Snapchat has officially announced native iPad support in its latest release notes. Since its launch in 2011, Snapchat was only available on iPads as an iPhone app with black borders, not as a native app for the iPad's larger screen.
This new update comes 13 years after Snapchat's initial launch on iOS.
The App Store release notes simply state, 'Snapchat now offers native support for iPad.' The app will now fill the iPad's full screen, providing a larger canvas for capturing Snaps and allowing for easier navigation through the tabs.
This update brings increased accessibility on iPads and serves as a platform to test new features, including tools, AR experiences, and AI on a larger screen. It is unclear why Snapchat has taken until now to bring the app to the iPad, and it remains unknown if new experiences will be offered to iPad users.
Unfortunately, the app is currently only optimized for portrait mode and not landscape mode on tablets.
Comparatively, TikTok released an update last year to take advantage of larger screens like iPads and tablets, allowing for landscape mode and easier navigation. By introducing native iPad support, Snapchat is better positioned to compete with TikTok and promote its TikTok competitor, Spotlight.
It is important to note that Instagram has yet to release a native iPad app, giving Snapchat and TikTok a competitive edge over the Meta-owned platform.
