Apple is considering launching OLED iPads by 2028, with foldables potentially coming first.

When it comes to consumer electronics innovation, Apple often leads the way. However, despite being one of the world’s largest technology companies, Apple has not invested in foldable phones and has limited the use of OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology.

However, all this is expected to change when Apple Gears introduces OLED iPads and foldable phones. According to The Information, Apple is developing two foldable iPhones that will be “as thin as current iPhone models.” These models are similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip devices.

However, we’re unlikely to see Apple’s foldable phones until 2026 and OLED iPads until 2028. The information revealed that Apple engineers are struggling to make the external display of its foldable phone durable. Apple may partner with Asian manufacturers to source parts for foldable iPhones.

The tablet market is more or less Apple’s monopoly, and the company wants to maintain its position in tablet sales by adding OLED iPads. Industry experts suggest that Apple could introduce a single-layer OLED version of its iPad Air by 2028. Although the iPad Pro model has a two-layer OLED.

The Elec reports that at the 2024 Korea Display conference in Seoul, researcher Kang Min-soo, who works with London-based technology research firm Omdia, said: “Although other companies are using hybrid OLED technology (glass substrate + thin film encapsulation), there are not many brands , which may surpass Apple’s stronghold.There aren’t many brands aggressively adopting OLED in the tablet market, so the global demand for tablet OLED is expected to be somewhat low.

Kang added that OLED technology will be the most in demand in the notebook market, saying, “If we divide the future IT OLED market outlook into tablets and notebooks, OLED demand in the notebook market is better than that of tablets.” Currently, Apple does not use OLED technology in its MacBook models, while Samsung, Dell, HP, Asus, Gigabyte and Lenovo all have laptops with OLED screens.

Last year, Ross Young, CEO of research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants, said it would take a few years for Apple’s supply chain to produce laptop-sized OLED panels. Apple may release MacBook Pro models with OLED screens only in 2026 or 2027.