Ultra Retina XDR OLED screens in iPad Pro are just the latest evolution of Apple's flagshi...

AppleInsider

The iPad Pro line has boasted Apple's flagship display technology for the last six years, starting with a ProMotion LED display, stopping at at miniLED backlighting for a while, then arriving at tandem OLED. Here's how they compare.

iPad Pro display technology has come a long way

Apple revealed the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models during a short video event on May 7. These are the first iPads with OLED displays, but the technology goes much further than the panels used in iPhones.

This comparison will focus on the previous three generations of display technology available for the larger iPad Pro. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2018 had a Liquid Retina display, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2021 had a Liquid Retina XDR display with miniLED backlighting, and the new 13-inch iPad Pro revealed in 2024 has an Ultra Retina XDR display.

Apple's naming for each display technology may be arbitrary, but there are various differences in how these displays work and what a user can expect. Base technologies like 120Hz ProMotion, P3 wide color, and True Tone remained throughout the years, so the most significant change is how the pixels display images on the screen.

Here's how the specs line up for each of the iPad Pros we're comparing.

Feature	13-inch iPad Pro (M4)	12.9-inch iPad Pro (M2)	12.9-inch iPad Pro (A12X)
Year	2024	2021	2018
Display name	Ultra Retina XDR	Liquid Retina XDR	Liquid Retina
Technology	Tandem OLED	miniLED backlight	LED
Resolution	2752p by 2064p	2732p by 2048p	2732p by 2048p
Pixel density	264 ppi	264 ppi	264 ppi
Brightness	1,000 nits SDR 1,000 nits HDR 1,600 nits peak HDR	600 nits SDR 1,000 nits HDR 1,600 nits peak HDR	600 nits all content
ProMotion (120Hz)	Yes	Yes	Yes
P3 wide color	Yes	Yes	Yes
True Tone	Yes	Yes	Yes
Nano Texture	Yes (1TB or 2TB)	No	No
Apple Pencil support	Apple Pencil Pro Apple Pencil (USB-C)	Apple Pencil 2 Apple Pencil (USB-C)	Apple Pencil 2 Apple Pencil (USB-C)
Apple Pencil Hover	Yes	Yes	No

Apple has introduced some interesting new display technologies for iPad Pro that are aimed directly at creatives and content consumption. There's a good chance the iPad Pro will be the best display in your home, second maybe to Apple Vision Pro.

The "Liquid" in Liquid Retina refers to IPS technology. XDR is short for "extended dynamic range," which refers to the display's high contrast thanks to the miniLED backlight.

The latest "Ultra" designation seems to apply to the use of tandem OLED, which layers two panels on top of each other for higher 1,000 nits sustained brightness for SDR and HDR content.

Place these three displays side-by-side, and you'll notice one thing instantly when viewing some content -- bloom. Or the lack thereof.

The move to miniLED backlighting reduced bloom but didn't eliminate it because sections of the backlight had to light up even if a single pixel was showing white against a black background.

That's no longer an issue, thanks to OLED. Each pixel provides color and light, so when a pixel is off, it shows perfect black.

Tandem OLED allows the 13-inch iPad Pro to have better sustained SDR brightness

The move to OLED is the most significant change for the 13-inch iPad Pro, but there are a few more updates to the display. Note that it is a 13-inch display in marketing and not a 12.9-inch.

Apple hasn't said anything specific, but the specs show that there are more pixels in each direction -- 20 vertically and 16 horizontally. That indicates that Apple increased the display size slightly to earn that larger 13-inch name.

Here is the difference between a single stack OLED and a tandem stack OLED. It is a catalyst for OLED materials and evaporation equipment suppliers. pic.twitter.com/aSjSDkyPal

— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss)

May 8, 2024

The final upgrade to the 13-inch iPad Pro is an optional one. Customers who purchase a 1TB or 2TB iPad Pro can choose to add Nano Texture for an additional $100.

Nano Texture is a special etching technology that reduces a display's reflectivity. Adding Nano Texture will make the iPad Pro much more usable in bright environments and outdoors.

Nano Texture makes seeing the iPad Pro display easier in bright conditions

Apple also introduced the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. These aren't exactly display-related, but they are exclusive to the new product line.

Customers shopping for the 13-inch iPad Pro will need to buy a new Apple Pencil, even if they already own the Apple Pencil 2. The Apple Pencil with USB-C is also compatible.

Initial orders arrive, and in-store availability begins on May 15. The 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,299 and can cost up to $2,599 without accessories.



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AniMill

I’m really surprised that the new Apple Pencil Pro is being supported by the Air as well! You’d think that’s a way to further differentiate the Pro from the Air, a motivation to push people to the Pro. But this is a very consumer friendly move - I applaud Apple for this. The new Air looks like the perfect replacement for my 11” iPad Pro 2nd generation with its cracked screen. But I will look into the 11” iPad Pro with that OLED display.

kdupuis77

AniMill said:

I’m really surprised that the new Apple Pencil Pro is being supported by the Air as well! You’d think that’s a way to further differentiate the Pro from the Air, a motivation to push people to the Pro. But this is a very consumer friendly move - I applaud Apple for this. The new Air looks like the perfect replacement for my 11” iPad Pro 2nd generation with its cracked screen. But I will look into the 11” iPad Pro with that OLED display.

