As the market for high-end tablets continues to expand, industry leaders Apple and Microsoft are in a tight race to capture consumer interest. Among the most prominent developments is the advent of OLED displays, which promise more vibrant colors, higher brightness levels, and an overall superior visual experience. While Microsoft’s new Surface Pro offers an OLED panel option, new data reveals a stark disparity in display shipment volumes compared to Apple’s 13-inch M4 iPad Pro.
An analysis has shown that despite Microsoft’s early start in acquiring OLED panels from November 2023, Apple has substantially surpassed its rival in shipments for its 13-inch M4 iPad Pro. Apple began ordering Tandem OLED displays in February 2024, yet the shipment volume for these displays is more than 23 times greater than that of Microsoft’s Surface Pro. Furthermore, if the shipment estimates for Apple’s 11-inch iPad Pro are included, the gap widens even further.
The significant difference in the volume of displays shipped reflects a larger trend in the market, where Apple’s offering is in much higher demand. This trend is compounded by the fact that every M4 iPad Pro includes an OLED panel as a standard feature, contrasting with Microsoft’s Surface Pro which requires an additional $500 upgrade fee for an OLED display. Additionally, Microsoft’s upgraded model with an OLED panel features enhancements such as the Snapdragon X Elite chipset and 16GB LPDDR5X RAM.
Apple’s M4 iPad Pro series takes advantage of Tandem OLED technology, a first in consumer products, which boasts a higher brightness and a longer lifespan than traditional OLED panels. Despite leveraging advanced display technology, one point of critique lies in the existing limitations within iPadOS, which curtails the full potential of the tablet’s hardware. The constrained software features are seen as a barrier to unlocking the device’s complete capabilities and wider adoption in professional workflows.
Even though Apple’s software may impose certain restrictions on the M4 iPad Pro’s functionality, the tablet models are still projected to outsell Microsoft’s Surface Pro significantly. The consumer preference for Apple’s advanced display tech and the overall appeal of the iPad product line seem to ensure strong sales figures, potentially numbering in the millions, as we look ahead.
In conclusion, the competition between the latest high-end tablets from Apple and Microsoft underscores consumers’ affinity for cutting-edge technology, especially in display quality. With Apple’s M4 iPad Pro series forecasted to dominate the market, other players will need to ramp up their offerings to remain competitive in an increasingly demanding tech landscape.
