Samsung Display has changed its development plans due to the likely high demand for OLED iPad models, as reported by a new supply chain report.
Samsung had been in the process of developing an OLED panel more advanced than what it was made for Apple but has now pushed back its plans.
Apple’s Display Roadmap
IPS LCD
This started with IPS LCDs that were illuminated by conventional backlighting, which is still used on older Macs and less expensive iPhones.
Next up was IPS LCD with miniLED backlighting. Apple switched to this for iPad Pro models and is now using it in the new MacBook Pro. It allows for darker blacks and brighter whites and makes a surprising difference.
OLED
After first using OLED displays in the Apple Watch, Apple moved to employ OLED for larger screens like those found on the iPhone X. The gradual shift from smaller to larger OLED is ongoing.
The company is anticipated to introduce this technology to iPads and MacBooks from 2023 to 2026, although they have yet to do so.
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MicroLED
Although miniLED and the technology discussed in this article share a resemblance in name, they are actually two distinct technologies still in the early development stages.
Just like OLED, it will most likely be implemented into the Apple Watch first, then iPhones, iPads, and Macs following that order.
OLED iPads to Use Hybrid Display Tech
Though originally reported that Apple would launch their first OLED iPad models in 2021, an Apple analyst claims that the plan fell through by late 2021. Currently, estimates indicate that we can expect these iPads to be available in 2024.
Flexible Polyamide Film
Apple utilizes a type of OLED known as flexible polyamide film for iPhones. This enables the display to curve around the edges back into the casing, permitting for ultra-thin bezels as the connectors are underneath the display and not within the bezels.
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Hybrid Glass-Polyamide Film Display
While scaling flexible polyamide film to iPad and MacBook displays is feasible, warping might occur due to the flexibility of the film, which could be seen in larger displays.
Therefore, Apple is projected to use a combination glass-polyamide film display in order to create thin bezels while retaining the required stiffness to stop it from warping.
Samsung to Focus Work on Apple’s OLED Panel Tech
OLED technology is continually increasing and Apple has apparently requested to use a two-stack tandem OLED form which incorporates two layers of pixels rather than one.
By doubling the number of pixels, screens become brighter and their life span is extended.
The latter is a relevant factor for iPads and MacBooks since people usually hold on to those products for longer than iPhones.
Next Generation of OLED
For future OLED technology, Samsung has been partnering up with the Japanese company Ulvac to work on tandem panels and beyond.
Despite this, The Elec states that Samsung has chosen to postpone this venture with the intention of concentrating on creating tandem OLED iPad panels for Apple.
The South Korean company is planning to postpone investments into full-cut, vertical deposition method it had been co-developing for over a year with Japan’s Ulvac.
Samsung Display will instead start investments into half-cut, horizontal deposition method it has been developing Canon Tokki, sources said.
This is because the latter method has already been commercialized and is being developed with the aim to supply OLED panels for tablets to Apple. Cupertino is planning to launch iPads with OLED panels.
