A report from the supply chain claims that Apple has cut orders for iPad Pro OLED screens from one supplier from its original requirements, while leaving another supplier unaffected. The saga surrounding OLED and the iPad has been going on for several years, with recent rumors suggesting it will finally arrive in early 2024. However, if a new report from China's supply chain is accurate, one of Apple's screen suppliers is feeling the impact of order cuts.
According to Asia Daily, Apple has ordered approximately 10 million screens for the new OLED iPad Pro series. Among them, LG is expected to supply 6 million units, and Samsung’s order is 4 million units. According to reports, there is no change in orders to Samsung. LG has borne the brunt and is now expected to deliver only 3 million to 4 million screens.
Reports on Thursday morning quoted "a display industry source" as saying there may be caution about initial demand. Another source from the publication claims that the average price of smartphone OLED panels is between $50 and $60, which is almost double what Apple pays for each OLED screen.
According to reports, LG Display is preparing to use a new OLED material called "RDE" in the OLED panel used in iPad Pro. This material change will apparently be included in models launching in 2024.
The OLED panels currently used in iPhone displays are called "single-layer products", which use one light-emitting layer. The RDE material that LG Display hopes to use has a double-layer tandem structure, that is, two light-emitting layers are stacked on top of each other.
The benefit of a two-layer system is that it produces the same brightness as a single-layer panel, but uses less power in the process. In addition, the efficiency and lifespan of the panel are also worth looking forward to.
All this is said to come at a high price. The latest pricing rumor casts similar doubt on Thursday's report, saying the OLED iPad Pro series will start at $1,500 and climb quickly from there.