Blender, the widely used open-source 3D creation software, is getting a tablet-first redesign, starting with full support for the iPad Pro. Here’s what to expect.
In a detailed post at the Blender Developer Blog, Head of Product Dalai Felinto says that while tablets have been around for a while, “only recently, thanks to increased processing power, have they started to serve as primary computing devices.”
He says Blender’s tablet push will include “Android and other graphic tablets in the future,” but the rollout is set to begin with the iPad Pro as they navigate UX challenges such as:
- Single, full-screen window workflow.
- Relatively small screen real estate.
- No keyboard/mouse (out of the box, use should be optional).
- Multi-input interface (touch + pen).
- Limited processing power and battery.
- Siloed file system.
Felinto also says that the company’s long-term goal is to offer the same experience on both desktop and tablets, but for now, the iPad Pro version will focus on basic object manipulation and sculpting, “followed by Grease Pencil and storyboarding,” leveraging the Apple Pencil capabilities.
Mockups and demos
To illustrate how far along in the iPad Pro adaptation Blender is, Felinto shared a couple of videos showcasing object manipulation and sculpting, which you’ll find below:
He also said that developers interested in contributing to the project, can get in touch via Blender’s DevTalk Forums, or through their Chat website.
Finally, a tech demo of Blender running on iPad Pro will be shown at SIGGRAPH 2025 in Vancouver, taking place August 10–14. That will be followed by a design workshop at Blender HQ in Amsterdam, and additional live demos during Blender Conference 2025, scheduled for September 15–19.
Are you a 3D artist? What do you expect from Blender on the iPad? Let us know in the comments.
iPad deals on Amazon
- iPad 11-inch (A16), 128GB: $299 (was $349)
- iPad Air 11-inch (M3), 128GB: $499 (was $599)
- iPad Air 13-inch (M3), 128GB: $699 (was $799)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), 256GB: $899 (was $999)
- Apple Pencil (USB-C): $69 (was $79)
- Apple Pencil, Latest model: $99 (was $129)
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