2024 iPad Pro to Use LCD Panel Instead of OLED or Mini-LED, Claims Sketchy Report

[MacRumors]

Apple's next-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro will revert to an LCD display instead of adopting OLED panel technology, claims a controversial new report coming out of Asia.

It has been widely reported that Apple's next iPad Pro models will be the first Apple tablets to debut superior OLED panels, with rumors suggesting they will begin shipping around the middle of next year. That's not necessarily the case, according to a confusing new DigiTimes report.

The Taiwan-based outlet now claims Apple will in fact revert to using LCD backlighting for its upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro model, putting it on par with the existing 11-inch model.

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 an inferior LCD-based "Liquid Retina Display."

The report alleges that the high production cost of using mini-LED backlights in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has been a "hurdle for broader industry adoption," and that Apple's pivot back to conventional backlight technology "could be motivated by the company's focus on scalability and market penetration."

As a result of the component changes, production of the new 12.9-inch iPads could be postponed to "early 2024 at the latest," having originally been slated to start in "early November," adds DigiTimes.

Several things don't add up in this latest report. As covered previously by MacRumors, ‌DigiTimes on Thursday alluded to the same report in its "Before Going to Press" section by claiming that a forthcoming 12.9-inch iPad Air may feature LCD backlighting as opposed to the mini-LED backlighting used in the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

However, the fully published report no longer mentions this alleged larger "12.9-inch iPad Air," and simply makes a passing reference to "a new iPad Air" that will also use traditional LCD backlighting like the next iPad Pro.

To add to the confusion, the full article appears to contradict itself by repeating widely reported claims that "Apple might launch a new iPad Pro with AMOLED displays earliest in 2024, sourcing mainly from Samsung Display and LG Display." Whether the OLED model is meant to be in addition to the alleged 12.9-inch iPad Pro with LCD display previously mentioned is simply not specified.

Leaving aside the inconsistencies in the above claims, if the next 12.9-inch iPad Pro reverted from mini-LED to traditional LCD panel technology, it would be considered a major regression for Apple's most premium tablet offering, especially given that OLED display technology is perhaps the most anticipated upgrade coming to the next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

Given the contradictions in DigiTimes' reporting, not to mention its history for misinterpreting supply chain information, this claim alone should be taken with a large grain of salt until other sources can corroborate it.

Article Link: 2024 iPad Pro to Use LCD Panel Instead of OLED or Mini-LED, Claims Sketchy Report

 

[gpat]

This is obviously going to refer to the next-gen iPad Air.
Either that or is Apple at work to bait out leakers again.

 

[MayaUser]

they will not go to oled from mini-led
So many useless rumors from everywhere
For the ipad pro the next big thing will be micro-led, in 2-3-4 years

 

[sack_peak]

Apple will use tech that fits design & price targets.

This is why 2017 iPhone X got AMOLED displays 7 years after the 1st Android got theirs.

This is likely why no iMac 32" 6K exists as the display panel part needs to cost below $1k to hit a $1799 M3 price point.

A redesign will likely to occur by 2027 to comply with EU law on replaceable batteries.

If you have a 2018 iPad Pro then it will be 9yo by then and received its final Security Update.

 

[nicetriangles]

Really don't want OLED anyway if that rumored price hike was gonna be a factor. I think the issues with the mini LED displays is way overblown and I don't want burn-in on my screen from the few apps I used for hours at a time.

Would much rather they make a bigger iPad Pro.

 

[Zest28]

So the M1/M2 iPad Pro’s might be the best iPads ever made then if this is true.

 

[TheAppleFan2004]

- Sees article heading
- Gets shocked
- Sees "DigiTimes"
- Closes website

 

[Populus]

This is, indeed, confusing, although I have read from several MacRumors pals that Digitimes is not very reliable.

One possibility that I thought is that maybe the OLED iPads are an entirely new, more expensive category (Maybe iPad Ultra?), and the iPad Pros remain at the current price point and with the LCD technology. But this is just a hypothesis.

 

[TheAppleFan2004]

This is obviously going to refer to the next-gen iPad Air.
Either that or is Apple at work to bait out leakers again.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple and DigiTimes are working hand-in-hand to catch leakers at this point, with all the conflicting info they keep putting out

 

[jmonster]

Is there anything MR won't repost for a few more clicks? Credibility here is at an all time low, routinely amplifying the voices of people themselves making things up (or grossly misunderstanding) ... I really can't take anything seriously on this site anymore. It's a shocker when something actually matches reality.

