Rumors about OLED displays for future iPad Air and iPad Pro tablets have once again got a chance in the arm, with production for OLED-equipped iPads planned this year. And larger OLED MacBook Pro models may also be on the way.
This is according to a report by DigiTimes, which claims that an iPad with a 10.9-inch OLED screen could be in production by the end of 2021, ready for release in 2022. After that, Apple may turn its attention to the 12.9- inch vest. iPad Pro and possibly the 16-inch MacBook Pro, although Cupertino is apparently not yet connected to OLED panels for its laptops.
DigiTimes presumably got it all through its sources in the industry – we recommend people involved in Apple’s supply chain, rather than Cupertino insiders – which is why we need to take such rumors with a pinch of salt. However, the report adds confidence that new iPads could give a big boost in the near future.
This is not to say that the LCD panels used in current iPads are bad anyway. The Liquid Retina display in the iPad Pro models is partially impressive with their 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. But OLED panels, now featured in the iPhone 12 series, typically offer better colors and contrast than their LCD counterparts, and this will likely be a major upgrade for future iPads, especially when it comes to viewing photos and videos. to watch.
Since DigiTimes’ sources mention a 10.9-inch iPad, which happens to have the same screen as the latest iPad Air, we can conclude that Apple’s mid-size tablet will be the first to get an OLED screen. At first glance, it seems strange that the iPad Air would get OLED first, but there seems to be something better for the iPad Pro.
The iPad Pro 2021 is expected to get a mini-LED screen at Apple’s Spring event this month. Mini-LED is an upgrade of traditional LCD screens and offers a greater contrast ratio and deeper blacks, similar to OLED, but with even higher brightness and less risk of burn-in.
Since the iPad Air was upgraded last year with a new Pro-like design, the wait until 2022 on an upgraded model seems relatively logical.
MacBook Pro with OLED
More interesting is probably the idea that a 16-inch or potentially 17-inch MacBook Pro can come with an OLED screen.
In the current MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, the LCD Retina displays are quite impressive with accurate color. But the move to OLED can see even better colors and contrast, ideal for professional photo and video editors.
But OLED screens have popped up in Windows 10 laptops and they can raise prices very steeply. So we can guess that a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an OLED screen will not be wallet-friendly.
Time will tell whether this inside information will bear fruit. But we are quietly optimistic that OLED iPads are on the way.