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Introduction
After years of user requests and long-standing neglect, Meta has finally made a bold move by launching a native WhatsApp app for the iPad. This long-anticipated release reflects a significant change in Meta’s approach to iPadOS and hints at a broader strategy shift. With a custom interface designed for the iPad’s larger display and multitasking features, this rollout could be just the beginning of Meta’s renewed interest in the tablet space. Here’s everything you need to know.
WhatsApp for iPad: A Major Leap Forward
For the first time ever, iPad users can enjoy a full-fledged, native WhatsApp experience—something users have been asking for since the app’s early days. Meta, which owns WhatsApp, has historically been reluctant to build dedicated apps for iPad. Notably, Instagram still lacks an iPad version, although that may change soon. WhatsApp, however, has broken that pattern.
The latest WhatsApp version (25.16.81), now available on the App Store, includes full support for iPadOS, although Meta has been surprisingly quiet about it—no mention of the iPad version appears in the App Store release notes. Despite this stealthy rollout, the iPad app is a powerful and welcome addition to the messaging landscape.
WhatsApp for iPad has been optimized to utilize the tablet’s expansive screen, adopting a two-column layout. On the left, users can see their list of chats, while the right pane displays the active conversation. This layout brings a desktop-like feel to the app, enhancing productivity and multitasking capabilities.
Moreover, the iPad version supports native multitasking features such as Split View and Slide Over, allowing users to chat while working in other apps. Picture in Picture is also supported, making it easier to handle video content while chatting. This represents a thoughtful and functional user interface tailored to the needs of iPad users.
The release is a positive signal that Meta may begin taking the iPad more seriously. With Instagram still absent from the platform, WhatsApp’s arrival may mark the beginning of a broader rollout of native iPad apps from Meta in the near future. Many Apple users and digital professionals have applauded this move, hoping it leads to more iPad-first design thinking across Meta’s product line.
What Undercode Say: 🧠
The release of WhatsApp for iPad marks a critical pivot in Meta’s broader software deployment strategy. Historically, Meta has focused on platforms with higher user penetration like iOS for iPhones and Android. This decision often came at the cost of tablet-specific development. The arrival of WhatsApp for iPad suggests several underlying trends:
- Tablet Market Growth: Apple’s iPad continues to dominate the tablet space. Meta likely recognizes the value in tapping into this large, affluent, and engaged user base.
- User-Centric Development: User feedback has clearly played a role. For years, users demanded a proper WhatsApp experience for iPad. Meta’s response—although delayed—is a sign they’re now prioritizing user demand.
- Multitasking = More Engagement: With the inclusion of Split View and Picture in Picture, Meta is ensuring WhatsApp stays visible longer, increasing the time users engage with the app. This is critical for ad-based revenue strategies, even if WhatsApp itself remains ad-free (for now).
- Cross-Platform Continuity: With growing demand for seamless cross-device functionality, especially among professionals and digital nomads, the new iPad app supports Meta’s broader ambition to create a tightly integrated app ecosystem.
- Market Pressure: Rivals like Telegram and Signal have long offered native iPad experiences. Meta could no longer afford to lag behind in functionality and usability.
- Future-Proofing Meta’s Ecosystem: This launch hints that Meta might eventually unify its communication platforms—Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs—under a shared architecture. A native iPad experience is foundational for such integration.
Meta may also be testing the waters for iPadOS-exclusive features that could tie in with productivity tools, business integrations, or even VR/AR interfaces through the iPad, especially as it continues to build toward the metaverse.
In the end, WhatsApp for iPad is not just about messaging. It’s a strategic foothold that may evolve into something much larger: Meta’s reengagement with the iPad user base after years of neglect.
🧐 Fact Checker Results
✅ WhatsApp version 25.16.81 does include iPad support, though Meta did not highlight this in the update notes.
✅ The app supports multitasking features like Split View and Picture in Picture, confirmed via hands-on testing.
✅ No official statement from Meta about Instagram’s iPad version has been released, but rumors persist of development.
🔮 Prediction
Expect Meta to roll out more native iPad apps in 2025. Instagram may finally debut on iPad within the next 6–12 months, especially if WhatsApp’s reception is strong. As iPadOS matures and Apple continues positioning the iPad as a productivity device, Meta will likely follow suit by enhancing app experiences for this platform, aligning with its goal of maximizing user engagement across all screen types.
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Reported By: 9to5mac.com
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