Supply chain: OLED iPad Pro display production begins in February

AppleInsider

The iPad Pro is expected to move to OLED in 2024, and a new supply chain report says production begins in February.

iPad Pro moving to OLED

Rumors have been flying for years about Apple moving its iPad lineup to OLED. It settled on mini-LED backlighting for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro as a stopgap until OLED could become affordable enough at that display size.

According to an industry report from South Korea's Chosun Biz, shared by OLED Info, OLED panels for Apple's iPad lineup will begin production in February. That's the only new piece of information from this report, as the 10 million unit count and 60/40 split between Samsung and LG were already shared in an earlier report.

Apple is expected to move its iPad mini and iPad Air to OLED by 2026 as well. The initial 10 million supply appears geared towards the 11-inch iPad Pro and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

These industry reports align with a rumor shared by Mark Gurman in August, and more recently by Digitimes. Both suggest that Apple is gearing up for an OLED iPad Pro refresh in early 2024.

Gurman also suggests the 2024 iPad lineup changes will include a slightly larger 13-inch model, a new aluminum Magic Keyboard, and the M3 chipset. He calls this Apple's "best chance in years to reinvigorate the market."

This report is nearly identical to Omdia's, which we rated possible. It seems likely Apple could start production of OLED for iPad Pros in February for a mid-year release -- through rumors have previously expected a spring release.

2023 is the first year since the iPad was introduced without a model update. Rumors suggest 2024 is going to be a big year for iPad.

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magnuskrantz

I’m so looking forward to this! My 2018 iPad Pro 11” is still fast enough for my needs, no problem there, but the battery is really showing its age, I have to charge it every day.

chasm

I have a 2019 iPad Pro (11”), and while it is more than capable for what I use it for, my (literally) only complaint is that the Magic Keyboard, as much as I love it — I’m typing on it right now! — adds a bit too much bulk and weight to a size I deliberately chose for better portability.

If this rumour turns out to be correct, 2024 is going to be a very expensive year for me, as my 2019 15-inch MBP (which, again, is still perfectly fine most of the time) also would not hold a candle to what I could accomplish with a Space Black MBP M3 Pro.

Damn you Apple!!