An iPad Air sporting an OLED display could become a reality sooner than many observers previously expected, according to a report indicating that production using the display technology may get underway as soon as this week.
We recently reported here at AppleMagazine on speculation that Apple could release an iPad using an OLED display supplied by Samsung, with 2024 suggested as the possible year of release for such a device.
A new ETNews report, though, addresses LG Display’s plans to expand its OLED plant in Paju. The article references iPads, specifically stating that “it is predicted that OLED application to iPads will also begin in two days.”
The Paju plant is used for the manufacture of small and medium-sized OLED panels, and the ETNews article said: “Large-scale expansion plans take into account the supply of panels for Apple’s next smartphone and tablet.”
The report further explained that the sequential installation of small and medium-sized OLED process equipment at Paju would support LG Display’s intention to begin mass production from 2024, “focusing on major partners.”
As for what might break cover this year, it has been rumored that we could see the announcement of Apple’s fifth-generation iPad Air in early 2022.
Chinese supply-chain sources cited by Mac Otakara suggested that the iPad Air 5 model will feature the current-gen Apple A15 SoC, support for 5G data, and an improved front camera with Center Stage technology. The design and display, however, are expected to remain generally unchanged from 2020’s iPad Air.
While the iPhone SE 3 is tipped to feature at the spring launch, many are speculating that the iPad Air could be refreshed at the same time, ready for the virtual event Apple is rumored to be holding in March or April.
While Mac Otakara reliably claimed that the fourth-generation iPad Air would incorporate a USB-C port, and that the most recent 12.9-inch iPad Pro would be 0.5mm thicker to allow for a mini-LED display, the website has also made inaccurate predictions in the past – such as that new AirPods Pro would launch in April 2021.