NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern 
EU Orders Elon Musk’s X to Preserve Grok AI Data Amid Probe Into Illegal Content 
FCC Exempts Select Foreign-Made Drones From U.S. Import Ban Until 2026 
SK Hynix Shares Hit Record High as AI Memory Demand Fuels Semiconductor Rally 
Intel Unveils Panther Lake AI Laptop Chips at CES 2025, Marking Major 18A Manufacturing Milestone 
Trump Considers Starlink to Restore Internet Access in Iran Amid Protests 
Elon Musk Says X Will Open-Source Its Algorithm Amid EU Scrutiny 
Starlink Internet Remains Active in Iran Despite Nationwide Blackout 
Mercedes-Benz to Launch Advanced Urban Self-Driving System in the U.S., Challenging Tesla FSD 
Baidu’s AI Chip Unit Kunlunxin Prepares for Hong Kong IPO to Raise Up to $2 Billion 
FCC Approves Expansion of SpaceX Starlink Network With 7,500 New Satellites 
xAI Cash Burn Highlights the High Cost of Competing in Generative AI 
Trump Pushes Tech Giants to Absorb AI Data Center Power Costs, Citing Microsoft Changes 
Discord Confidentially Files for U.S. IPO, Signaling Major Milestone 
AMD Unveils Next-Generation AI and PC Chips at CES, Highlights Major OpenAI Partnership 
Supreme Court to Hear Cisco Appeal on Alien Tort Statute and Human Rights Liability 
OpenAI Sets $50 Billion Stock Grant Pool, Boosting Employee Equity and Valuation Outlook 
A new report adds to a pile of claims that Apple is going in a different direction when it comes to upgrading the next iPad Air display. Instead of using mini-LED, the tech giant is said to be aiming to launch its first OLED-equipped tablet next year.
The Elec reports that Apple is launching more tablets with OLED displays in the next two years. The first iPad with an OLED panel is expected to be a 10.86-inch iPad that could enter the market in 2022. The article does not specifically identify what type of iPads were mentioned in the report, but the 10.86-inch screen size suggests it is referring to the fifth generation of iPad Air.
This is a slight change from the iPad Air 4 screen size, which is currently advertised at 10.9 inches. But with that scant difference, it is unlikely going to be noticeable. The report also hints at an iPad Air refresh is unlikely in the coming months.
The OLED display adoption should be the highlight of the fifth-generation iPad Air. The latest model, which was launched last September, features a Liquid Retina LCD that supports True Tone technology and P3 wide color.
The same report also mentioned that the iPad Air 2022 model will use a rigid OLED panel. The Elec also mentioned the use of low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistor (TFT). These components are also used on the iPhone 12 series. Meanwhile, there is no mention if the OLED adoption would also cater to an increased refresh rate on the upcoming iPad Air from the currently available 60Hz refresh rate.
Apple is not expected to confirm these reports until the official announcement of the iPad Air 5. However, it is worth noting that this is not the first time that an OLED-equipped iPad has been reported. Last March, an investor note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also stated that iPad with OLED panels are likely to be released in 2022. Kuo’s sources also suggested that the OLED adoption would be limited to the iPad Air, while Apple is expected to retain the mini-LED on the higher-end iPad Pro.
Photo by Miguel Tomás on Unsplash
