According to DigiTimes today citing supply chain sources, Apple plans to release new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models with OLED displays in mid-to-late 2024. According to reports, some Apple suppliers have begun to expand touch screen panel production capacity to prepare for new products.
According to the report, the new iPad Pro models will feature hybrid OLED displays, made of a combination of flexible and rigid materials, which could help achieve a thinner and lighter design than current models.
OLED technology will enable the next-generation iPad Pro display to have higher brightness, higher contrast ratio, better color accuracy and lower power consumption than current LCD panel models. Apple already uses OLED displays in its latest iPhones and Apple Watches, with the exception of the lower-end iPhone SE.
iPad Pro released in 2017 and later support ProMotion, with a variable screen refresh rate between 24Hz and 120Hz. Switching to OLED may drop the refresh rate further to 10Hz or lower to save battery life, with iPhone 14 Pro models going as low as 1Hz in Always-On Display mode.
It is noticed that the current largest iPad Pro is equipped with a 12.9-inch display, so the 13-inch one will be even larger. Apple reportedly plans to reduce the bezel size of future iPad Pro models, but it’s unclear if this will apply to the next generation.
The report claims that Apple suppliers may stop selling current iPad Pro models with mini-LED backlights by mid-2024, suggesting that these models may be discontinued.
Currently, there are rumors that Apple will launch a new iPad Pro with an OLED display in 2024. Korean website The Elec has previously reported that mass production of the next-generation iPad Pro models will begin in the first half of 2024, and currently, the most likely release months for these devices are March or June. Other new features rumored for the next iPad Pro models include an M3 chip, as well as a redesigned Magic Keyboard with a larger trackpad and aluminum casing.
