A recent article from Digitimes reports rumors of Apple’s potential plans to launch second generation iPads in several sizes and possibly with Organic LED displays. These rumors revolve around Apple’s iPad orders with its Taiwan component manufacturers, which seem to indicate the possible use of 5.6, 7, and 9.7 inch OLED iPad panels as soon as 2011.
Organic LED screens generally have a higher contrast, use less power, and have superior color saturation compared to their LED counterparts. However, the OLED screens are much more expensive than the current LCD panels for the iPad. Digitimes Research senior analyst Mingchi Kuo points out that, “the price gap is unlikely to narrow significantly in 2010 or 2011.”
If Apple does choose to implement OLED screens in its next generation iPads, it may win over avid readers in the eBook market. OLED screens are not backlit which would make reading on iPads easier on the eyes and bring it more in line with the E Ink displays of other e-readers.
