Instagram Launches Official iPad App Featuring Reels, Following Tab

Instagram has officially launched a native iPad app after years of user demand and reliance on scaled-up iPhone versions or web access. The app is designed specifically to utilize the larger iPad screen, opening directly to Reels for a more immersive, lean-back entertainment experience, with Stories and messaging easily accessible. A new 'Following' tab allows users to customize their feed into 'All,' 'Friends,' and 'Latest' categories, providing various ways to view updates from followed accounts. The app supports multitasking features like side-by-side navigation and the ability to expand comments while watching Reels without shrinking the video. Despite the late arrival, the app brings a much-needed optimized experience that addresses past frustrations with the lack of a tablet-specific design and aims to make content discovery and interaction more intuitive and enjoyable. However, critiques note Instagram's prolonged delay in launching this app and the company’s inconsistent video content strategy, suggesting further improvements are needed for creators and users alike.