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 (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on iPhone Feature

Here's When iOS 26 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: Out Now!]

Monday September 15, 2025 12:00 am PDT by
Update 10:06 a.m.: iOS 26 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Today's the day! Apple is about to release iOS 26, which will deliver the biggest redesign since iOS 7 and bring a range of new features and improvements to iPhones worldwide. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at last week's iPhone event that...
iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

Apple Says Installing iOS 26 Might Impact Battery Life

Monday September 15, 2025 10:56 am PDT by
In the iOS 26 release notes, Apple is warning iPhone users that installing the new software might have a temporary impact on battery life, which is normal. A new support document explains that major iOS updates require background setup like indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps. Further, Apple says that new features could require more resources,...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch These 10 Products in 'Coming Months'

Sunday September 14, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this Friday, September 19. As always, there is more to come. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to release many products in the...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 Get iOS 26 Features With New Firmware Update

Monday September 15, 2025 10:50 am PDT by
Apple today released updated firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4, introducing support for the new AirPods features that are included in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware has a build number of 8A356, and it replaces the current 7E93 firmware. With Apple's new software updates, the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 support better audio quality for phone calls and...
iphone 17 lineup

iPhone 17 Models Launch on September 19 With These New Features

Friday September 12, 2025 7:58 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 lineup and ultra-thin iPhone Air in stores on Friday, September 19, and the company has already shown off the new devices at its fall event, which ran with the the tagline "Awe dropping." The iPhone 17 series brings a host of new features and enhancements. Here's a rundown of the biggest upgrades and changes: iPhone 17 Display Changes The iPhone...
iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 15, 2025 5:45 am PDT by
Following three months of beta testing, iOS 26 was released today, September 15. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer, and it is available to install via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features included in iOS 26. Even more new features and changes are outlined in Apple's release notes for the update. Some of ...
iPhone 17 Pro Air Boxes

iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Boxes Revealed

Sunday September 14, 2025 1:36 pm PDT by
T-Mobile President Jon Freier today shared real-world photos of Apple's boxes for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 models, which launch on Friday. Image Credit: Jon Freier Apple has typically included iPhone box renders in its product environmental reports, but it did not do so for the latest models. However, Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program page does offer some images of the boxes, ...

Top Rated Comments

goodcow Avatar
138 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
138 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
138 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
138 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
138 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
138 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)