Snap has finally decided to release a native app for the iPad's larger display. The update comes 13 years after the app debuted for iPhone and Android devices. While Snap is taking steps towards the larger screen, Meta has resisted the idea of ​​bringing its Instagram and WhatsApp apps to the iPad, and the social media giant could learn from this approach.
Snapchat has released a native iPad app, which could lead to Instagram and WhatsApp following suit.
In case you didn't know, users have been asking for dedicated WhatsApp and Instagram apps for the iPad, and while there are workarounds to make that happen, native support is missing yet. The iPad is a very capable device, and it makes sense for the company to host its apps on a device that can take advantage of the larger display. Snapchat's native support for the iPad would allow users to take better advantage of new features.
Previously, Snapchat for iPad was not optimized for iPad, which resulted in users using the app at a very low resolution and with huge borders on all sides. With native support, the app interface is now fully optimized for iPad screens, eliminating blank black spaces. Note that the app interface is now locked to portrait orientation, so you cannot rotate it even if you turn the toggle on.
Snapchat now offers native support for iPad, which means Snapchat will take up the full screen on your iPad, giving you a bigger canvas when capturing snaps and the ability to see more of your friends on the second and fourth tabs.
Snapchat first released its app for iPhone in 2011, and now, 13 years later, the app has finally come to iPad. Snapchat recently introduced a variety of AI-powered features, all of which will be available on iPad. There's even an AI assistant you can use to try out the new features. If you're interested, you can get Snapchat for free from the App Store on any iPad running iPadOS 13 or later.
Snapchat's arrival on the iPad may inspire WhatsApp and Instagram to release native support for the device. Whether you want to use the platform on a larger screen is ultimately a matter of personal preference, but it's always better to have an ecosystem that works across devices. We don't know yet if Meta is developing native WhatsApp and Instagram apps for the iPad, but we'll let you know as more information becomes available.