Blender, the powerful open-source 3D creation suite, is expanding its reach beyond traditional desktops. The Blender development team has revealed plans to bring the software to iPad and Android tablets, marking a major step toward broader accessibility.

Widely recognized as one of the top tools for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering, Blender has long been limited to desktop operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, with community-driven ports available for platforms like Haiku and BSD. This limitation has been a hurdle for creators relying solely on tablets—especially given that other professional design applications including Photoshop, AutoCAD, and Krita have already made the leap to mobile devices.

In a recent blog post, the team stated, “Multi-touch interfaces like tablets have been around for years, but only now, thanks to stronger hardware performance, are they being used as primary computing tools. To align with Blender’s mission of democratizing 3D technology, it’s essential to embrace these modern platforms. Devices such as the Apple iPad, Microsoft Surface, Huawei MatePad, and Wacom MovinkPad represent the future of portable creativity.”

The tablet version of Blender aims to deliver “a full Blender experience,” preserving the software’s depth and complexity rather than streamlining it for casual users. The initial release will focus on core functionalities like basic object manipulation and digital sculpting, with Grease Pencil and storyboarding features expected in later updates. Additionally, enhancements developed for the tablet version—such as a Quick Favorites editor and a Helper overlay with context-sensitive shortcuts—will also improve the desktop experience.

Development is prioritizing the iPad first, with full Apple Pencil integration, followed by versions for Android and other tablet platforms. This rollout mirrors the strategy seen with many professional creative apps—Adobe, for example, typically launches its tools on iPad before Android—though the Blender team hopes to minimize the wait for Android users.

The blog emphasized that the target audience remains existing Blender users, regardless of device: “There is no distinction between desktop and tablet users, just as there’s no divide between mouse/keyboard and graphic tablet users. We’re not aiming to simplify Blender for newcomers unfamiliar with 3D workflows. […] Our goal is to build new core capabilities while crafting a tailored application interface suited for devices like the iPad.”

While there’s still no official release date for the tablet version, the team is actively gathering user feedback and seeking more developers to join the effort. A tech demo will be showcased at the Blender booth during SIGGRAPH 2025 in Vancouver next month, featuring the app running on an iPad Pro.

The arrival of Blender on tablets is exciting news for digital artists and 3D creators who rely on portable devices. For now, users can continue to download Blender for Windows, macOS, and Linux from the official website.

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