Apple's unveiling of the next-generation iPad Pro and iPad Air was expected in March, but the launch did not occur as planned. The delay in the release of the 2024 iPads is speculated to be due to issues with Samsung, which was unable to fulfill Apple's orders. It's been known for some time that Apple intended to use Samsung Display's OLED panels for its 2024 iPad Pro series. However, a recent report indicates that Samsung Display struggled to achieve the desired efficiency from its new 11-inch OLED panels, leading to an inability to meet Apple's demands. Consequently, Apple shifted its OLED panel orders to LG Display, which is anticipated to significantly increase its production capacity next month.
LG Display is expected to produce the majority of the OLED panels, covering 60% of the orders for the 2024 iPad Pro series. Previously, Apple had divided OLED orders between LG Display and Samsung Display, with LG producing 13-inch panels and Samsung manufacturing 11-inch OLED panels. LG recently made a substantial investment to establish its sixth-generation OLED panel production line and has also received a quality control certification from Apple. It is known that Apple has placed an order for 8.5 million OLED panels for the new iPad Pro models.
The new iPad Pro model, powered by the M3 processor, is now anticipated to be introduced in May. This shift in production and supplier dynamics highlights the challenges and dependencies in the tech industry's supply chain.
