WhatsApp Teases Long-Awaited iPad App

[MacRumors]

The popular messaging app WhatsApp has teased a long-awaited iPad app, which would be offered alongside its existing iPhone and Mac apps.

The official WhatsApp account on X today reacted with an eyes emoji to a post saying that WhatsApp should release an iPad app. This could be a hint that Meta is gearing up to release WhatsApp for iPad, which has already been available for beta testing via TestFlight for nearly two years. File this news under "finally."

With an Instagram app for the iPad also reportedly in the works, it appears that Meta is at last embracing the iPad for more of its most popular apps.

In addition to WhatsApp and Instagram, Meta owns Facebook and Threads. There is an iPad app for Facebook, but the Threads app remains iPhone only.

Article Link: WhatsApp Teases Long-Awaited iPad App

 

[MacUserFella]

WhatsApp: what’s up, iPad

iPad: yo

Gurt: yo

 

[klasma]

We need more news reports about eyes emojis!

 

[UpsetTheAppleCart]

Meta apps are in decline. Anything but WhatsApp ftw!

 

[coffeemilktea]

Nice of them to finally make an iPad app right as tech companies are starting to move away from touchscreens and towards augmented reality (Apple with the Vision Pro, Meta and Google with smartglasses, etc) 🙃

 

[cgs1xx]

If it still needs full access to your contact list to work, it's still a no I'm afraid

 

[eyalben]

If it will work as bad as the Mac app, then please don't

 

[H2SO4]

If it will work as bad as the Mac app, then please don't

I'd still rather have it than not.

 

[yuvaldv1]

If it still needs full access to your contact list to work, it's still a no I'm afraid

It's a messaging app, what do you expect?

 

[kihayu]

A WhatsApp app for iPadOS is actually in beta for quite some time, couple of months at least. I'm in that program and the app is already stable for the most part. Won't take long till it will be released for everyone

 

[svish]

Still it might be few months away at least. I don't use WhatsApp much but it will still be good to have an iPad app finally.

 

[germanbeer007]

Why people use WhatsApp over Telegram is beyond me. The worst and most annoying messenger app in the world. Classic example of security and privacy negatively impacting UX

 

[42545]

In some countries WhatsApp is as popular and indispensable as iMessenger in the US. Everyone uses it, so you can't break away.

 

[byebyeapple]

A WhatsApp app for iPadOS is actually in beta for quite some time, couple of months at least. I'm in that program and the app is already stable for the most part. Won't take long till it will be released for everyone

Does your uncle work at Nintendo as well?

 

[russell_314]

If it still needs full access to your contact list to work, it's still a no I'm afraid

I definitely wouldn’t want Meta/Zuckerberg having full access to my contact list

 

[AppliedMicro]

A WhatsApp app for iPadOS is actually in beta for quite some time, couple of months at least. I'm in that program and the app is already stable for the most part. Won't take long till it will be released for everyone

I’m holding my breath.

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[JCCL]

Nice of them to finally make an iPad app right as tech companies are starting to move away from touchscreens and towards augmented reality (Apple with the Vision Pro, Meta and Google with smartglasses, etc) 🙃

lol based on the success of the Vision Pro and the Smartglasses, I don’t think touchscreen based devices are going away anytime soon.

 

[nymphe]

I thought there was a proper announcement or something. I understand it is still a big thing to respond officially but how unprofessional is this? Should we surprised and happy about it? It is on beta since almost two years and no official announcement is made.

I hope they release is soon.

 

[rafark]

WhatsApp: what’s up, iPad

Wow so that’s what the name means? It’s a pun? (What’s up + app)? Very clever name

 

[garranhado]

Maybe it will be presented at WWDC 2025 as a great feature of iOS 19.

 

[TechWhisperer]

Meta product. No, thank you.

 

[ImageWrangler]

Why would anyone in 2025 want to put a Meta product on any device? What kind of glutton for punishment are these people? Do you like being a sheep? A product? Do you not care about your privacy or the privacy of your entire contact list, what you do, where you go? I don't get why someone would give themselves over to a company as evil as Facebook. There is no excuses unless you're just a slave to shiny products, when, much as someone is going to try to make excuses, there are alternatives right down to just SMS/MMS.

 

[Populus]

If it still needs full access to your contact list to work, it's still a no I'm afraid

Recently, the iPhone app no longer requires access to your contact list. And you can even “add contacts” without any access to the contact list!

Hopefully the iPad app is autonomous and isn’t just a web version that needs your phone to be connected and forwarding the messages, like I think the Mac app still does…

 

[johannnn]

what about an Apple Watch app?

 

[Populus]

Why would anyone in 2025 want to put a Meta product on any device? What kind of glutton for punishment are these people? Do you like being a sheep? A product? Do you not care about your privacy or the privacy of your entire contact list, what you do, where you go? I don't get why someone would give themselves over to a company as evil as Facebook. There is no excuses unless you're just a slave to shiny products, when, much as someone is going to try to make excuses, there are alternatives right down to just SMS/MMS.

Sometimes it is that, or lose ties and communication with lots of people that use WhattsApp as the default communication tool. Sadly.

However, thanks to iOS sandboxing, installing a Meta app shouldn’t be a problem, right? RIGHT?