The last time we updated iPad Pro was in October 2022, when the premium 11-inch and 12.9-inch tablets were updated with the Apple M2 processor. According to rumors, these screens will be replaced when the next model arrives in 2024.
This comes from display analyst Ross Young, with mike rumors (opens in a new tab)First, the display technology will apparently shift from the current iPad Pro’s IPS LCD LED (11-inch) and IPS LCD mini-LED (12.9-inch) to OLED — just like the flagship iPhone.
That should mean better screens in terms of contrast and deeper blacks, despite the already impressive panels of the current iPad Pro range. We’ve been hearing rumors for a while now that Apple will be switching to OLED on its iPads.
change size
Display sizes will also change, Young said. The 11-inch iPad Pro will become the 11.1-inch iPad Pro, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will become the 13-inch iPad Pro—not a big difference then, but worth noting.
Apple is likely to shrink the bezels of the two premium iPads, so the overall size of the tablet will remain the same, with a slightly larger display. OLED panels also mean thinner, lighter devices.
Also, while earlier leaks suggested that Apple was working on a super-sized iPad Pro, according to Young, that’s apparently no longer in the works. It appears that for at least the next iteration, Apple will stick with the two sizes we’ve already discussed.
Analysis: Make iPad Pro more Pro
The iPad Pro has always been the high-end luxury device for those who need as much of their budget as possible: remember, the entry-level iPad ($449/£499/AU$749) basically does more than the expensive Model.
Once it moves to OLED, that will be another differentiator that helps justify the higher prices of the iPad Pro models. Whether these tablets will cost the same remains to be seen — but we’re assuming that’s what Apple is aiming for.
The size changes are less interesting, although Apple clearly wants to keep the large iPad Pro in its range. In addition to providing more screen real estate, it helps give buyers a reason to consider one of the more expensive tablets over the iPad Air.
With these updated tablets apparently launching in 2024, 2023 could be a quiet year as far as Apple tablets are concerned. That might give its rivals time to catch up, but it also means that when the new iPad Pro arrives, performance should improve considerably.