 

[prism]

...while the 11-inch variant uses an inferior LCD-based "Liquid Retina Display."
Inferior is a strong word, the 11-inch display doesnt suffer from pwm like that of the XDR display! I spend hours on the ipad so it matters a great deal to me!

 

[gpat]

Is there even a point in redesigning an iPad Pro?
What changes could you hope to incorporate?

 

[risenphoenixkai]

What?! A report from Digitimes turned out to have several glaring inaccuracies?!!?!

It’s a good thing I was already sitting on my fainting couch.

 

[TracerAnalog]

Is there anything MR won't repost for a few more clicks? Credibility here is at an all time low, routinely amplifying the voices of people themselves making things up (or grossly misunderstanding) ... I really can't take anything seriously on this site anymore. It's a shocker when something actually matches reality.

Well… the website is called Mac Rumors, so I don’t mind. I know a lot of rumors are just guesses and interpretations from ‘analysts’ but I find it highly amusing.

 

[adamlbiscuit]

The iPad rumour cycle lately is almost as confused as the product line itself

 

[iPadified]

Makes no sense at all unless the OLED is an upsell option. I hope for a March event with a totally revamped iPad lineup instead of this mess.

 

[contacos]

Considering sales of MacBooks and iPads keep on dropping, I would think they'd consider making the line up much simpler at some point. The big margin can only make up for the weak sales so long.

iPad - basic one, focused on school / uni
iPad Air (11 inch)
iPad Pro (12 inch)

MacBook - basic one, focused on school / uni
MacBook Air - 15 inch (not sure why this one is bigger than a Pro anyway but here we are)
MacBook Pro - 14 inch / 16 inch

If it was up to me I'd do

iPad - 11 inch
iPad Pro - 12.9 inch

MacBook - 13 inch
MacBook - Pro 15 inch

No one needs this "Air" non sense. Only exists to keep the price of the "Pro" models high, just like the iPhone "Plus"

Do we really need each model in different screen sizes?

 

[jimmy_uk]

I'm down for this. Give the LCD manufacturers more orders and keep them in business. OLED and MiniLED in mobile computing devices have too many downsides for me.

 

[timber]

This report is probably bogus but I wonder who buys these Macbook prices compromised and limited devices.

Yes I know they are very useful for a few use cases. It's not about a few individual cases.

 

[EmotionalSnow]

- Sees article heading
- Gets shocked
- Sees "DigiTimes"
- Closes website

No wonder DigiTimes has such a bad reputation when they report such obviously nonsense news.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

If you have a 2018 iPad Pro then it will be 9yo by then and received its final Security Update.

So, if I get the battery replaced in mine, maybe I can stretch until then? 😂

 

[sack_peak]

So, if I get the battery replaced in mine, maybe I can stretch until then? 😂

Ours is 5 years old already. 4 more years to go!

 

[Duncan-UK]

It seems a little silly to refer to the 11 incher display as "inferior". I have both the 12.9 and 11 inch M1 iPad Pros and to be honest I've never noticed any differences. Sure I imagine if you compared spec sheets you'd find a difference - but real world? Similarly I also have the iPad mini gen - jelly scroll?? Never seen it.

 

[klasma]

For the ipad pro the next big thing will be micro-led, in 2-3-4 years

Nah, micro-LED isn’t anywhere close to that yet. I wouldn’t bet on it for this decade.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

I have Digitimes subscription (I have subscription for it, expensive and worth it) and yeahs it sounds confusing.

They might mean that 12.9 iPad Air will use LCD while 12.9 inch iPad Pro will use Mini LED backlit LCD, just like to differentiate it from 15 inch MacBook Air and 15 inch MacBook Pro. Something probably got lost in translation.

A redesign will likely to occur by 2027 to comply with EU law on replaceable batteries

Probably not gonna happen to give EU the middle finger. Samsung and Google not happy about this and is also fighting it. I’m not in support of it because this means it’s back to bulkly phones. Glued in battery somewhat sucks but it offers thinner and more portable phones.