The premium 11-inch and 12.9-inch tablets received the Apple M2 CPU upgrade in October 2022, which was the last time the iPad Pro was refreshed. The next versions are expected to be released in 2024, thus those screens will reportedly change then.
Ross Young, a display expert, sent this information to MacRumors (opens in new tab). First, it appears that the iPad Pro’s existing IPS LCD LED (11.9-inch) and IPS LCD mini-LED (12.9-inch) displays will be replaced by OLED displays, similar to the premium iPhones.
Even while the displays on the current iPad Pro range are already remarkable, this should result in screens with even higher contrast and deeper blacks. For some time now, there have been speculations that Apple might upgrade its iPads’ displays to OLED.
Changing sizes
According to Young, there will also be a shift in display sizes. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro will become a 13-inch iPad Pro, making the gap between the 11-inch and 11.1-inch iPad Pros minimal but still significant.
It’s feasible that Apple will be able to reduce the bezels on these two high-end iPads, maintaining the same overall size but somewhat enlarging the panels. OLED panels can also lead to slimmer and lighter electronics.
Additionally, Young claims that, despite past rumours stating otherwise, Apple is no longer developing a large-screen iPad Pro. It appears like Apple will remain with the two sizes we’ve discussed at least for the next version.
Analysis: making the iPad Pros more Pro
Remember that the entry-level iPad (yours for $449 / £499 / AU$749) does almost everything that the more costly versions do. The iPad Pros have always been high-end luxury products for folks with large budgets who require as much power as possible.
Once OLED is adopted, it will serve as even another distinction, aiding in the defence of the high cost of the iPad Pro versions. It is unknown whether these slates will cost the same, but we assume Apple will strive for that.
Though Apple obviously wants to maintain a huge iPad Pro in its lineup, the size shift is less intriguing. It helps to give customers a reason to select one of the more costly tablets rather than the iPad Air in addition to providing additional screen area.
With the rumoured 2024 release of these improved tablets, 2023 may be a quiet year for Apple tablets. That could allow its rivals time to catch up, but it also implies that when the new iPad Pros finally emerge, there should be a significant performance gain.
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