The Apple iPad Pro is a highly sought-after device, and the most recent version could be even better with the addition of a new OLED screen. A report from The Elec claims that tech giants LG and Samsung are developing OLED etching technology for future Apple tablets that could make them thinner, lighter, and generally more premium.
The Elec’s report states that LG’s and Samsung’s latest OLED etching tech could be used in the best iPad Pros in the near future. It’s uncertain when this upgrade will make its way to the iPad Pro, but it could be as soon as next year. Previously, it was speculated that iPad Pros would receive OLED displays by 2024. It is also believed that LG and Samsung are both producing their own panels for Apple’s use.
The new OLED panels are hybrid panels that consist of two-stacked layers, which means that there’s two light-emitting layers instead of just one. While the rigid displays consists of two glass substrates, the hybrid panels use a combination of a glass substrate and thin-film encapsulation (TFE). An issue with the current manufacturing process, however, is that the glass substrate layer often breaks during the production phase, which could be solved with the new OLED etching process. With this new method, everything can be achieved in one go, making the process safer and allowing for the panels to be thinner, when used in the iPad Pro, for example.
LG Display claims that the new tech won’t be used until its Gen 8 OLED line, which means that it might not be seen in the iPad Pro models expected for next year. Samsung Display, however, has been said to have started working on the process earlier than LG. The Elec’s report suggests that Samsung will immediately incorporate the etching process in the Gen 6 line for the iPad OLED panels, which indicates that the next iPad Pro models could possibly benefit from the slimmer and more stylish screens. If this is the case, the larger iPad Pro may have more to gain regarding the thinner screen, being much more cumbersome than the smaller one.
It is important to keep in mind that nothing is certain as speculation still lingers around the topic. However, if this upgrade does turn out to be true, the new iPad Pros could be more expensive than expected due to the OLEDs being considerably more expensive than standard panels. The added brightness, vivid colors, and long-lasting display may make the price worth it, though.
In the tech world, LG and Samsung are giants with LG being a multinational electronics company, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, and Samsung being a South Korean multinational conglomerate, headquartered also in Seoul. LG provides products and services in the fields of electronics, chemicals, energy, and more. Samsung is known for being one of the biggest tech companies in the world, offering high-end electronic products and services. Gershan Kusuma, a Business Intelligence Analyst for The Elec, is the one who broke the news of the OLED etching technology and its potential use for Apple’s iPad Pro. He is well respected for his expertise in technology and has always provided the most up to date information.
