Apple did not announce any iPad upgrades last year, and it seems the company will take its time this year as well. The OLED iPad Pro has been delayed once again due to complex production techniques involved in manufacturing the display. The device was originally speculated to launch in November of last year alongside the M3 MacBook Pro models, but Apple decided to wait until this year, potentially due to some technical challenges. Now, prominent analyst Mark Gurman claims that the March to April launch time frame has been ruled out due to issues in the production department.
The OLED iPad Pro sees another delay as suppliers struggle to keep the display yields high
According to the latest news originating from Korea, the delayed launch of the revamped iPad Pro is the highly-anticipated OLED display. It appears that the most compelling aspect of the iPad Pro is the reason for its delayed launch. Apple is very strict when it comes to meeting its standards and quality, and anything less than its expectations causes disruptions in the supply.
Apple partnered with Samsung and LG to produce the new 11-inch and 13-inch OLED panels, respectively, but it appears that the prior is struggling to keep up with Apple’s requirements. The new panel technology and the unstable production method involved are causing a stir, which is leading to lower yields than anticipated. The Korean news publication website Hankooki shared the details of the suppliers reporting poor OLED yields, with LG benefiting from the chaos.
Samsung has faced a lower-than-expected yield of the 11-inch panel, which is less than the quantity Apple has ordered for the smaller OLED iPad Pro. This led Apple to transfer some of the 11-inch OLED orders from Samsung to LG Display, and it is reported that the supplier will produce hundreds of thousands of units by next month. LG is now speculated to supply almost 60 percent of the total OLED panels for the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models combined.
LG has also passed Apple’s quality standards and requirements, which allowed it to take a portion of Samsung’s business. However, it remains to be seen how Samsung Display will respond to the change and if it is taking any measures to improve the production capacity and yield. The supplier appears to be struggling with complex production techniques, which is why the yields for the OLED panels have suffered.
The reason for the delayed launch of the redesigned iPad Pro is the highly anticipated OLED panel, which will have an unrivaled display quality, according to previous reports. Apple will launch the OLED iPad Pro models in early May, which is a month later than the rumored time frame. Additionally, the May launch is also a month away from the company’s WWDC 2024 event, where it will see fit to announce iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS 15, and additional updates for its products.
Laura Adams is a tech enthusiast residing in the UK. Her articles cover the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets, providing readers with a glimpse into the future of technology.
