Business Korea reports that Apple has ordered OLED panels from Samsung and LG Display, to be used for its next-generation iPad Pro models. New iPad Pro models are expected to be unveiled in 2024.
The report says Apple placed orders for 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch OLED panels from the two display suppliers. Rival Chinese display maker BOE lost out, or as Business Korea so aptly put it, “BOE was excluded.”
Korean display makers are planning to produce OLED panels for the iPad at their current sixth-generation (1500mm x 1850mm) line.
A separate report from Korea’s Economic Daily says Apple has not yet finalized the order volume of OLED displays for iPad Pro. However, it may divide the order equally between Samsung and LG Display.
Apple is expected to unveil new 11.1-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Pro models in the first quarter of 2024. In December, display analyst Ross Young, who has a good track record for display-related Apple rumors, said that he expected to see both models debut in Q1 2024.
Currently, Apple sells a 12.9-inch mini-LED iPad Pro and an 11-inch iPad Pro with a traditional LCD display. By using OLED displays in the new iPad Pro models, Apple could bring back feature parity for the two models. The new models could boast slimmed-down bezels, meaning the overall size of the devices may remain the same.
The last refresh for the 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models came in October 2022, when the tablets received the M2 chip.
Young also says Apple is readying a 13-inch MacBook Air that boasts an OLED display for launch, as soon as next year.