Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects mass production of a rumored iPad Mini LED Pro will begin sometime in mid or late April, adding that the tech giant’s lineup will adopt OLED screen technology in 2022.
Kuo updated its Mini LED forecasts in a note to investors Thursday. In September, the analyst said that the iPad Pro will be the first of Apple ‘s products to integrate the display technology with an expected launch date in the first half of 2021.
“According to our latest study, the average product and product quality have reached Apple’s high levels, so mass-production of small LED iPads is expected to begin after mid-to-late April, Kuo said in a note Thursday.
The revised timeline agrees with recent rumors regarding the upcoming iPad Pro release. Echoing prophecies months from Kuo, Bloomberg on Wednesday they announced that the new tablets, which include a 12.9-inch model with a Mini LED screen, would be introduced as soon as April. DigiTimes sources called a similar production schedule.
Looking ahead, Kuo sees a potential integration of OLED screens in the iPad line in 2022, though Mini LED will remain a distinctive feature of Apple’s high-end tablets. Interestingly, OLED is expected to land in iPad Air first and may not make its way to the flagship iPad Air.
“However, according to our latest industry study, if the iPad adopts an OLED display in 2022, it will be the mid / low end iPad Air, while the high end iPad Pro will still be in use small LED display, “Kuo writes.
While OLED offers some advantages over Mini LEDs, the technology may not be a distinct candidate for productivity devices due to image retention and integrated lifecycle concerns. Apple seems to be paying attention to those points because it is ruining the future of OLED for iPad and Mac.
According to Kuo, Apple has put a lot of resources into Mini LED and will be pushing the hardware as a key difference for its product line. The exclusive screens are expected to grace at least two MacBook Pro models in 2021, with the MacBook Air benefiting from the technology in 2022.
Led by the MacBook Pro and the later MacBook versions, Apple’s adoption of Mini LEDs will take off over the next two years. Kuo predicts shipments will show 10 million in 2021 and between 20 million and 30 million in 2022.
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