Apple may be preparing a major internal shift for future iPad Pro models that could bring noticeably thinner bezels and potentially more compact designs. According to a new report, the company is evaluating whether to approve a display driver IC from LX Semicon, which would work in tandem with LG Innotek’s chip-on-film (CoF) technology. This change, if approved, could have a visible impact on future OLED iPad Pro displays.
Chip-on-film tech allows display driver chips to be mounted directly onto flexible film, using heat compression. These films then transmit signals to the screen via thin-film transistors, enabling much tighter integration along the edges of the panel. In practical terms, this could let Apple trim down the bezels even further while maintaining the same screen size, giving users more screen real estate without increasing the device’s footprint. There’s also the possibility that this approach could make power delivery more efficient, improving battery life, though that remains unconfirmed.
Right now, Apple exclusively uses display driver ICs from Samsung System LSI in its OLED iPads. If LX Semicon’s IC is approved, LG would be able to supply both the driver chips and the CoF materials, giving it greater freedom in producing its panels and creating some long-overdue competition in Apple’s display supply chain. This would not only help Apple reduce dependency on Samsung, but also potentially lower costs and fuel innovation in display technology.
While no specific model has been confirmed for this upgrade, separate reports suggest that the components are likely intended for the iPad Pro. Apple is rumored to launch new iPad Pro models in the second half of 2025 with an M5 chip. Looking further ahead, the lineup may also include landscape-oriented Apple logos, Apple-designed 5G modems, and even a foldable 18.8-inch model as early as 2027.
That said, the bezel situation has physical limits. While the iPhone can get away with ultra-thin bezels thanks to how people hold it, iPads still need some grip space. Users typically rest their fingers on the bezels while holding the device, and reducing that area too much could affect usability. So while a sleeker look is appealing, there’s a functional threshold that Apple will have to consider carefully.
(via The Elec)
