The Apple iPad Pro displays look great. Unlike the other tablets in the range, the current Pro models have miniLED backlighting behind the LCD screen. But the persistent rumor that OLED could be used on the iPad Pro has taken another turn, and it could be here as soon as next Spring.
According to Korean website The Elec, claims that Apple is determined to launch the iPad Pro with an OLED screen in Spring 2024, even if that means that another project, a Mac laptop using the same screen tech, is delayed as a result.
Rumors of a new iPad Pro with OLED have been circulating for a long time, though the exact release date has fluctuated, with late 2024 or even 2025 sometimes being mentioned.
However, the Pro iPads tend to release on an 18-month cadence, and since the last update was in October 2022, Spring 2024 is a perfect fit. There have also been reports of something not quite so welcome: a big price increase to accompany the new technology.
Overall, though, OLED as the display tech would be a welcome upgrade. Not least because, assuming it arrives on both sizes of iPad Pro, it will overcome the current disparity where only the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has miniLED backlighting.
OLED would allow for energy savings compared to LED LCD, where energy is largely the same whether you have a bright or mostly dark screen. In turn, this would make for longer battery life. Other benefits for OLED include increased color fidelity and higher contrast levels. Plus, if rumors are true, a thin design would make for a slightly slimmer iPad Pro—though, honestly, it’s pretty slim already.
It’s also predicted that the display sizes would grow, though only by a tenth of an inch, meaning the smaller model would have an 11.1-inch display and the larger 13 inches. Enough to be noticeable, but only just, perhaps.
Though there has been no mention of what processor will power the next iPad Pro, a Spring 2024 release would likely mean it could take advantage of the Apple M3 chip, expected to be delivered later this year.
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