iPad 2 will Use LCD Screen Instead of OLED

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"Coretronic has reportedly entered the supply chain for the second generation iPad, and will supply BLUs to Chimei Innolux (CMI) and LG Display. It is understood that Coretronic is the only BLU supplier of CMI for the second generation iPad, while LG Display is getting the second generation iPad BLUs from Coretronic and Radiant Opto-Electronics" -- Taiwanese website DigiTimes.

According to DigiTimes' sources, there is no chance that the Samsung Mobile Display team will be able to produce enough OLED/AMOLED displays in time for the much-anticipated second generation iPad to use them. That's to say that Apple will have to selected LCD screen as the second generation iPad's new screen in Q1 2011/ April 2011. The LCD units are made of two components, an LCD panel and a Back Light Unit (BLU). Active-matrix OLED (Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) screens are being used more and more in mobile devices but according to a report form DigiTimes, Apple is bucking the trend and will continue to use an LCD screen for iPad 2.

Apple does not appear to be a big fan of OLED screen technology and chose not to include the screen technology in its latest iPhone 4 released earlier this year. According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the iPhone 4's In-plane Switching (IPS) LCD based Retina Display is "quite a bit better than OLED screen." Many experts dispute that IPS is better than OLED screen, but most agree that IPS is superior in bright direct sunlight conditions. This may be the main reason why Apple continues to stick with IPS technology for future iPhone and iPad devices.

The second generation iPad is reported to begin shipping in the first quarter of next year. This timeframe would line up with the first anniversary of the iPad's launch. Since Apple generally releases new products on an annual cycle, we expect aecond generation iPad should begin release in Q1 2011/ April 2011.