Rumors of OLED screens for future iPad Air and iPad Pro tablets have another chance, with the production of OLED-equipped iPads scheduled to begin this year. And larger models of OLED MacBook Pro may also be on the way.
This is according to a report by DigiTimes, which states that a 10.9-inch iPad with OLED screen could go into production in late 2021 ready for a launch in 2022. Then, after that, Apple could turn its attention to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro screen and potentially the 16-inch MacBook Pro, although Cupertino has yet to commit to OLED panels for his laptops.
DigiTimes presumably got it all from its industry sources – we’re assuming it’s people involved in Apple’s supply chain, rather than people inside Cupertino – so we need to face these rumors with a pinch of salt. But the report adds credibility that the new iPads may have a major display boost in the near future.
This is not to say that the LCD panels used in today’s iPads are bad. The Net Retina display on iPad Pro models is partially impressive, with its 120 Hz ProMotion refresh rate. But OLED panels, now found across the iPhone 12 line, tend to offer better colors and contrast than their LCD counterparts. , so it would probably be a major update for future iPads, especially when it comes to viewing photos and videos.
Given DigiTimes’ sources mention a 10.9-inch iPad, which happens to have the same screen size as the latest iPad Air, we can say that Apple’s mid-range tablet will be the first to have an OLED screen. At first glance, it seems strange that the iPad Air gets OLED first, but something better is available for the iPad Pro, it seems.
The iPad Pro 2021 is expected to receive a mini-LED display this month at Apple’s spring event. An upgrade over traditional LCD screens, the mini-LED offers a wider contrast ratio and deeper blacks, similar to OLED, but with even greater brightness and less risk of burning.
Given that the iPad Air was updated last year with a new design similar to the Pro, the wait until 2022 for an updated model seems relatively logical.
MacBook Pro with OLED
Arguably more interesting is the idea that a 16-inch or potentially 17-inch MacBook Pro could come with an OLED screen.
In today’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, Retina LCD screens are quite impressive with solid color accuracy. But the switch to OLED can see even better colors and contrast, ideal for professional photo and video editors.
But OLED screens have emerged on Windows 10 laptops and can drive up prices quite dramatically. Therefore, we would risk assuming that a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an OLED screen will not be compatible with the wallet.
Time will tell if this inside information bears fruit. But we are extremely optimistic that OLED iPads are on the way.