Once again I think a DigiTimes report is wrong: a new article at at the site (which you’ll need a subscription to read) says Apple is rolling out new iPad Pro models and both the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro model and the new iPad Air are designed with traditional LCD backlights, rather than the mini-LEDs Apple introduced to its premium 12-9-inch tablet.
The current 12.9-inch iPad Pro features a mini-LED display that Apple calls a “Liquid Retina XDR display,” while the 11-inch variant uses a LCD-based “Liquid Retina Display.” Now, DigiTimes — quoting unnamed “industry sources” — claims that Apple will go back to using LCD backlighting for its upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro model.
The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) is 99.9% certain the report is wrong. Numerous rumors say the 2024 iPad Pro will sport an OLED display, and I think they’re right.
For instance, aligning with previous rumors, and October 9 report from OMDIA says Apple will release an iPad Pro with an OLED display next year.
From the report: The planned OLED tablet panel size 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 forecast for 2024 indicates that LG Display may supply 6 million units for both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models, while Samsung Display may provide 4 million units for the 11-inch model only. The OLED iPad will be adopted in the iPad Pro product lineup as the first OLED model for Apple IT products. The demand for the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Mini LED backlight will be gradually replaced with OLED technology from 2024 onward.
An iPad Pro with OLED display was, according to some rumors, originally slated to launch in 2022. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says those plans were delayed because costs and performance weren’t meeting expectations in tests.
