Once again, a leak from the supply chain offers some interesting tidbits as to what might be down the line.
A report issued on Monday supports earlier predictions of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with miniLED screen. This would be the first Apple product with this backlighting technology.
MiniLED screens use the same IPS-LCD panels Apple uses for its existing iPads and MacBooks, but with a greatly improved backlighting system:
By using very many more smaller LEDs for backlighting, it provides greater control over small sections of the screen. This offers many of the same benefits as OLED: higher contrast ratio, increased brightness, deeper blacks, and better power efficiency. But an LCD screen with miniLED backlighting is actually better than OLED in a couple of respects: it’s less prone to burn-in and has a longer life.
Per Digitimes, Apple supplier Epistar is said to be providing the chips in question:
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 also indicated that Apple is working to bring two additional suppliers – Osram Opto Semiconductors and China-based Sanan Optoelectronics – on board.
Such a move aligns with a not Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s July report stating that a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with miniLED screen could be seen in Q1 2021.
It’s entirely possible that the exact timing remains uncertain at this stage as Apple seeks to prioritize production of the delayed iPhone 12 models, so either Q4 this year or Q1 next year would seem plausible at this point.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.