The iPad Air will be the next Apple tablet to receive OLED display panel technology following its adaptation by the upcoming OLED iPad Pro models, according to an updated forecast from research firm Omdia (via The Elec).
“In 2028, we expect the iPad Air to go OLED as well, with the iPad Air using single-stack and the iPad Pro using two-stack tandem OLEDs,” said Omdia researcher Kang Min-soo, speaking on Thursday at the 2024 Korea Display Conference in Seoul.
The OLED panels used in the current iPhone displays are single-stack, which uses one light-emitting layer. The two-stack tandem structure boasts two light-emitting layers stacked on top of each other.
The benefit of the two-stack system is that it can produce the same brightness as a single-stack panel, but consumes less power in the process. Efficiency and lifespan are also anticipated for the panel.
The iPad Pro lineup will mark the first time OLED displays will be used for the iPad lineup. While Apple has been using OLED technology for the iPhone and the Apple Watch, larger OLED screens are more expensive. OLED technology offers several advantages over LCD tech, including increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more. Apple already uses OLED displays for all of its Apple Watch and iPhone models, other than the iPhone SE.
Omida earlier this year predicted that Apple will launch 8.3-inch iPad mini and 10.8-inch iPad Air models with OLED displays in 2026. The research firm also appears to believe Apple will launch an OLED foldable in the next few years in the form of a 7- to 8-inch device that could ultimately replace the 8.3-inch iPad mini. Apple is expected to launch such a device sometime between 2026 and 2027.
Apple is expected to launch its next-generation iPad Pro models sometime in the next month or so. The new iPad Pro models are also expected to be thinner, be powered by an M3 chip, boast improved cameras, MagSafe wireless charging, and more. We also expect to see a revamped Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro.
Apple’s next-generation OLED iPad Pro models are expected to be announced in a matter of weeks, according to multiple sources. They are rumored to have a thinner design, an M3 chip, improved cameras, MagSafe wireless charging, and a redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory that makes the iPad Pro more laptop-like.
Also expected to be announced alongside the iPad Pro are new 10.9 and 12.9-inch non-OLED iPad Air models.
