It’s almost as if they can’t monetize it, it’s not a priority. Services now make up over 20% of total revenue.
The iPad is a gateway to more paid subscriptions services like Apple Fitness+
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
5 iPhone Apps Apple Still Hasn't Brought to iPad
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It’s almost as if they can’t monetize it, it’s not a priority. Services now make up over 20% of total revenue.
The iPad is a gateway to more paid subscriptions services like Apple Fitness+
You are 100% right
It's pretty clear that basically everything Apple does now is working backwards from "how does this fit into the Services growth" picture?
Jobs had a thing for calculators being perfect, as seen in the original Mac desk accessory.
I'll give Apple a pass for not having a calculator at the iPad's launch, but this doesn't excuse the long absence. Compared to the resources thrown at dead ends like AirPower and the Titan car project, getting an interim iPad calculator working wouldn't have made a blip.
Spot-on. Sadly, many believe Apple's engineers/managers are simply stupid, inept, or incapable of adding an iPad app. Without insight into the bigger picture and information that only Apple has.
There’s no WhatsApp on Apple Watch either, which is super annoying.
It’s odd, especially considering there’s a great WhatsApp app on macOS.
Apple gotta keep gimping the ipad so people will continue to buy macs and iphones... It is laughable how terrible IpadOS is.
Yeah, for sure on that… if the Invite app was on the iPad people wouldn’t be buying iPhones and Macs. 🤣
My frustration is with the functional compatibility of apps across iOS, iPadOS and macOS environments. It's nice to be able to share files through repositories like iCloud, but many apps have different functionality across those environments, different in terms of UI implementation and different in terms of not having all functions across all three platforms.
I know my ask here is somewhat extreme because they really are different platforms with both hardware, UI and usability capabilities. But I believe Apple could do a much better job at achieving compatibility across its ecosystem.
Take Photos for instance. I do sync the Photos content using iCloud. Today I was trying to find particular photos of a family member. I'm able to do that pretty easily on macOS. But I was at a family gathering with just my iPhone. I rarely use the Photos app on iPhone, but I just couldn't figure out how to use it there. And I suspect I might have lost the grouping of that person on iPhone. I know I'm open to criticism for using Photos of any flavor, but being part of the ecosystem is useful to me.
And why can I set different time zones for start and finish time of Calendar events in the iPhone Calendar app but not in the macOS version. I find that functionality very useful for airline travel events. You'd think having that functionality in iOS and not macOS is the wrong way round. I wonder what the rationality for this difference it.
I know my ask here is somewhat extreme because they really are different platforms with both hardware, UI and usability capabilities. But I believe Apple could do a much better job at achieving compatibility across its ecosystem.
Take Photos for instance. I do sync the Photos content using iCloud. Today I was trying to find particular photos of a family member. I'm able to do that pretty easily on macOS. But I was at a family gathering with just my iPhone. I rarely use the Photos app on iPhone, but I just couldn't figure out how to use it there. And I suspect I might have lost the grouping of that person on iPhone. I know I'm open to criticism for using Photos of any flavor, but being part of the ecosystem is useful to me.
And why can I set different time zones for start and finish time of Calendar events in the iPhone Calendar app but not in the macOS version. I find that functionality very useful for airline travel events. You'd think having that functionality in iOS and not macOS is the wrong way round. I wonder what the rationality for this difference it.
You'd think that the Journal app would have been implemented across all platforms, iPhone, iPad and Mac much like its major competitor, DayOne is.
While Apple has made strides in bringing long-missing apps to the iPad in recent years, there are still five iPhone apps that remain noticeably absent.
After years of requests from users, Apple finally introduced the Health, Weather, and Calculator apps to the iPad in iPadOS 16, 17, and 18, providing a tweaked experience for the bigger screen. However, this week's debut of Apple Invites, an event-planning app exclusive to the iPhone, highlights that Apple is still not bringing all of its first-party applications to the iPad. Here are five apps we're still waiting on to come to Apple's tablet:
Invites
Apple introduced the Invites app earlier this week, offering a streamlined way for users to create, manage, and send event invitations. The app allows users to design invitations with customized backgrounds, photos, and AI-generated imagery via Apple Intelligence's Image Playground.
It integrates with Maps and Weather to provide location and climate details for attendees, and features RSVP tracking along with collaborative Apple Music playlists and shared photo albums.
Despite its clear utility, Apple Invites remains natively unavailable on iPad, with the only options being running the iPhone version or using the browser version via icloud.com. Given that iPads are commonly used for light productivity tasks, planning, and creative work, the absence of Invites on the platform is a peculiar omission.
