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One of the biggest differentiators between the new Mac M1s and their Intel predecessors is that any Mac M1 can run iPhone and iPad applications. Through the Mac App Store, you can now download the M1 versions of popular iOS and iPadOS apps, although developers can opt out.
This is what it’s like to experience running iPhone and iPad apps on Mac in the real world.
First, let’s start with those who have chosen not to participate. Almost all video streaming services have chosen not to allow their apps to run on Mac, including Hulu, Netflix, Plex, and Amazon Prime Video. The only surprise here, however, is that HBO Max is available on Mac… but it’s not very good.
For example, the HBO Max app cannot be resized and there is no way to enter full screen for video playback. It really is the worst possible way to watch video on a Mac, but at least it is available as an option I guess.
Other notables who have opted out include Instagram, Snapchat, Ferrite Recording Studio, Tesla, MyFitnessPal, Reddit, Messenger, TikTok, and Spotify.
The experience of running an iPhone or iPad app on Mac really varies by app, and the running factor seems to be whether the app is good on the iPad to begin with. For example, apps like Apollo for Reddit and Overcast offer stellar iPad apps, so they work quite well on Mac.
The Facebook iPad app on Mac is interesting. Actually, it works quite well, but there are parts that are not functional, including all the links to Messenger, because the iPad version of Messenger is not available on Mac.
Another positive aspect is the games. I’m a huge fan of making Zach Gage Good Sudoku, and it’s amazing to be able to play it now on Mac. The same goes for a variety of other smaller puzzle games, but diving into titles with a lot of twist is a bit more cumbersome. There are touch alternatives that can replicate touch gestures, but I didn’t have much success with these. I found the default, the best way to play.
Most of the time, things like security code auto-completion, Safari Keychain access, and other system features work fine. The Touch ID integration also works as you might expect. I ran into some issues with keychain autocomplete, but not consistently.
On the other hand, apps that are mediocre on the iPad almost certainly won’t be on the Mac. Apps that don’t offer an iPad app fall back on their iPhone app on Mac at all, and that’s a bad experience too. In most of the cases.
Here are some of them in action.
Cloudy
Download on the App Store.
Apollo for Reddit
Download on the App Store.
9to5Mac
Download on the App Store.
9to5Toys
Download on the App Store.
Download on the App Store.
SpellTower +
Download on the App Store.
Good sudoku
Download on the App Store.
HBO Max
Download on the App Store.
Goat
Download on the App Store.
Trivia HQ
Download on the App Store.
Chinese domino
Download on the App Store.
Dark noise
Download on the App Store.
The weather channel
Download on the App Store.
Wrap
Ultimately, the experience varies quite a bit by app, but having some good iPad apps on the Mac is far better than having none at all. Also, I think seeing how well apps like Overcast perform on the Mac is likely to prompt more developers to make improvements to their iPad apps and then flip the magic switch to make it available on the Mac.
Additionally, seeing iPad apps on Mac is expected to drive further adoption of Catalyst technology, which allows developers to bring their iPad apps to Mac with an even more streamlined experience than simply offering the iPad version through the Mac App Store.
Have a specific iPhone or iPad app you’d like to see running on your Mac? Let me know in the comments and I’ll give it a try.
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