TikTok has released an update to improve the app experience for viewers on tablets and foldable devices, the company said was announced on Monday. The company says the app is now better optimized for larger screens, as viewers can now experience a clean video stream, improved navigation bars and orientation support.
With this new update, TikTok says users will see a refined video stream that “displays content in enhanced definition.” Users will also now see navigation bars at the top and bottom of the screen to easily access app features and tabs.
Additionally, the app will now work in landscape or portrait orientation. Today’s announcement comes a year after TikTok began testing a full-screen landscape mode on mobile globally. By having a landscape mode on larger devices, TikTok is expanding further into YouTube’s territory, which it has already done by supporting longer videos. Since TikTok has supported long-form content for some time, it makes sense for the company to improve the viewing experience for users watching things like cooking demos and beauty tutorials on their tablets. The company is likely hoping that the new feature will convince people who usually watch YouTube on their tablets to spend their time on TikTok.
“While most people already know and love TikTok on their mobile devices, we know that many like to have access to larger screens and foldable devices,” the company wrote in a blog post. “Whether they’re following the latest cooking trends or looking for the latest soccer moments, we’re excited to share that TikTok is now better optimized for tablets and foldable gadgets.
Notably, TikTok’s foldable and tablet optimization comes as Instagram, one of its main competitors, still lacks an iPad app. By having updates to its app experiences on larger devices, TikTok is able to move beyond its mobile-first approach at a time when the competition is still lagging behind.
