Revamping Apple's iPad Pro: The Shift to OLED Displays
Written on
Chapter 1: Understanding Apple's OLED Transition
Apple is poised to enhance its iPad lineup by integrating OLED screens next year. This transition will involve changes in functionality, pricing, and other features. Let's explore the intricacies of Apple's OLED strategy and the motivations behind this significant shift.
What Makes OLED the Preferred Choice?
While mini-LED displays utilize numerous tiny LEDs arranged in various dimming zones, allowing for heightened brightness, OLED technology stands out in delivering exceptional black levels. This is due to the ability of OLED pixels to emit light independently and turn off completely when displaying black, unlike mini-LED, which simply dims the pixels.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro debuted with mini-LED technology in 2021, but users noted a drawback called “blooming.” This phenomenon occurs when bright UI elements leak light into black areas, a flaw not present in OLED displays, where black pixels are entirely inactive.
However, OLED screens are not without their challenges, particularly burn-in. This issue arises when a static image lingers on the display for too long, leaving a ghostly imprint even when switching to different content. Despite mini-LED's advantages over traditional LCDs, many experts still consider OLED to be the gold standard, thanks to its self-illuminating pixels. The burn-in issue can often be mitigated through software solutions.
Chapter 2: Anticipated Release of the First OLED iPad
According to the latest insights, Apple plans to launch its first OLED iPad in the first half of 2024. The initial rollout will likely feature the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, with plans to extend OLED technology to other iPads in the future.
Notable sources, including Bloomberg and analyst Ross Young, support this timeline. A recent Bloomberg report indicates a major redesign for the iPad Pro, set to unveil OLED displays in spring 2024.
Despite the challenges associated with OLED—like potential burn-in and brightness limitations—Apple is reportedly adopting a unique strategy to counter these issues. Young suggests that a new "tandem stack" OLED display technology is in the works, which aims to improve brightness, extend the lifespan of the display, and reduce power consumption by around 30% compared to standard OLED panels. These upcoming devices may also feature variable refresh rate displays for enhanced efficiency.
Chapter 3: Pricing Expectations for the OLED iPad Pro
What can we expect regarding the pricing of the first OLED iPad Pro? Early reports suggest that the pricing will fall on the higher end. OLED panels typically cost more than their LCD and mini-LED counterparts, and Apple is looking to incorporate the most advanced OLED technology available.
According to a recent supply chain analysis from The Elec, Apple is targeting a starting price of $1,500 for the 11-inch OLED iPad Pro and $1,800 for the 12.9-inch model. This represents a significant increase from the current iPad Pro pricing, with the 11-inch starting at $799 and the 12.9-inch beginning at $1,099.
While precise pricing details for the new iPad Pros remain unconfirmed, it seems likely that a price increase is on the horizon.
