An OLED iPad Pro might arrive sooner than you think
AppleApple is reportedly working on tight deadlines and is said to be preparing the OLED iPad Pro for an April 2024 launch.
Multiple rumors in the past have hinted that Apple is adding OLED panels to its iPad Pro lineup. While the company has remained tight-lipped, new reports indicate that these new iPads might finally be launched soon.
If the latest reports from South Korea are believed, Apple plans to push the 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Pro models into mass production around March. This also means that the iPads could launch in April, in line with the schedule leaked earlier.
The Elec report states that Samsung Display is expected to begin the production of TFT panels for the 11-inch iPad Pro this week. The OLED display for the 13-inch variant is being made by another South Korean company, LG, and the production of these panels has already started.
These reports coincide with the other reports originating from the supply chain industry. Ming-Chi Kuo, a noted Apple analyst, hinted at the tentative launch of the OLED iPad Pro in April or May.
So, in a nutshell, if everything goes as per Apple’s plans, the OLED iPad Pros could be announced at the March event and might start retailing in April. Besides the new iPad Pro, Apple is rumored to introduce the new iPad Air lineup. For the first time, these budget iPads might also come in two size options.
Sales forecasts don’t paint a rosy picture
Interestingly, Apple did not update its iPad lineup last year. Because the company has introduced new iPads every year from the day the first iPad was announced, it shocked many.
However, the writing has been on the wall as Apple reportedly struggles to maintain the iPad sales momentum. Compared to iPhones, users did not buy into the idea of iterative updates on iPads primarily because of the global economic conditions.
This is probably why the iPad Pro shipment forecast has also taken a hit, and the estimates have been scaled down from 10 million to 8 million units.
The intentional delay in releasing the update is Apple’s move to make people wait and increase the demand for iPads. That said, 2024 is rumored to be one of the most critical years in iPad’s history, and we can’t wait to see how this much-awaited OED iPad Pro performs.