There was a bunch of rumors about a possible iPad Pro OLEDWho could happen next year. But it looks like this upgrade might come with a serious problem. The problem being that it could be an incredibly expensive device, with prices ranging from $1,500 to $1,800.
This information comes from a report from the Korean site The elect (opens in a new tab). The site claims the 11-inch OLED iPad Pro will cost $1,500, while the $1,800 price tag is for the 13-inch model. That’s a staggering amount of money and, honestly, it seems too high to be true. These prices are more expensive than the Macbook Air M2 ($1,199) and closer to the 14-inch MacBook Pro ($1,999).
Currently, the 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro the model starts at $1,099. The larger model even includes a mini LED screen, which gives it a number of advantages over the LCD panel of the 11-inch model. But those prices are considerably lower than the claimed price of OLED upgrades. 87.5% higher for the 11-inch model and 63.7% for the 13-inch model. That’s quite the price hike.
OLED iPads: why so many things?
OLED panels are generally more expensive than other types of displays, but they are quite common these days. Especially in small devices like phones, tablets and laptops. So while we were expecting a price increase to account for the display upgrade, we certainly weren’t expecting it to be that high.
The 11-inch and 13-inch panels will retail for $270 and $350, respectively. The Elec notes that’s around two to three times higher than existing 10-inch OLED panels.
The Elec says these prices are designed to account for the cost of development and higher material costs. The report claims that various processes are different with these panels, which leads to an increase in the price. They include two light-emitting layers, the use of LTPO thin-film transistors, and a hybrid structure that uses a glass substrate and thin-film encapsulation. In short, these aren’t your typical OLED panels and that’s reflected in the price.
Apparently talks with Samsung Display and LG have tipped the 11-inch and 13-inch panels to cost $270 and $350, respectively. The Elec notes that’s about two to three times higher than existing 10-inch OLED panels, which typically cost between $100 and $150.
This price will be too high for many people, especially when a MacBook Pro can be had for a few hundred dollars more. So we suspect that OLED iPads may be marketed as an ultra-premium model and made only in limited numbers. This way, customers who don’t have such deep pockets can still buy the cheaper models with mini-LED or LCD screens.
OLED iPad Pros are expected to arrive next year, followed by MacBook Pro OLED panels in 2026. It will therefore be necessary to wait a little before being able to confirm whether the report of The Elec turns out to be true or not.