Snapchat Adds Native Support for iPads for an Immersive Viewing Experience

Snapchat / iPad App 

Snapchat has added native support for iPads. While the app was previously available on iPads, it was a blown up version of the iPhone version, which featured lower resolution and borders around an enlarged view. The new native version is optimized for the iPad, filling the entire screen, though it currently only supports portrait mode.

Why It Matters: After more than a decade since launching its iPhone app, Snapchat is now offering iPad users a more immersive experience tailored to the device's larger screen. This update follows TikTok’s recent launch of a native tablet app with enhanced capabilities. This development reflects a broader trend of platforms expanding to larger screens, from native tablet apps to integrations with television and other real-life displays.

YouTube, TikTok, and now Snapchat have all made strides in bringing their platforms to screens beyond mobile, but Instagram remains a notable exception. A few years ago, Instagram cited the limited size of the iPad market as the reason for not launching a native app, despite high demand. Could this latest wave of platform expansions finally push Instagram to allocate resources towards an iPad version and beyond?