After 13 years, the popular photo communication service Snapchat has finally introduced a native version for Apple’s tablet. However, Instagram still lags behind in this regard.
iPad users are often frustrated when they are forced to use iPhone apps that aren’t optimized for Apple’s tablet. These non-native apps don’t fit well on the iPad’s interface, and they look particularly bad when used in zoom mode. Snapchat, the well-known multimedia and photo messaging app, was stuck in this situation for 13 years. Snap Inc., the parent company, had not taken the time to adapt the iOS app for iPadOS. Now, this has changed: with the recent release of version 13.4.0.41, the app has finally been properly optimized for the iPad.
Still Not Perfect
“Snapchat now offers native support for iPads, meaning the app will fill the entire screen of your iPad,” the company announced. Fortunately, this does not refer to the old zoom mode. When taking “Snaps,” there is now a larger layout area, and with the new Tabs 2 and 4, more friends can be displayed simultaneously. “It’s still the same Snapchat you know and love, just bigger!” the developers proudly stated.
Snap Inc. did not explain why it took so long to complete the adaptation. Despite the significant time spent, the optimization for the Apple tablet is not entirely flawless. Currently, Snapchat can only be used in portrait mode on the iPad, and occasional graphical glitches still occur. Snapchat originally launched on the iPhone in 2011, at a time when Apple’s iPad was already on the market. Nevertheless, the platform was apparently not deemed interesting enough to warrant a tablet-specific version.
And What About Meta?
Another popular iPhone app that has yet to be adapted for the iPad by a major Silicon Valley company is Instagram. The first version of Instagram was released back in 2010. Over the years, Meta (formerly Facebook) has repeatedly stated that a tablet app “is not a priority.”
There have even been issues with using the iPhone app on the iPad in the meantime. Whether Meta will change its stance remains unclear. Technically, creating an iPad version would be no problem, especially considering the size of their development team. But as with Snapchat, it seems iPad users can only keep hoping.
