12.9-Inch 'iPad Pro' Again Rumored to Have Oxide LCD Display

ipadair2cApple's much-rumored 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" could have Oxide LCD display technology and will enter mass production in the third quarter of 2015, according to DigiTimes. The report, citing sources within the supply chain, claims that Apple has elected to use oxide panels for the tablet after weighing the cost versus performance of display technologies a-Si, TFT LCD and Oxide LCD.

"Market rumors over the last six months have stated that Apple would aim to release the device in the first half of the year, with mass production occurring in the first quarter. The company, however, has been assessing different panel technologies ranging from a-Si, TFT LCD and Oxide LCD in terms of cost versus performance, and has only recently decided to move forward with Oxide technology."

The report adds that Sharp, LG Display and Samsung Display have been sending Apple display samples as they compete to secure component orders for the iPad Pro. Sharp is expected to be the main supplier due to its advantages in Oxide LCD display production, with LG also in the running to be a secondary vendor. The panel suppliers will reportedly produce limited supply in May and begin mass production in July and August.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a respectable track record at reporting on Apple's upcoming product plans, also forecasted in November that the iPad Pro would be equipped with an oxide panel for "high resolution, quick response, and high color saturation," with manufacturing difficulties pushing mass production of the tablet into the second quarter of 2015.

Oxide LCD technologies, one of the most popular being "IGZO," have been used since the original iPad Air and allow for thinner and more power efficient displays. Expected to have a large 12.9-inch screen, it would make sense for the iPad Pro to have an Oxide LCD display to ensure that the extra screen real estate is not a drain on battery life.

Bloomberg Business reported late Wednesday that Apple missed the mark on second quarter production of the iPad Pro and that manufacturing of the tablet is now slated to begin around September. The larger-screened tablet, rumored to potentially have USB 3.0 ports for faster data transfer, could help Apple reverse four quarters of declining iPad sales as overall tablet market growth has slowed.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3

Thursday December 11, 2025 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS...
macOS Tahoe 26 Thumb

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2 With Edge Light

Friday December 12, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, the second major update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out in September. macOS Tahoe 26.2 comes five weeks after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.1. Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a feature that illuminates your face with soft...
AirTag 2 Mock Feature

Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code

Thursday December 11, 2025 10:31 am PST by
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already...
ipados 26 1 slide over

Apple Releases iPadOS 26.2 With Multitasking Improvements

Friday December 12, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iPadOS 26.2, the second major update to the iPadOS 26 operating system released in September. iPadOS 26.2 comes a month after iPadOS 26.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iPadOS 26.2 continues with the multitasking improvements that were added with iPadOS 26.1. You can now drag and...
iphone fold text

'iPhone Fold' Arrival Expected to Cement Book-Style Era for Foldables

Friday December 12, 2025 3:55 am PST by
Foldable smartphone panel shipments are projected to jump 46% year-over-year in 2026, with Apple's entry into the market serving as the main catalyst, according to Counterpoint Research's latest Foldable-Rollable Display Shipment Tracker. "Apple is the key driver as it starts to procure panels for its first foldable iPhone," said Counterpoint's Guillaume Chansin. The research firm expects...

Top Rated Comments

goodcow Avatar
141 months ago
Ok, what the hell is Oxide LCD? What type of LCD do the iPads use now? And what are its advantages?

It'll be the technology that best protects Apple's profit margins.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DavidTheExpert Avatar
141 months ago
Ok, what the hell is Oxide LCD? What type of LCD do the iPads use now? And what are its advantages?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Crosscreek Avatar
141 months ago
I don't get 13" iPad unless it capable of doing both IOS and OS X.

I won't buy another iPad just because it's 13" with the same apps.

I must be missing something.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neilw Avatar
141 months ago
I'm more interested in the resolution, 12.9" would surely best be widescreen preferably 16:9 so would be bigger and wider than current 2048 x 1536 res. I believe what Kuo is saying, so we will have bigger ipad and hopefully software than can take full advantage of that bigger display *hint2* split screen multitasking...

Honestly, if the iPad Pro doesn't some kind of split-screen multitasking kind of thing (whatever implementation Apple comes up with) then I don't see the point.

Other than size, 3 most obvious distinguishing features would be:
1) split screen multitasking (though why they couldn't add this to the regular iPads I have no idea)
2) digitizer/stylus support
3) ports

Of course they could pull something else out of their hats. It will be interesting to see how they position this, since all of the above items would be a significant departure from past iPad philosophy.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joe Rossignol Avatar
141 months ago
Ok, what the hell is Oxide LCD? What type of LCD do the iPads use now? And what are its advantages?

From the context of the news story, it seems that perhaps Oxide LCD display panels are less expensive, does that mean lower image quality or pixel depth?

Thanks for actually making an informational post. The Google Police have supplanted the Grammar Police as the annoying scourge of Internet forums everywhere...

Your first paragraph might have been a more relevant part of the MR article than just the simple recap of the USB and timeline rumors they put in there again.

I have updated the front page article with more context about Oxide LCD displays and their advantages.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Barron Avatar
141 months ago
Here's the answer.

Oxide LCD technology, also referred to as “IGZO,” boasts a higher electron mobility than traditional LCD panels. In a nutshell, that means they are faster and more power efficient than the LCD displays Apple currently uses in its iPad lineup.

Power efficient components will be essential for a 12.9-inch iPad Pro — which will obviously require more power than its smaller siblings during normal use — if Apple intends to keep the device as slim as the iPad Air 2 and not introduce a thicker battery.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)