LG Display has begun the development of 12.9-inch OLED iPad, TheElec has learned.
As Samsung Display recently scrapped the development of a 10.86-inch OLED iPad it was proceeding with Apple, LG Display will likely be able to enter the IT OLED market at a level playing field with its South Korean compatriot.
LG Display is planning to begin production sometime between the end of 2023 to 2024.
To apply to the 12.9-inch OLED iPad, the company is developing two stack tandem technology __ where there are two layers of red, green and blue emission layers __ and low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) technology.
Two stack tandem, by having two emission layers, increases the brightness of the OLED panel by two times and extends its life by up to four times.
IT products __ tablets and notebooks __ such as iPads are used longer by consumers compared to smartphones so they need to have more durable panels.
LG Display also currently has a two layer technology for OLED panels used in smartphones, developed in 2019, that stacks one more blue layer atop the red, green and blue layer.
As of the current time, it seems highly likely that Apple’s first OLED iPad will use LG Display’s OLED panel.
Apple is currently planning to launch 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPads that use OLED panels in the same year.
Samsung Display will also take part in their development.
The company is currently developing technologies to manufacture OLED panels using Gen 8.5 (2200x2500mm) substrates.
To apply LTPO TFT, Samsung Display also needs to develop excimer laser annealing equipment for use on Gen 8.5 substrates.
The company currently supplies OLED panels for iPhones, including the latest iPhone 13, with Gen 6 (1500x1850mm) substrates, which supports LTPO TFT technology that allows for 120Hz refresh rates.
LG Display is planning to use Gen 6 substrates for the OLED panel it plans to supply for iPads as LTPO TFT technology can be applied to Gen 6 substrates.
However, Samsung Display is still the dominant supplier to Apple when it comes to OLED panels used in iPhones.
The South Korean display maker also supplies OLED panels to Samsung Electronics for tablets and notebooks.
Apple’s iPad lineup includes Mini, Air and Pro. The 10.86-inch OLED iPad it was developing with Samsung Display was an Air model.
12.9-inch model is the premium Pro model. However, Apple could decide to apply OLED panels on the Air series first due to pricing and supply volume.
