A recent DigiTimes report states that Apple will launch a new iPad Pro with a mini-LED display early next year, and a new high-end MacBook in the second half of 2021. The report claims Epistar will supply the over-10,000 mini LEDs used in each iPad Pro. Additionally, Apple is expected to recruit Osram Opto as another supplier of mini LEDs for use in a new “high-end” MacBook.
The mini-LED displays in the new Apple devices have been in news since May this year. The new display technology is said to improve the backlight quality of the display to be easy on the users’ eyes. However, there have been mixed reports on the devices which will ship with new display technology.
Apple will release 12.9-inch mini-LED iPad Pro and MacBook in 2021
DigiTimes reports that,
“Osram Opto Semiconductors is expected to supply backlight-use mini LED for high-end MacBook in second-half 2021, becoming Apple’s second supplier of such chips next to Taiwan-based Epistar, according to industry sources.
Apple is expected to launch 12.9-inch mini LED-backlit iPad Pro in early 2021, with each tablet to use over 10,000 mini LEDs solely supplied by Epistar, the sources said. Epistar is ready to start production of mini LEDs by modifying its blue-light LED chipmaking equipment for producing such mini LEDs in third-quarter 2020, the sources noted.”
The report continues noting Apple will launch a mini-LED in the high-end MacBook, likely a MacBook Pro, in the second half of the year. The report is corroborated by several previous reports suggesting Apple plans to switch at least some of its devices over to mini-LED display technology soon.
Reports from other sources like tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that an iPad Pro model with Mini-LED display will ship in 2021.
Mini-LED display technology offers higher brightness and deeper contrasts. Currently, the LCD panels used by Apple use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to light up the display. Mini-LEDs are smaller diodes that are less than 0.2mm in size. It is rumored that the brightness of this display can go up to 4000 nits as compared to the 625 nits of brightness that Apple’s current flagship iPhone 11. Additionally, enabling HDR through local dimming is another advantage of Mini-LED displays.
This report goes on to say that the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro may be delayed until Q1 of 2021. Rumored features of the new iPad Pro include a new A14X chip and 5G connectivity.
Like Kuo, @L0vetodream also gave the Q1 or Q2 of 2021 as the release time frame of the brand-new, more powerful, and faster iPad Pro.
