in Instagram’s ongoing redesign efforts.
Reels Take Center Stage
The app opens directly to a Reels feed, making short-form videos the centerpiece of the interface. Stories remain pinned at the top, while messaging is just a tap away.
Instagram said the design encourages “lean-back entertainment,” letting users scroll through video content more seamlessly. Reels already account for more than 20 percent of the time people spend on Instagram, highlighting its role in Meta’s video-first strategy.
More Control Over Feeds
The iPad app introduces a Following tab with multiple viewing options. Users can choose between recommended posts, updates from mutual followers, or a simple chronological order.
In addition, Instagram allows users to reorder these feed options to prioritize preferred content. This update gives more flexibility to audiences who want greater control over how they browse posts.
Optimized Multitasking and Interaction
The interface is designed to support iPad multitasking layouts. Messages and notifications can now appear side by side with the main feed, making it easier to multitask without leaving a video.
Comment sections also expand while videos continue playing, removing the need to pause content to interact with posts. These changes bring the app closer to the experience people expect on a tablet.
Competition with TikTok
Meta continues to push Reels as a competitor to TikTok’s dominance in short-form video. The iPad app is part of this larger effort to increase engagement across its platforms.
By making Reels more accessible on tablets, Instagram is banking on users who prefer larger screens for video viewing. The app also signals Meta’s intent to enhance user experience across devices while keeping video at the core of its growth.
What’s Next for Android Tablets?
While the iPad app is now live, Instagram confirmed that an optimized version for Android tablets is coming soon.
For now, iPad users can download the app for free from Apple’s App Store and explore the redesigned experience.
