iPad users, say goodbye to the awkwardly enlarged interface of Instagram from the yesteryears – the social media app has finally introduced a dedicated iPad app designed to take advantage of larger displays, with improved interface to better fit this class of devices.
Instagram On iPad
However, it seemed like Instagram has conveniently found an excuse to shove you more short-form content right at your face: the app will open directly to the Reels section, and you explicitly need to tap the ‘Following’ tab, followed by ‘Friends’ or ‘Latest’ tab if you want the proper, old-school IG experience. (There’s also the ‘All’ tab that includes recommended posts outside of your following list.) Stories remain at the top section of the now Reels-dominated home screen.
The buttons that used to be situated at the bottom of the screen now lines up on the left side; opening comments on Reels will reveal the panel on the right side instead of displaying on top of the content itself. Similarly, DMs are shown in two-column view with the lists on the left and messages on the right, and notification panel is activated through the left side while shifting the posts rightward.
Instagram for iPad is available globally starting today on devices running iPadOS 15.1 or later, and you can download it for free from the App Store. For Android tablet users, worry not – a similar tablet interface will be introduced to Android devices in the near future, Instagram says.
Pokdepinion: I don’t like the idea of jumping straight into Reels, to be honest – that just makes it another TikTok.
