According to a supply chain report from the Korean blog Naver user yeux1122 (as noted by BGR) Apple is reducing by 30% the number of iPads planned. The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) thinks that’s rubbish.
In fact, I’m expected a year-over-year 10% increase in iPd sales this year. However, Yeux1122 claims Apple initially ordered 10 million units of its OLED panel, but the order volume was recently adjusted to 7-8 million units. With that, LG Display’s orders were purportedly cut in half from the original 6 million to 3 million, while Samsung remained with the previous 4 million units expected.
However, there seems to be excitement for this year’s tablet updates. OLED displays for upcoming iPad Pro models begin production this week with the updated tablets to ship in April, according toThe Elec. According to an October 2023 OMDIA report, the planned OLED tablet panel size for the iPad Pros will be 11 and 12.9 inches and will be supplied by LG Display and Samsung Display. Based on the current survey, Apple is targeting a total of 10 million units of OLED iPad panels for 2024.
The OMDIA report aligns with a September 5 2023 report from DigiTimes that said the upcoming tablet models will sport hybrid OLED displays made with a combination of flexible and rigid materials. This could mean the updated iPad Pros would be even thinner and lighter design than current models.
Currently, Apple sells a 12.9-inch mini-LED iPad Pro and an 11-inch iPad Pro with a traditional LCD display, as mini-LED has continued to be reserved for the higher-end iPad Pro model. Also, look for updated non-Pro iPads and iPad minis before summer.
