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OLED Film Adjustments Could Further Reduce iPad Pro Bezels

Apple’s iPad Pro may see even thinner bezels in the future due to potential changes in OLED panel manufacturing. The company has a history of striving for minimal bezels across its products, achieving notable results with the iPhone and MacBook Pro. These developments might pave the way for slimmer bezels in the iPad lineup.

Recently, reports from *The Elec* revealed that Apple is considering the approval of a display driver IC (DDI) from LX Semicon. If approved, this could allow LG Innotek to introduce its own chip-on-film (CoF) materials for OLED panels used in the iPad. The current DDI employed in Apple’s OLED iPads is sourced from Samsung System LSI.

If the agreement with LX Semicon goes through, LG Display would be able to integrate this technology into its OLED panels for iPads. However, it is important to note that this potential approval is not guaranteed, as a previous bid by LX Semicon for DDI approval was turned down in 2024. If Apple does approve the new DDI, it would offer LG more autonomy in producing OLED panels, ultimately leading to greater innovation in display technologies.

The combination of LG’s CoF technology and DDI could enable better control over the panel’s layers, especially at the edges of the display, possibly resulting in even thinner bezels for future iPad models. Nonetheless, a decision on LX Semicon’s DDI would not influence iPad products set to launch in 2025 or early 2026, but it could enhance models beyond those generations. While the allure of thinner bezels is strong, practical limitations regarding usability pose challenges.

Bezels serve a purpose beyond aesthetics; they help users grip larger devices like iPads without accidentally activating the display. While Apple may reduce the size of existing bezels, there is a threshold beyond which usability might be compromised, affecting how users hold and operate their iPads securely.

Production Commences for M5 iPad Pro OLED Displays Set to Launch This Fall

The upcoming fall update for the iPad Pro, featuring the M5 chip, is inching closer to launch. Reports indicate that OLED displays for the tablet have entered mass production, with a potential release scheduled for October. Historically, Apple’s fall updates include significant changes to the iPad lineup, and the rumored M5 upgrade is expected to be a noteworthy addition. Sources from *ZDNet Korea*, relayed by *DigiTimes*, confirm that production of the OLED displays used in the iPad Pro has begun.

This timing aligns with Apple’s typical supply chain activities ahead of a launch. While the start of OLED panel production in early summer may seem late, it could mean that Apple is utilizing existing display technologies instead of developing new designs, which would demand less preparation. The expectation that the iPad Pro will debut in October fits Apple’s usual pattern. While the company’s September event typically highlights the iPhone, the iPad is often announced at the same event or during a follow-up in October.

Notably, the launch of the M4 iPad Pro was a significant departure for Apple, as it was the first device featuring the new Apple Silicon generation ahead of the M4 Macs. Analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, have echoed the expectation of the M5 iPad Pro entering mass production in the latter half of 2025. Earlier this year, leaks suggested that the M5 model was undergoing advanced testing prior to mass production. Although it is expected to be a spec-bump update, changes will primarily center around the new processor.

For the 2025 iPad Pro launch, Apple appears to be diversifying its supply chains. While Samsung currently supplies displays for the 11-inch iPad Pro and LG for the 13-inch version, both manufacturers will soon share responsibilities for both sizes. This approach aims to mitigate supply disruptions, reinforcing Apple’s ongoing strategy to diversify its suppliers and expand beyond its traditional reliance on Chinese manufacturing.