Apple has been rumored for several years to be considering converting its iPad Pro tablets to OLED display technology, and the latest report from Supply Chain says the first of these updated devices is due to arrive in 2024.
This is from ET News (Opens in a new tab) In South Korea (via MacRumors (Opens in a new tab)), which claims development is now underway on an iPad with an OLED screen. Samsung and LG’s display divisions seem to be in line with providing panels.
Current iPad Pro models feature mini-LED LCD technology: while this has a slightly higher ceiling in terms of maximum brightness than OLED, OLED can’t be beat in terms of contrast and black depth.
Same sizes
According to the report, the 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen sizes will remain the same as Apple switches, so in terms of dimensions and form factors for the iPad Pro there won’t be any obvious difference.
Apple has used OLED technology on its iPhones for several years now, but it’s more difficult and expensive to produce panels in larger sizes — so keep an eye on any price differences when it comes to the 2024 iPad Pro.
Previous leaks had also set the iPad Pro launch date at some point in 2024, so this matches that. The report says that OLED technology is also being worked on for the Apple MacBook line, with a switch scheduled for 2026.
Analysis: room for improvement
Apple refreshed its premium line of tablets again last year, and in our review of the iPad Pro, we gave the device an almost perfect score. It’s an impressive piece of hardware from almost every angle, and it’s hard to see how Apple will improve it in the future.
The internals are always expected to be faster every time we get a new iPad, but the iPad Pro is arguably so powerful that the average user will never push them anywhere near their limit.
Software updates are always being pushed regularly as well, with iPadOS 16.1 adding the Stage Manager tool. These updates are separate from hardware considerations, and appear on all types of iPads, new and old.
It appears that Apple has decided that OLED technology is one update it can invest in for the iPad Pro, and maybe eventually the standard iPad as well. Once you make that switch, there may not be anything else to improve.