Pros And Cons Of The 10th Generation iPad’s Non-Laminated Display
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In late October, Apple unveiled the redesigned 10th-generation iPad. The new model boasted several interesting changes that took the device several steps forward. Taking a cue from the iPad Air 4 (2020), we saw a design change, a USB-C switch, and the home button's removal.
Likewise, the fingerprint reader has been moved to the top power button. So the new iPad has improved. But the problem is that it has also increased in price. For example, the previous generation was almost a third cheaper. On the face of it, iPad 10 has improved in just about every way. Even the display has moved forward.
Apple’s new generation relies on a 10.9″ Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels, while the 9th generation iPad only had a Retina display with a resolution of 2160 x 1620 pixels. But let’s pause for a moment on display.
Liquid Retina is also used by the aforementioned iPad Air 4 (2020), and yet it’s on a completely different level than the new iPad 10. So let’s look at what this means and what (dis)advantages are associated with it.
Laminated x non-laminated display
The screen of today’s phones and tablets consists of three basic layers. The display panel is at the bottom, followed by the touch layer and then the top glass, which is usually scratch-resistant. In this case, tiny gaps between the layers can theoretically get dust in over time.
Laminated screens do it a little differently. In this case, all three layers are laminated into a single piece that forms the display, bringing several great benefits. But not all gold glitters. There are pros and cons to both methods.
As mentioned above, in the case of iPad 10, Apple has opted for an unlaminated screen, while iPad Air 4 (2020), for example, offers a laminated one.
Advantages of a non-laminated display
An unlaminated screen has some pretty substantial price and repairability benefits. As mentioned above, all three layers (display, touchscreen, glass) work independently. So if, for example, the top glass is damaged/cracked, only this part can be replaced directly, making the resulting repair significantly cheaper.
The opposite is true for laminated screens. Since the entire screen is laminated into a single “display piece”, the entire piece must be replaced if the display is damaged. As such, the display is now one of the most expensive parts of modern devices, making repairs very expensive.
Repairability is, therefore, an essential benefit that the alternative approach cannot compete with. Although the screens in both cases are made from the same components, the fundamental difference is the manufacturing process, which impacts this factor.
Disadvantages of a non-laminated display
Unfortunately, the disadvantages of unlaminated screens are somewhat more numerous. A laminated display is primarily characterised by the fact that it is slightly thinner due to the joining of the parts and therefore does not suffer from the typical ‘fit’ into the device. At the same time, there is no space between the display, the touchscreen and the glass.
This eliminates the risk of dust getting into the device after years of use and dirtying the display. There is no choice but to open and clean the product in such a case. The lack of free space between the layers contributes to the higher display quality. In particular, there is no unnecessary space where light is refracted. Although the space between the layers is small, it still has several negative effects.
Suppose you use a stylus when working with your iPad. In that case, you may notice one interesting “flaw” — tapping on the display makes it a bit noisier. It can be annoying for many creatives, for example, who work almost constantly with Apple Pencil. The laminated screen also makes for a slightly more pleasing image.
This comes from the fact that the individual parts are laminated into one. This is why some experts describe it as looking directly at the image. In contrast, with unlaminated screens, you may notice on closer inspection that the rendered content is actually underneath the screen itself or somewhat underneath the glass and touch layer.
This is also linked to poorer results when used in direct sunlight. The last known disadvantage of unlaminated screens is an effect known as parallax. When using a stylus, the display can appear to take input a few millimetres away from where you tapped the screen. Again, the gap between the top glass, the touchpad and the actual display is responsible for this.
What’s better
In conclusion, therefore, the question is which production process is better. Of course, as we said above, laminated screens lead the way at first glance. This is because they bring significantly more comfort, are of higher quality and can be used to make the device itself thinner overall.
Unfortunately, their major shortcoming lies in the aforementioned repairability. In the event of damage, the entire display must be replaced, which will cost a lot of money. Practically speaking, it is almost better to buy a new tablet.
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