Apple Insider reported on the 13th (local time), citing Taiwanese DigiTimes, that Apple may release an iPad with a new hybrid OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology in 2024.
Taiwan’s Surface Mount Technology (SMT) has reportedly been selected as the supplier to handle the SMT process for the mini LED backlight of the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro. This is the first time that the SMT has joined Apple’s supply chain.
SMT joining Apple’s supply chain is being analyzed as a stepping stone to expand the use of mini LED backlights while hybrid OLED technology matures and approaches commercialization. This suggests that Apple may continue to use small LEDs as its main display technology until 2024, the media reported.
It is understood that Samsung Display and LG Display are currently developing hybrid OLED technology for iPad. Hybrid OLED refers to a technology that combines rigid and flexible OLEDs.
Apple is said to prefer hybrid OLED technology because it is cheaper to manufacture, can implement a thinner design, and can also mitigate wrinkles on the screen of flexible OLED products.
