According to the latest market analysis, Apple's first iPad Pro with an OLED screen is expected to have a shipping target of over 9 million units. Despite the overall downturn in the IT market and delays in the release of the OLED iPad Pro, leading to reduced market expectations, Apple, along with LG Display and Samsung Display, are still sticking to their complete product and panel shipping plans.
The new iPad Pro
The first iPad Pro to feature OLED technology comes in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches. LG Display will produce OLED screens for both sizes, while Samsung Display will supply OLED screens only for the 11-inch model. The new iPad Pro adopts a dual-layer stacked OLED technology, theoretically doubling the brightness and quadrupling the lifespan compared to single-layer stacked OLEDs.
However, market research firms have differing forecasts for the shipment volume of the OLED iPad Pro this year. Omdia predicted on the 9th that OLED tablet shipments would reach 12.1 million units, including 8.12 million units (61.7%) of hybrid OLED (glass substrate + thin film encapsulation) displays. The new iPad Pro is the first tablet to use hybrid OLED technology. Omdia's forecast for hybrid OLED tablet shipments is 8.12 million units, with the majority being the new iPad Pro.
On the other hand, TrendForce estimated on the 8th that shipments of the new iPad Pro this year would range from 4.5 million to 5 million units. TrendForce believes that the higher price of the new iPad Pro compared to its predecessor by $200, along with the introduction of a 13-inch LCD version of the iPad Air, may partially impact the demand for the new iPad Pro.
Omdia's forecast of 8.12 million units is based on panel shipments, while TrendForce's forecast of 4.5 million to 5 million units is based on complete products. Even according to TrendForce's forecast, the shipment volume of the OLED iPad Pro this year is only 4.5 million to 5 million units, indicating that OLED panel shipments will increase by at least 10%.
Despite the varying forecasts from market research firms, industry insiders reveal that companies like Apple, LG Display, and Samsung Display are committed to meeting their shipment targets for the OLED iPad Pro this year, both in terms of complete products and panels. Reportedly, LG Display aims to ship 5 million OLED panels, while Samsung Display's target exceeds 4 million units.
