Report: Apple Focusing on OLED Rather Than Foldable iPad

[MacRumors]

Apple is focusing on bringing OLED displays to its iPad and MacBook lineups rather than offering its first foldable, Nikkei Asia reports.

Apple is widely expected to bring OLED displays to the iPad Pro for the first time next year ahead of a wider expansion across the MacBook lineup. Nikkei today corroborated this information citing sources said to be to be familiar with the matter, adding that the first OLED MacBook model is under development for production in the second half of 2025.

Nikkei claims that Apple is currently evaluating the potential of offering a foldable iPad after the transition to OLED is complete, but it is not a main focus and the company does not yet have a solid timeline for releasing such a device, mirroring a report from DigiTimes earlier this year.

Reports from a multitude of reliable sources are fairly consistent that Apple plans to launch a foldable iPad before a foldable iPhone. In October, DigiTimes reported a range of details about Apple's tentative work on foldable iPads, including necessary design changes and small-scale production plans.

Article Link: Report: Apple Focusing on OLED Rather Than Foldable iPad

 

[GuruZac]

There probably isn't a viable foldable option that meets Apple's standards. I've played around with the Samsung Fold 5 and Flip, and the crease in the display is unbearable. It's always there. I can never imagine Apple accepting that level of compromise.

 

[truthsteve]

as they should. folding phones are gimmicks. all it does is sacrifice the UX of a very common use case to solve a minor use case problem.

 

[iPay]

First USB-C, then OLED! relentless innovation at its best.

 

[nfl46]

There probably isn't a viable foldable option that meets Apple's standards. I've played around with the Samsung Fold 5 and Flip, and the crease in the display is unbearable. It's always there. I can never imagine Apple accepting that level of compromise.

Have you tried the OnePlus Open? I have it and you can barely notice and feel the crease. It has the best crease in comparison to the Fold5 and Google Pixel.

 

[contacos]

What is taking them so long to bring something they have had on iPhone for years? I guess it’s really just about waiting for the prices of OLED technology to go further down to not get a cut in their big margins

 

[abatabia]

I agree with this. I like the idea of foldable but…they’re so damn expensive as it is. Imagine an iPad foldable price?

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Well of course.

Putting aside all of the issues with foldables for a second, the tablet market has been struggling in the last thing that would help is a $2000+ folding thing.

Especially when the Vision Pro has basically all the benefits of a folding iPad without the folding part, and knowing Apple probably costs about the same.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

What is taking them so long to bring something they have had on iPhone for years? I guess it’s really just about waiting for the prices of OLED technology to go further down to not get a cut in their big margins

I’m also given to understand that much larger OLED displays that would be found on tablets and laptops and desktops are much harder to mass produce without issues than phone displays are.

 

[nfl46]

The fact that they are sitting aside development of a Fold to bring something like OLED to the iPad and MacBook is insane. Lol. Is everyone working on the same team? Let's not act like OLED hasn't been in phones, tablets and laptops for years.

 

[scorpio vega]

First USB-C, then OLED! relentless innovation at its best.

You are fun at parties i see.

Have you tried the OnePlus Open? I have it and you can barely notice and feel the crease. It has the best crease in comparison to the Fold5 and Google Pixel.

the only problem being it's Oneplus.

as they should. folding phones are gimmicks. all it does is sacrifice the UX of a very common use case to solve a minor use case problem.

I agree. I honestly hope they die out soon.

Remember when 3d camera phones were a thing and the no glasses 3D screens on Android.
WHat a joke lol

 

[ginuz]

fiuuuuuu!!! 😅

 

[scorpio vega]

The fact that they are sitting aside development of a Fold to bring something like OLED to the iPad and MacBook is insane. Lol. Is everyone working on the same team? Let's not act like OLED hasn't been in phones, tablets and laptops for years.

I rather them not waste time on something that is a gimmick at best. I will agree Oled should have been released since but based on posts above....Larger display OLEDs apparently are harder to mass produce than phone size and as we know with apple they USUALLY dont like to release half baked products.

 

[nfl46]

I rather them not waste time on something that is a gimmick at best. I will agree Oled should have been released since but based on posts above....Larger display OLEDs apparently are harder to mass produce than phone size and as we know with apple they USUALLY dont like to release half baked products.

A gimmick? That's interesting. My foldables (OnePlus Open and Pixel Fold) work great and I'd never go back to a slab phone. I've been on the foldable train since the Samsung Fold 4 and never had any issues. But to each it's own.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

Are there any statistics as to how big a percentage of the population have issues with PWM in OLED screens?

It seems that at least Apple are pushing for OLED screens - but at the same time I read more and more about people having considerable issues with PWM on those.

 

[Reached]

Makes a lot of sense, who actually want's a foldable phone lol?

 

[SamRyouji]

I rather them not waste time on something that is a gimmick at best. I will agree Oled should have been released since but based on posts above....Larger display OLEDs apparently are harder to mass produce than phone size and as we know with apple they USUALLY dont like to release half baked products.

I wholeheartedly agree. There's only Samsung in my country if I want to jump on foldable train. And anecdotally, all people that I know who have Fold/Flip has tgeir issues specific to foldable: broken screen at the crease, and/or flex cable issue in less than 2 years of possession.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Especially when the Vision Pro has basically all the benefits of a folding iPad without the folding part, and knowing Apple probably costs about the same.

...other than being able to let others use it, not being tied to the wall for power, not wearing ski goggles inside and looking like a toolbag.. The Vision Pro is not a replacement for screens.

This does like a good idea for foldables. I have no use for a larger portable screen, so these aren't for me, but a lot of people have a use case. I've only personally tried the Pixel fold, and the crease was noticeable, but not bothersome. I do wonder about overall durability (dropping, etc.).

As long as the standard slab is still an option, I'm good. Options aren't a bad thing.

 

[SamRyouji]

A gimmick? That's interesting. My foldables (OnePlus Open and Pixel Fold) work great and I'd never go back to a slab phone. I've been on the foldable train since the Samsung Fold 4 and never had any issues. But to each it's own.

Wow. Two foldables. May I see the photo of your phones? I want to confirm that you indeed possess those two beautiful devices, and your honesty.

 

[lexvo]

Imagine a 12.9 inch iPad Pro which unfolds to an almost 26 inch device🤪

 

[zombierunner]

what happened to all the hoo haa over mini led. I thought it was the future.

 

[knightsabre7]

What is taking them so long to bring something they have had on iPhone for years? I guess it’s really just about waiting for the prices of OLED technology to go further down to not get a cut in their big margins

I’m not sure, but I assume they would want it to have similar performance specs as the current XDR display, and I’ve yet to see any consumer OLED display larger than a phone come close to 1600 nits brightness. Even the high end QD-OLED TVs struggle to get close to that.

Plus, there’s the new blue PHOLED tech coming out in 2024 which should help improve the longevity of the displays.

 

[MrGimper]

Owning several OLED devices, and a 12.9 M1 iPad, I'm not massively fussed about OLED over mini-LED.

 

[bumblebritches5]

Good, Foldable is a useless fad.

 

[clayj]

Good. Screens should not fold or roll up.