It was reported last month that Apple would transition the iPad Pro to mini LED in the first half of 2021, before switching to OLED displays in the second half. According to the latest from a South Korean publication, the first OLED iPad won't arrive until 2022 (via SamMobile).
Per the report, the transition will begin with a few models. The orders will apparently go to Samsung and LG, who also make OLED panels for the iPhone 12 series.
According to an earlier rumor, Apple has demanded higher specifications for the OLED panel meant for the iPad Pro when compared to the screens supplied for iPhones. Today's report provides more clarity on that.
Apple is expected to use hybrid OLED units which are thinner than conventional panels and are made using a combination of flexible and rigid OLED technologies. Samsung and LG have branded these panels as UT (Ultra Thin) and ATO (Advanced Thin OLED), respectively.
Samsung Display will reportedly start supplying UT panels for the iPad in 2022, and the chaebol has already started working on facilities and equipment that would be required. LG Display will commence shipments in 2023. The report adds that full scale manufacturing will also begin in 2023.
mini LED iPads will likely precede the arrival of OLED ones
OLED equipped Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus
As you may already know, all iPads in Apple's current lineup sport LCD panels. The latest report corroborates earlier rumors that said some 2021 iPad models will use mini LED, presumably a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, a 10.2-inch iPad, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini. To be more specific, up to 40 percent of iPad models coming next year could feature miniLED. The tech is expected to offer similar benefits to OLED but without downsides such as burn-in.
A report that dates back to 2018 says Apple may never use OLED for iPads because of technical and financial constraints. To give you some perspective, 6.1-inch iPhone 12's OLED panel supposedly costs Apple $90 per unit.
That said, competitors like Samsung and Lenovo already make OLED tablets, so it wouldn't be surprising if Apple makes the switch too.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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