All-new iPad Pros with OLED displays are expected to launch in 2024 with a significant price hike that even rival the price tag of some MacBook laptops, if the latest report from the Korean-language website The Elec is to be believed.
The Elec reports that Apple is currently planning its pricing strategy for the upcoming OLED 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro models, set to launch in early 2024. The report pegs the current estimated prices at an eye-popping $1,500 and $1,800, respectively.
If proven correct, the new 11-inch model would be 80% more expensive than the current offering with an LED display, currently retailing for $799. Meanwhile, the 12.9-model with a mini-LED display would come with a 60% price hike, up from $1,099. This would put the new iPad Pros in MacBooks territory price-wise, as the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro both equipped with M2 chips start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively.
Discover new horizons, always connected with eSIM
Travel the world stress and hassle-free with the best eSIM service available. Enjoy unlimited data, 5G speeds, and global coverage for affordable prices with Holafly. And, enjoy an exclusive 5% discount.
The Elec stressed in an earlier report that the new manufacturing process for the OLED panels is to be blamed for the expected price increases. The process would combine multiple production processes together for the first time ever in an iPad-sized OLED screen. The new processes include a two-stack tandem structure with two emission layers, low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO), thin film transistors (TFT), and a hybrid OLED structure combining a rigid glass substrate with a flexible thin-film encapsulation. These processes will contribute to a thinner and more power-efficient OLED panel with a significantly longer lifespan and higher brightness.
Current OLED panels supply price for a typical 10-inch device range from $100 to $150. The Elec estimates that Apple’s required panels could cost around $270 to $350 for the 11- and 13-inch sizes, respectively. The report warns, however, that the displays – set to be delivered by Samsung and LG – are still in development, and that price estimates could change as development nears finalization.
