Would you use a tablet capable of bending, or even being folded into a cylinder? Because the latest hype from a longtime analyst of Apple’s mobile device business seems to think the the company is set to bring us an iPad which will bend due to an AMOLED display.
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The rumour has come out of website Macrumors.com and the analyst himself, a Mr. Ming-Chi Kuo, has an excellent track record of getting predictions more or less on the money. According to Mr. Kuo, the bendy tablet will arrive in 2018, as Apple adopts ‘revolutionary changes’ to their product lineup ahead of the incoming decade.
“Revolutionary iPad model likely to be introduced in 2018F at the earliest, with radical changes in form factor design & user behavior on adoption of flexible AMOLED panel. We believe iPad will follow in the footsteps of the iPhone by adopting AMOLED panel in 2018F at the earliest. If Apple can truly tap the potential of a flexible AMOLED panel, we believe the new iPad model will offer new selling points through radical form factor design and user behavior changes, which could benefit shipments.”
We’ve seen the AMOLED concept before from companies like Samsung – the hard to manufacture displays and their special degree of flexibility are some of the most difficult pieces of tech to pull off at the moment – but are well on their way to hitting mainstream markets.
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In a more down to earth and less revolutionary prediction, Mr. Kuo outlined in his report that Apple will likely also expand their iPad range in 2017, prior to this ‘bendy’ model – with three new pads arriving in 2017 in a variety of forms.
We expect three new iPads (12.9″ iPad Pro 2, new size 10.5″ iPad Pro & low-cost 9.7″ iPad) to be launched in 2017, though this may not drive shipment growth amid structural headwinds; 2017F shipments to fall 10-20% YoY. If the iPad comes in a larger size, such as a 10.5″ model, we believe it will be helpful to bid for tenders within the commercial and education markets.
As a result, we expect Apple to launch a 10.5″ iPad Pro in 2017. In addition, we estimate the 12.9″ iPad Pro 2 and 10.5″ iPad Pro will adopt the A10X processor, with TSMC being the sole supplier using 10nm process technology. The low-cost 9.7″ model may adopt the A9X processor, which is also exclusively supplied by TSMC.
As for the credibility of the source, Mr. Kuo has been historically on the money when it comes to predicting Apple’s next move – with a track record so infamous that he’s been called “the most accurate Apple analyst in the world” by Business Insider.
It’s not too long a way to 2018 – and no doubt it’ll be even more eventful than this long and tumultuous 2016. But at least when we get there, the tablets will bend. Hopefully. See you then.
Source: Macrumors