Apple M5 iPad Pro with OLED Displays Enters Mass Production: Launch Imminent with Performance Boost and Design Surprise

Apple has shifted its traditional timeline for the iPad Pro release this year, indicating a departure from its usual practice by not unveiling an M5 variant of the tablet. Initially, it was anticipated that Apple would launch its most advanced tablet in the coming year. However, new production insights suggest that the M5 iPad Pro could debut much sooner, possibly still this year. A recent report out of South Korea indicates that the mass production of the M5 iPad Pro’s displays has commenced, signaling that a launch might be imminent.

Indications of an Accelerated M5 iPad Pro Launch

Reports confirm that Samsung and LG have started mass production of OLED panels for the iPad Pro, hinting at a potential launch timeline of October or November. Specifically, Samsung is managing the OLED panels for the 11-inch version, while LG is in charge of the 13-inch version. Notably, there have been some changes in supplier arrangements; recent updates from ZDNet Korea reveal that both LG and Samsung will now share the provision of 11-inch and 13-inch displays (via MacRumors).

Apple aims to familiarize its suppliers with OLED technology in preparation for its upcoming devices. Prior reports indicated that the iPad Air and iPad mini would also receive OLED enhancements, with the iPad mini expected to lead this charge in the following year, followed by the iPad Air in 2027. There may also be design adjustments to ensure these models align more closely with the Pro range, although detailed information remains limited for now. Beyond the iPad series, Apple intends to incorporate OLED technology into its MacBook lineup, starting with the higher-end ‘Pro’ variants.

Anticipating Design Changes and Performance Upgrades

While the M5 chip is expected to bring enhanced performance to the iPad Pro, significant design overhauls are not anticipated. However, a notable change has been highlighted: the Apple logo on the back of the iPad Pro will transition to a landscape orientation, accommodating the device’s typical landscape use. This adjustment, as noted by Mark Gurman, aligns with the natural way many users, including this author, utilize their iPad Pro.

Despite the modifications in orientation, the overall design is likely to remain consistent with recent iterations. Since Apple has made aesthetic updates relatively recently, a major redesign may still be some time away. The M5 chip, built on TSMC’s 3nm production process, promises improvements in both computational and graphics performance. Users might wonder whether these performance increases are sufficient to motivate an upgrade from the M4 chip.

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