It seems to me Apple is planning to have the new iPad Pro and Air lines compatible with the  Pencil USB-C (Basic) and  Pencil Pro (Advanced) as two separate options now and I imagine when the iPad mini is refreshed (end of this year or next year?) they'll put the landscape FaceTime camera w/ update charging module into it as well to match  Pencil compatibility.

That just leaves the entry level iPad 10th Gen, which already works with the  Pencil USB-C, that they could potentially add-in the required wireless charging module to support the  Pencil Pro - Or not and just leave it as is for the time being as the basic model.

Now that the iPad 9th Gen has been officially retired by Apple, once they update the mini next all of their current lines of iPads will work with the two newer  Pencil options. And presumable Apple will continue selling their remaining stock of 1st and 2nd Gen  Pencils to support customers with older iPads for some time before eventually phasing them out entirely.

charlesn

AniMill said:

The new Air looks like the perfect replacement for my 11” iPad Pro 2nd generation with its cracked screen. But I will look into the 11” iPad Pro with that OLED display.

Yes, by all means, just "look into it,"lol. You know how this will end, right? Just get your wallet ready. 

kdupuis77

charlesn said:

AniMill said:

The new Air looks like the perfect replacement for my 11” iPad Pro 2nd generation with its cracked screen. But I will look into the 11” iPad Pro with that OLED display.

Yes, by all means, just "look into it,"lol. You know how this will end, right? Just get your wallet ready. 

Flipping iPhone's OLED screen then the MacBook Pro's MiniLED Screen have spoiled my face... Staring into my iPad Pro watching YouTube Videos and TV Series in glowing gray bloom despair for years lol... I've been saying as soon as Apple dumped either of these screen technologies into their 11" model I'm throwing my cash at them haha. Well, today was the day! Ya got me Apple! Are you happy now?! Would absolutely prefer the mini w/ and OLED display, but I'll stick with 11" for the eye candy I suppose!

9secondkox2

Nano texture is going to be a no for me even though I’ll use it in bright settings. 

While technically it helps minimize reflections, it just looks poor compared to a regular surface. Mac retina screens really pop. Nano texture really degrades that very noticeably. The few folks I know who opted for nano texture were disappointed, opting to exchange, sell. Be sure you see one in person before paying an extra 100 on something you’d wish you didn’t have. It’s not a small difference. It’s a big deal.  

charlesn

9secondkox2 said:

Nano texture is going to be a no for me even though I’ll use it in bright settings. 

While technically it helps minimize reflections, it just looks poor compared to a regular surface. Mac retina screens really pop. Nano texture really degrades that very noticeably. The few folks I know who opted for nano texture were disappointed, opting to exchange, sell. Be sure you see one in person before paying an extra 100 on something you’d wish you didn’t have. It’s not a small difference. It’s a big deal.  

Thanks for this. Seems like great advice. I haven't seen a nano screen in person, but was wondering if it might have the exact issue you describe. And by the way, Apple won't just sell you the nano screen option for an extra $100. Nope! It's only available to those ordering either a 1TB or 2 TB model, which will cost hundreds more. It's like wanting a heated steering wheel in your new car and finding out it's only available with the $5,000 "Interior Comfort Package."

kdupuis77

charlesn said:

9secondkox2 said:

Nano texture is going to be a no for me even though I’ll use it in bright settings. 

While technically it helps minimize reflections, it just looks poor compared to a regular surface. Mac retina screens really pop. Nano texture really degrades that very noticeably. The few folks I know who opted for nano texture were disappointed, opting to exchange, sell. Be sure you see one in person before paying an extra 100 on something you’d wish you didn’t have. It’s not a small difference. It’s a big deal.  

Thanks for this. Seems like great advice. I haven't seen a nano screen in person, but was wondering if it might have the exact issue you describe. And by the way, Apple won't just sell you the nano screen option for an extra $100. Nope! It's only available to those ordering either a 1TB or 2 TB model, which will cost hundreds more. It's like wanting a heated steering wheel in your new car and finding out it's only available with the $5,000 "Interior Comfort Package."

And realistically, most people thinking they want a less reflective display would be better suited to install a matte aftermarket screen protector to try it out.

macgui

At one time matte screens were standard and there was no option for "glossy" screens. Apple got a lot of whines about their glossy screens being oversaturated. Some Dell monitors had matte screens that were opaque as San Francisco fog. There were sites showing how to remove the matte coating. There was no getting around the fact that a matte screen diffuses sharpness. I expected the same of Apple's nano screen but never saw a mention of it in the early days of the XDR display.

These days matte screens seem scarce. That's fine by me. I look at my Dell monitor and wish I had the stomach to remove its coating. I need to see the 11" XDR iPad Pro.