Apple’s next batch of iPad Pro tablets, expected next year, could be the most expensive yet thanks to the inclusion of a reportedly display update.
Following the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) and the smaller – but otherwise virtually identical iPad Pro 11 (2022), Apple is expected to release another two new iPad Pro models next year. Once launched, we’ll likely see Apple’s top iPad tablets get some upgrades in terms of processor and feature set.
However, while hardware upgrades are always welcome, reports suggest we may be a bit disappointed with one update. Next year’s iPad OLED displays are said to be significantly more expensive than the screens in current models – and that means the 2024 iPads will be much more expensive than the screens in current models. electric (opens in a new tab)).
According to reports from South Korea, where Apple’s partners Samsung Display and LG Display are based, Apple wants to use a two-tier design for its next-generation OLEDs, with two light-emitting layers instead of one. Dual-stack displays are brighter and more durable than single-stack displays – but they also cost a lot more.
Currently, Apple’s iPad Pro displays cost around $100-$150 (around £80-125 / AU$150-$225) to produce, but it has been reported that the cost of new dual-stack screens would jump to around $270 for the 11-inch model and $350 for the 12.9-inch (approx. £225, £300 / $400, AU$520).
If these rumors turn out to be true, Apple will almost certainly want to pass on some, if not all, of the extra cost to consumers. So if you’re planning to upgrade your tablet next year, you might want to start thinking about whether you’ll really need the latest and greatest iPad, or whether you’ll settle for a slightly older and cheaper but still solid option.
Analysis: Money for something
While we have to take any rumors with a grain of salt if the reports are true, the new iPad’s displays could be a worthwhile upgrade should you decide to pop out.
Most OLED tablets aren’t bright enough to offer anything serious in the HDR department. Don’t get us wrong: the screens look great, but they don’t deliver the full OLED effect; nothing like what you’d get from one of the best OLED TVs out there.
However, if Apple adopts this tandem structure, its screens should be much brighter than other OLED options on the market.
What’s more, the design would give the screen four times longer lifespan. So if you’re someone who likes to buy a new iPad pro and then keep it for a few years, the 2024 models should be better equipped to deliver in that regard.
We’ll have to wait until 2024 to find out exactly what Apple’s next iPad Pro models have in store for us, but if prices are to go up, at least it looks like we’re getting more for the extra buck.