Apple cancels OLED display for 2022 iPad Air

Apple has reported cancelled a project with Samsung to develop an OLED display for the 2022 iPad Air, because of cost, brightness, and durability problems.

Apple was previously reported to be planning an iPad Air update with OLED screens for 2022, with the iPad Pro getting it in 2023. Now it's claimed that at least the iPad Air date is in doubt, as Apple is not satisfied with Samsung's progress in developing the screen.

According to The Elec, Apple has called off the Samsung project. Unnamed sources told the publication that the reason is to do with how Samsung was aiming to produce a single-stack OLED panel, where Apple wants a two-stack tandem structure.

From Apple's perspective, a single-stack is not bright enough, and it also may not have a sufficient lifespan for how long people tend to hold on to their iPads. A two-stack system, by comparison, doubles the possible brightness.

It's not known what lifespan a single stack OLED panel would be expected to get, but the sources say a two-stack system extends the lifespan by up to four times.

From Samsung's perspective, the costs of a two-stack system are reportedly not viable unless the iPad Air would be sold for a long time.

The OLED iPad Pro models may yet be released in 2023 as expected. According to The Elec, the OLED technology planned for those models was already different to that intended for the iPad Air.

11 Comments

AniMill 193 comments · 4 Years

About 3 years ago

Interesting, I thought the Micro-LED offered better overall peak brightness and much longer lifespan of pixel durability. That 13” iPad Pro’s screen is amazing. Next to an OLED iPhone, it looks brighter, more vibrant.

libertyandfree 192 comments · 11 Years

I would guess the OLED higher cost and diminishing advantages of the current mini-LED panels and future micro LED panels has a big reason for this ending.

DAalseth 3066 comments · 6 Years

AniMill said:

Interesting, I thought the Micro-LED offered better overall peak brightness and much longer lifespan of pixel durability. That 13” iPad Pro’s screen is amazing. Next to an OLED iPhone, it looks brighter, more vibrant.

That plus the higher cost, which has not come down as predicted is, I suspect, making Apple and others reconsider using OLED more widely.

omasou 643 comments · 7 Years

It's things like this that really annoy me. I didn't even know there was a single vs. double stack.

It's these lack of details that help stoke the Apple is too expensive FUD and my Samsung tablet has OLED and is way cheaper.

Really wish Apple or the reviewer (if they knew) would help educate the consumers on these differences.

DAalseth said:

AniMill said:

Interesting, I thought the Micro-LED offered better overall peak brightness and much longer lifespan of pixel durability. That 13” iPad Pro’s screen is amazing. Next to an OLED iPhone, it looks brighter, more vibrant.

That plus the higher cost, which has not come down as predicted is, I suspect, making Apple and others reconsider using OLED more widely.

iPad Pro uses mini-LED.

My guess is that Apple is experimenting with mini-LED in preparation for micro-LED and any use of OLED is a stopgap while they work on micro-LED.