Jul 28, 2025 16:00:00

Development of iPad version of free 3DCG tool 'Blender' is underway

Blender is a 3DCG tool with a variety of functions such as 3DCG modeling, physics calculation, and video editing. Since its launch in 1994, Blender has only been available for PCs, but with the goal of 'making 3DCG technology accessible to everyone,' Blender has begun to support devices other than PCs, and it has been revealed that the first platform it has developed is an iPad Pro version that can be operated with Apple Pencil.

Beyond Mouse & Keyboard — Blender Developers Blog
https://code.blender.org/2025/07/beyond-mouse-keyboard/

Blender's Darai Ferinto said, 'Multi-touch interfaces like tablets have been popular for many years, but recent improvements in processing power have made them more important as primary computing devices. It is important that we actively leverage these platforms to support Blender's mission of making 3D technology accessible to everyone.' Ferinto then cited the iPad, Microsoft Surface , Huawei's MatePad , and Wacom's MovinkPad as examples, revealing his vision of deploying Blender on portable tablet devices as well as PCs.

Below is a movie released by Blender's Bluesky account that imagines a world where Blender can be used on tablet devices. A man with an iPad is operating Blender using an Apple Pencil.

Help make blending on-the-go a reality. code.blender.org/2025/07/beyo... #b3d #DevFund

[image or embed]

— Blender ( @blender.org ) July 25, 2025 0:01

According to Ferinto, the tablet version of Blender will not be simpler or more beginner-friendly than the PC version, but will instead be more convenient for Blender users. It will be aimed at people who mainly use tablets rather than PCs, people who want to work with Blender on the go, and people who want to draw pictures and adjust fine lines with a pen device.

Although devices such as the iPad can be connected to an external keyboard, and the Microsoft Surface can be switched between PC and tablet modes, there are limitations to using Blender on a tablet without a keyboard, such as a small screen area and the inability to use a keyboard or mouse. Several screenshots of the iPad version of Blender's UI, which is currently under development, have been made public.

Below is a scene where objects are manipulated using the asset library.

Below is the screen for 'Sculpt' mode, which creates shapes by creating bumps in the clay. Each menu is collapsed, and you can select an option by tapping it.

Detailed information about the ongoing designs and development progress can be found at

projects.blender.org .

Some features will be specific to tablets and other touch devices, but the usability improvements for tablets will also be applied to the desktop version of Blender.

At the time of writing, the release date of the iPad version of Blender has not been decided, but a technical demo of Blender running on the iPad Pro is scheduled to be released at SIGGRAPH 2025 , a premier conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive technologies to be held in Vancouver for four days from August 10, 2025.