Wallet
First introduced in 2012 as Passbook and later rebranded as Wallet, Apple's digital wallet app is best known for storing credit and debit cards for use with Apple Pay. However, Wallet also houses event tickets, boarding passes, loyalty cards, and transit passes.
While the iPad lacks NFC hardware, making contactless Apple Pay in stores impossible, there are still several Wallet features that could benefit iPad users. The ability to view transaction history, receive Apple Pay notifications, and manage delivery tracking from online purchases could all be useful on a larger display. For example, iPad mini users might find Wallet beneficial for accessing event tickets or passes without needing to switch to their iPhone.
Sports
Apple Sports launched with iOS 17.2, providing users with real-time scores, standings, and statistics across a wide range of professional and college sports leagues. The app integrates with Apple News and Apple TV.
Apple Sports similarly has not yet made the jump to iPad. While iPad users can obviously access live scores through Safari or third-party apps, the lack of a dedicated Sports app on iPadOS is an unusual limitation for such a simple app.
Given the iPad's famous suitability for media consumption, including watching live sports through services like Apple TV+, the absence of a native Sports app makes little sense. Users who might want to monitor games while working or browsing on their iPad are left without the convenience that iPhone users enjoy.
Phone
While iPads cannot function as standalone cell phones, they are capable of receiving calls via an iPhone using Continuity, yet there is no Phone app for the iPad.
This means iPad users cannot initiate continuity phone calls without first opening FaceTime or a third-party VoIP app. There is also no call history, no favorites list, and no way to access voicemail directly from the iPad.
Journal
Apple introduced the Journal app in iOS 17.2 as a new way for users to document their daily experiences, incorporating text, photos, locations, and audio recordings into structured journal entries. The app uses machine learning to offer prompts and suggestions based on a user's daily activities.
Unlike many other iPhone-exclusive apps, Journal cannot even be downloaded and run on an iPad. Because it is a system app rather than an App Store download, there is no workaround for iPad users who might want to use it in Stage Manager or another multitasking mode.
Given that journaling is often associated with extended writing and reflection, an iPad version would seem particularly useful, allowing users to write longer entries with a paired Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil. The lack of an iPad version is made even more conspicuous by the fact that many popular third-party journaling apps, such as Day One, offer excellent cross-platform compatibility.
Article Link: 5 iPhone Apps Apple Still Hasn't Brought to iPad
However, that aside, there are apps that I'd like to see on the Mac platform too, including the Apple Health app. It's now on the iPad and I use it daily. But as I spend a lot of time working (yeah, that's what I call it, funny, I know) on the Mac, it'd be helpful for me.
Like many others, the fact the Journal app isn't on Mac and ipad as well is completely mystifying, and somewhat ridiculous. You're far more likely to journal on those devices than you are on the phone.
Oh and I know it's not an apple app, but, Whatsapp, Whatsapp, Whatsapp. FFS Meta. Just put it on the ipad.
Oh and I know it's not an apple app, but, Whatsapp, Whatsapp, Whatsapp. FFS Meta. Just put it on the ipad.
This whole topic is the single biggest beef I have with the Apple ecosystem. They design these devices, they create the dev tools, they promote cross-platform apps to devs, they HAVE WRITTEN THE CODE FOR ONE version of eeah app already (so it's only a relatively little extra work to do more), they know that supporting all their own products only has benefits to the overall perception/quality of their ecosystem, they have trillions of dollars ….. and yet, they just don't do it.
It's utterly baffling - it almost seems like a deliberate "**** you" to their customers.
It's utterly baffling - it almost seems like a deliberate "**** you" to their customers.
You just answered your own question.
Apple is in the business of selling hardware.
They want you to buy two devices!
Easy.
Apple's News app on iPadOS & macOS is crippled as it lacks the ability to listen to audio stories that the iPhone version has.
Both iPads and desktops have superior speakers and audio than an iPhone; why Apple has no News audio except on iPhones is a complete mystery.
Both iPads and desktops have superior speakers and audio than an iPhone; why Apple has no News audio except on iPhones is a complete mystery.
Ah yes because that is the only app that isn't on the ipad... Apple loves customers like you who keep buying the same old thing and are okay with the hamstringing of devices by their software.
Yep... I'm happy to be one of the 1+ Billion happy and repeat Apple customers!
You must be an Apple customer who feels hamstrung, right? I certainly don't.