Apple Tablet Seen as Not Likely to Include OLED Screen

[MacRumors]

Occasional rumors regarding Apple's forthcoming tablet have claimed that the device may include an OLED screen, with a report just last week suggesting that Apple's need for 10.1-inch screens had created shortages in both the LCD and OLED supplier markets.

Ars Technica examines the possibility, determining that the inclusion of an OLED screen in Apple's tablet is highly unlikely given the quantity of such screens available in the market.

Ars caught up with Barry Young, Managing Director of the OLED Association, and asked him about the state of OLED in general and the Apple tablet rumors in specific.

The problem with the recent rumor that Apple is hoarding 10-inch OLEDs, Young explained, is that "there's no real production of 10.1-inch panels" for anyone to hoard. If anyone were to produce a 10.1-inch panel, then it would have to be for a specific order. "I haven't seen any of the OLED suppliers commit to that yet," Young said of a hypothetical 10.1-inch panel production run.

According to Young, Samsung is the only company currently offering active matrix OLED panels in quantity, and it could only produce about 150,000 10.1-inch panels per month, with that level only being possible if the company shifted its entire production to that size of panel and abandoned its existing orders from other companies with which it is already struggling to keep up.

Apple has a long-term agreement with LG regarding development and supply of displays, but Young notes that LG has only 10-15% the capacity of Samsung when it comes to OLED technology, again insufficient to meet Apple's needs. Given the limited capacity of the OLED panel industry to supply Apple with such parts, Young's conclusion is that at best Apple could introduce a very expensive OLED model only in extremely limited quantities. Such a move would appear to agree with a November report claiming separate LCD and OLED models, with the OLED model coming in with a price tag near $2000, although it remains to be seen whether Apple would be willing to launch such a low-volume, high-cost niche product that would appear to be so similar to a cheaper LCD-based tablet offering.

Article Link: Apple Tablet Seen as Not Likely to Include OLED Screen

 

[Grimace]

Finally - some logical reasoning to quash some of the absurd rumors! OLEDs don't play well with the sun. Apple would be silly to introduce them on a portable whatever-it's-going-to-do device.

 

[amac4me]

Hopefully the rumors about the 27th event are true as we'll finally be able to see this much anticipated tablet.

 

[MikeELL]

Interesting... It would seem OLED isn't ready for prime time yet (at least at this size). I wonder whether they could ramp up by the second half of the year as the previous rumour suggested...

 

[jo0]

good, OLED is biodegradable crap. i hate the environment and i'm glad to see apple following my footsteps...

 

[miles01110]

Cue the trolls that don't understand that mass-produced OLEDs aren't going to happen for at least another year or two.

 

[AAPLaday]

iPhone and iSlate 2011/2012 will probably use OLED

 

[jlseattle]

Date firm for next week?

So is the date firm for next week on Apple announcements? I hope the iTablet is coming!

 

[anubis]

I thought Apple was going to use that screen that was like a hybrid LCD/e-ink. Pixel Qi or something

good, OLED is biodegradable crap. i hate the environment and i'm glad to see apple following my footsteps...

I'm going to assume that this is satirical, in which case, it's brilliant

 

[talkingfuture]

I would assume that if they did use OLED it would be extravagantly expensive too, even by Apple standards. I'd like to see the Pixel QI or something similar in it.

 

[jo0]

good, OLED is biodegradable crap. i hate the environment and i'm glad to see apple following my footsteps...

I'm going to assume that this is satirical, in which case, it's brilliant

satirical indeed

 

[goobot]

watch there be no tablet or it just be a crappy ebook reader

 

[uaecasher]

The other fact which would make OLED not likely to be in iTablet is the price tag.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

File this report under "D" for Duh. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out an OLED for a tablet isn't practical or economically feasible in 2010.

 

[jo0]

watch their be no tablet or it just be a crappy ebook reader

or maybe the iPhone 4g will have a 10.1 inch screen? you heard it here first..

 

[Chupa Chupa]

So is the date firm for next week on Apple announcements? I hope the iTablet is coming!

Nope. At least no evites have gone out yet. I suspect tomorrow, Wed at the latest. Otherwise the idea of a Jan 26/27 event grows dim.

 

[yyy]

Who wants a 10.1 inch screen? The smallest MacBook screen is 13.3 inch and even that is considered too small. Apple are terribly wrong if they think people are going to prefer these small screen over a MacBook.

 

[zombitronic]

Nope. At least no evites have gone out yet. I suspect tomorrow, Wed at the latest. Otherwise the idea of a Jan 26/27 event grows dim.

It might make sense to put out invites tomorrow, since the stock market is closed today.

 

[twoodcc]

i'm not so sure i believe this report, but we'll see. i wouldn't pay $2k for it though

 

[jemo07]

So, what happens when the rumored slate wont make it to prime time next week? I feel sorry when all we get is a new iPhone (God knows they need it) and some new platform in the 1k range for email a media viewing...

for me if the iSlate is iPhone based OS, then I will not get into this new bandwagon. OLED is still green technology and you´d be wishing you never had anything with it if you plan to view it in daylight... I forget the brand but the new cameras with OLED displays where barely visible in strong artificial light... so FWIW, I hope they don´t add OLED to any of their products for the time being.

Now, can we stop the iSlate rumors.,,, I just might start iHate the iSlate campaign soon

 

[jo0]

Now, can we stop the iSlate rumors.,,, I just might start iHate the iSlate campaign soon

...seriously? welcome to macrumors.com, where we don't post rumors because they make people irritable and over excited...

 

[Compile 'em all]

Who wants a 10.1 inch screen? The smallest MacBook screen is 13.3 inch and even that is considered too small. Apple are terribly wrong if they think people are going to prefer these small screen over a MacBook.

Are you the same dude that said that the iPhone will fail because it lacked a physical keyboard?

Just because the screen is small doesn't mean the UI will be the same to that of the normal portables. Look at the iPhone for an example. There are hundreds of use cases in which it is faster to do things on the iPhone than on a normal portable. Flicking through a list is a simple example of an operation that is not only easier but is also more natural to do on a multitouch screen than on a normal computer.

 

[baryon]

or maybe the iPhone 4g will have a 10.1 inch screen? you heard it here first..

Haha, yeah, this isn't going to be a Tablet, this is going to be an "iPhone Giga": iPhone for fat people!

 

[jemo07]

...seriously? welcome to macrumors.com, where we don't post rumors because they make people irritable and over excited...

Well, I meant out side MacRumor!

 

[Hemingray]

From what I've read, aren't OLEDs currently limited to about a 14,000 hour lifespan? I'd rather have regular LEDs and have it last for 60K+ hours.