Since the release of the first generation of the iPad in 2010, Apple has basically updated the iPad every year, whether it is the basic version, Air or Pro, and this year is the first year that Apple has not made any updates.
This means that 2024 will be a big year for the tablet lineup. And it is likely that it is time for each model series to be updated, according to the latest news, the iPad Pro will come with a new OLED display for the first time.
Although the iPad Pro already has a great display, all this is not enough. 12.The 9-inch model is the first mini-LED XDR display with 2596 full-zone local dimming zones and one of the best in the world. But the move to OLED isn't just about boosting pixels, it's also about taking the iPad Pro to the next level in three meaningful ways.
Solid on – all-day display.
Since the launch of the iPhone X in 2017, the iPhone has had an OLED display, but it wasn't until last year that a always-on option was added. As Apple always does, the wait was worth it. The always-on display of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models is one of the best implementations we've seen, creating a unique and aesthetically pleasing always-on display with lock-screen elements that can be customized.
Apple has positioned the iPhone's always-on display as a high-end option, with professional display requirements: Super Retina XDR display, promotion technology, which can reach an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz and a minimum refresh rate of 1Hz. Assuming that the iPad Pro uses the same screen technology, Apple will almost certainly introduce this feature to the iPad so that the huge screen will no longer be a black blank area.
Standby display. Along with the always-on display, there is another feature designed to work when the device is not in use: the standby display. This is a new feature in iOS 17 that turns your iPhone into a smart display when it is charging and in landscape mode. The iPhone 15 Pro's always-on display makes standby mode even better with large widgets that are always visible and easy to see from a distance.
It's nice to use the standby display on a table or bedside table, but it's even better if it's on an iPad, which will open the door to turning Apple's tablet into a real home center. Google and Amazon have already taken a similar approach with their Hub and Show devices, but standby mode on the iPad can create a true 2-in-1 device when paired with a magnetic base or stand.
Dynamic island design.
Since the iPad has never had a notch screen design, its design has always been limited, since a bezel of a certain thickness is required to accommodate all the sensors. In addition to the OLED display, the iPad Pro is expected to get a new design for the first time since 2018.
It's not known what the new design will look like, but two things can be assumed: the camera will move to a longer edge, just like the 10th generation iPad, and the bezels will be reduced. If so, it's the perfect time to bring the Dynamic Island to the iPad Pro lineup, bringing creative tailoring to the big screen for the first time.
With the extra screen real estate, Apple can make the Dynamic Island a next-level productivity tool that's more than just timers and scores.