Supply chain report says OLED is next for iPad, but foldables don't have a concrete timeline

OLED is coming to iPad

OLED is a superior display technology already used in the iPhone lineup. Mini LED is used for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and MacBook Pro but will soon be replaced by OLED.

According to a report from Nikkei Asia, Apple is set to release OLED iPads in 2024, OLED MacBooks in 2025, and is still investigating a foldable device. Two people familiar with the matter say Apple "does not have a concrete timeline" for releasing a foldable like iPhone Fold.

"We are seeing LCD makers being squeezed hard because of the rising use of OLED in small midsize products. Huawei, Lenovo ... they are all very aggressive in using OLED in their tablets," said an executive at a supplier of OLED and LCD screens. "With Apple's plan for the iPad materializing from next year, we can only imagine the days ahead for LCD makers will be even more difficult."

Differing reports call for an OLED MacBook between 2024 and 2027. Most reports agree that OLED iPads will arrive first, but the timeline for a potential foldable keeps shifting.

Supply chain reports tend to be accurate, though the further from the current date a prediction is, the more likely it is to shift. OLED iPads in 2024 are basically set in stone, but the release of an OLED MacBook in 2025 is less certain.