Instagram is at its best when its showing gorgeous photos, so how much better might it be if it worked with the big screen available on an iPad instead of just a smartphone? We could know the answer to that question soon.
In a matter of months, according to two different reports, Instagram’s parent company Meta could deliver a big-screen Instagram. In April, The Information revealed in a report picked up by MacRumors that the iPad version was under development, meaning that users would no longer have to rely on the iPhone app, which isn’t optimized for the bigger display of the iPad.
More recently, on June 2, Mark Gurman commented on the topic in his Power On newsletter. “Fifteen years after the first iPad went on sale, WhatsApp is now on the tablet. And, yes, it’s just a precursor to the most highly anticipated iPad app ever: Instagram,” Gurman said, revealing that Meta employees are actively testing Instagram and that the “development work is full steam ahead. I would expect it to be released this year if all goes to plan,” he added.
Though Facebook, another major app in the Meta stable, has been available on the iPad since 2011, there was no sign of WhatsApp until May 2025. It’s thought that hesitation may stem from concerns about what square images might look like on the larger, rectangular iPad screen.
“Pictures also have often been low-resolution, something that would be more evident on a larger screen. The technology has now caught up, though, and the dream of an iPad-optimized Instagram experience is finally close to becoming a reality,” Gurman explained.
Photographs routinely look great on the iPad, especially on the 13-inch iPad Pro with OLED screen. I’ve regularly said that I don’t care to use the iPad as a camera — a flat slab of glass and aluminum is not ergonomic compared to a regular camera for a start. But I always have to concede that in one way, the iPad is great for shooting stills and video: the display is an excellent viewfinder, making for a great way to frame your shot.
Exactly how soon it can be hoped that the app will arrive isn’t known. But news that it’s coming will please many.
