Tesla App Gets Native iPad and Duo Layout

Tesla's latest app update is a useful reminder that good software design depends on the screen it runs on. The company has moved past simply installing its iPhone app on iPads and has built a native layout with two columns: navigation and controls on the left, and a larger visualization of the vehicle or home on the right.

The update covers vehicle features such as climate, charging, and security, along with a home energy view that shows power flowing between solar panels, a Powerwall, the home, and the grid. Tesla is also extending support to Android tablets and foldable devices, which makes multi-device design a core part of the rollout.

For product and design teams, the takeaway is that large-screen devices need purpose-built interfaces, not scaled-up phone screens. Tesla's design team reworked multiple views to make that shift.