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Apple seems to still be committed to equipping the 2024 iPad Pro with a new, thin hybrid OLED panel technology. The innovation was developed by LG to enable thinner devices while reducing production costs. The report from Korean newspaper The Elec confirms that the panels will be thinner than traditional OLED panels and will not require a backlight.
The technology industry is always about progress and innovation. Apple is a pioneer in the industry, constantly meeting the needs of consumers through increasingly advanced products. With the goal of enabling thinner devices, the company plans to equip the 2024 iPad Pro with a new hybrid OLED panel technology developed by LG.
Hybrid OLED panel technology briefly explained
The hybrid technology reportedly combines rigid OLED glass substrates with flexible OLED thin-film encapsulation (TFE) to enable thinner panels than conventional rigid OLED panels. Compared to conventional panels, the upper glass substrate is replaced with TFE, making the panel thinner, while the lower glass substrate is etched even thinner, from 0.5 mm to 0.2 mm. Hybrid OLED technology was first mentioned in August 2022, and Apple plans to use it in iPads by 2024. However, the new technology also has its challenges. The "ultra-thin glass" is more prone to breakage when transported to the next process on the production line.
iPad Pro 2024 will be even thinner and more advanced
For this reason, LG is working on a simultaneous etching and cutting process to reduce this risk. report also mentions that Samsung is already using hybrid technology and will immediately use it for OLED iPad panels on its Gen 6 OLED line. However, the exact models that will be equipped with this technology first are not yet known. By introducing hybrid OLED panel technology into the 2024 iPad Pro, Apple continues to stay at the forefront of the tablet industry. The new panels are thinner and do not require a backlight, which reduces production costs. Although there are challenges in production, LG is working to solve them to bring the technology into mass production. So consumers can look forward to an even thinner and more advanced iPad Pro that will launch in 2024. (Image: Apple)
