Apple's wallet-busting OLED move

Sources close to Apple speaking to the Korea Herald claim that LG Display will begin OLED production for the new iPad Pro at its facilities in Gyeonggi Province in February of next year.

The screens are expected to cost three times as much as those used in iPhones, which could mean higher prices for customers. 

ADVANTAGES OF OLED SCREENS

While the current 11-inch iPad Pro features an LCD panel, the 12.9-inch model includes mini-LED backlighting for greater brightness and a higher contrast ratio. OLED technology will eliminate the need for backlighting and provide advantages such as even higher contrast ratios with deeper blacks and lower power consumption.

Apple is expected to use very thin hybrid OLED screens made from a combination of flexible and rigid materials. This could make the next iPad Pro models slightly thinner.

LG AND SAMSUNG TO PRODUCE

It is noted that Apple is seeking approximately 10 million OLED panels for the iPad in 2024. LG is expected to supply about 60 percent of the OLED panels, with the remainder provided by Samsung, which is expected to focus solely on the 11-inch model.

Each pixel in OLED panels does not require an external light source or a backlight panel. In the OLED infrastructure, each pixel is illuminated and controlled individually, allowing pixels to be turned off completely to create black.

Thus, true and deep blacks, which are not possible with LCDs, can be achieved on OLED panels. OLED panels, which have very high contrast ratios through this infrastructure, often offer more vivid colors than LCDs and, thanks to developing technologies, now offer higher brightness than before. OLED technology, like LCD technology, is constantly being improved, and performance is continuously increasing with special technologies.

Panel production for the new generation iPad Pro is expected to help LG Display's financial recovery next year. It is said that LG and Samsung are currently about to finalize price negotiations with Apple.

In addition to OLED screen technology, the new generation iPad Pro models are expected to feature a slightly larger screen, the M3 chip, and a redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the new iPad Pro models to be released in the second quarter of 2024, covering the months of April to June. This timeline largely aligns with the latest rumor from the Korea Herald.

News Source: 12punto