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Apple Looking to Use OLEDs in 2022 iPad Pro
Apple converted to OLED on its iPhone platform, except for the SE and has lined up the iPad Pro tablet as the next to change. Samsung Display and LG Display are promising to provide higher brightness OLED panels to Apple for the iPad Pro and while 2021 has been reported, both companies think that the 2022 timeframe is more likely. In order to achieve the necessary higher brightness in potential OLED displays, both OLED display producers are adding equipment that will allow them to create such tandem stacks displays increasing efficiency and lifetime by layering two or more OLED stacks and connecting them in series. A similar approach has been used by Kopin in their Duo OLED Micro Displays and by OLEDWorks.
Figure 1: Stacked OLED
Apple converted to OLED on its iPhone platform, except for the SE and has lined up the iPad Pro tablet as the next to change. Samsung Display and LG Display are promising to provide higher brightness OLED panels to Apple for the iPad Pro and while 2021 has been reported, both companies think that the 2022 timeframe is more likely. In order to achieve the necessary higher brightness in potential OLED displays, both OLED display producers are adding equipment that will allow them to create such tandem stacks displays increasing efficiency and lifetime by layering two or more OLED stacks and connecting them in series. A similar approach has been used by Kopin in their Duo OLED Micro Displays and by OLEDWorks.
Figure 1: Stacked OLED
To implement the tandem architecture, the deposition process must be adapted to allow for the substrate to be routed back from the first deposition run to the deposition of an intermediate layer, and then back to the primary deposition chamber for the 2nd OLED stack. This is all done under a pressurized system that excludes all air and water vapor (Nitrogen atmosphere) that would degrade the OLED materials, while keeping the process TACT time low enough that the display production process is extended and becomes cost prohibitive.
Samsung is updating lines at its A4 OLED fab and LG is doing the same at E5, but the tandem process will have to compete with mini-LED LCDs. An alternative use of mini-LEDs would increase the thickness of the display, while the tandem OLED method would not. It will be more expensive to produce tandem OLED displays, although LG is already using the process for automotive displays, as the materials and process will be more complex, but mini-LEDs are also more expensive than edge-lit displays such as those used in many tablets. Given the increased demand for tablets expected to continue through next year, Apple would likely need under 10m such units, which is only a small portion of Samsung’s or LGD’s Gen 6 OLED capacity, keeping the incremental investment for each rather low, while mini-LED production is already expanding, especially for larger panel units.
Samsung is updating lines at its A4 OLED fab and LG is doing the same at E5, but the tandem process will have to compete with mini-LED LCDs. An alternative use of mini-LEDs would increase the thickness of the display, while the tandem OLED method would not. It will be more expensive to produce tandem OLED displays, although LG is already using the process for automotive displays, as the materials and process will be more complex, but mini-LEDs are also more expensive than edge-lit displays such as those used in many tablets. Given the increased demand for tablets expected to continue through next year, Apple would likely need under 10m such units, which is only a small portion of Samsung’s or LGD’s Gen 6 OLED capacity, keeping the incremental investment for each rather low, while mini-LED production is already expanding, especially for larger panel units.