Blender on iPad Is Finally Happening

Summary

After years of anticipation, Blender, the best free 3D software, is finally coming to iPad. The full-fat, professional-grade Blender experience is being adapted for Apple’s iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, marking a significant evolution in how and where artists can create.Blender’s development team has revealed its ambitious tablet-first project in a new design overview, confirming that a native version of Blender is set for release on iPad, with Android following later, which means you could also be modelling and animating in 3D on the new Wacom MovinkPad 11 or Samsung Galaxy Ultra. Proving it's not a pipe dream, a hands-on tech demo will debut at SIGGRAPH 2025 in Vancouver, offering a first glimpse at how Blender runs on a standalone tablet.Importantly, this isn’t Blender Lite. This is Blender, with all the power, functionality, and depth users expect, reimagined for iPad Pro and touch-tablets. And it could be a game-changer for mobile creativity. This follows up on ZBrush for iPad released last year, showing high-end 3D art has a place on mobile tablets.(Image credit: Blender)Making 3D mobileFor years, tablets have promised mobility without compromise. But only now, with devices like the iPad Pro matching desktop-class performance, has the idea of creating professional 3D art and assets on the go felt within reach. If you're looking to get started in this space, check out our guide to the best iPad for drawing and explore what’s currently the top of the line.Blender’s developers agree. “To support Blender’s mission of making 3D technology accessible to everyone, it’s important to fully embrace these platforms,” reads the Blender blog post. And crucially, this isn’t about dumbing things down. The new interface isn’t a watered-down companion; it’s Blender rethought to match the needs of artists who live in a multi-touch world.This means creators who prefer a tablet as their main device and want to unlock from a desktop can now do so in a more profound way. And it means ...