LG Display tapped to produce mini LED displays for early 2021 iPad Pro refresh

LG Display is reportedly preparing to supply Apple with mini LED displays in early 2021, potentially for a new lineup of iPad Pro models that could be followed by MacBooks and other iPads.

Past supply chain reports have indicated that LG Display could be the primary supplier of mini LED display panels for an iPad Pro model. Well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has forecast that the iPad model could be Apple's first to sport the display technology.

The supplier is set to mass produce its mini LED displays for new iPad models starting by the end of 2020, Korea IT News reported. Corroborating previous reports, Epistar and TSMT will be responsible for the production and mounting of mini LEDs, while LG Display will add its LCD panels to the modules and ship the final displays.

Apple's first mini LED iPads are largely expected to debut in the first quarter of 2021, though there are reports that MacBook models could follow suit later in the year. More specifically, a "high-end" MacBook Pro could adopt the tech.

Although reports suggested that Apple could release up to six devices with mini LED displays by the end of 2020, it appears that the coronavirus pandemic has pushed that timeline back.

Compared to current display technology, mini LEDs offer better color reproduction, contrast ratios, and local dimming than conventionally backlit displays. The display industry says that mini LED backlights LCDs are able to provide a screen that comes the closest to reality thus far.

In addition to Apple, LG Display is reportedly in contract to produce mini LED displays for other PC and monitor manufacturers, such as Lenovo and LG Electronics.

8 Comments

wood1208 2932 comments · 10 Years

About 4 years ago

Understood but more interesting will be MiniLED Macbook/s and more more interesting will be MICROLED based Apple products.

gilly33 444 comments · 10 Years

Ahh no OLED iPad Pro? Sigh.

tmay 6455 comments · 11 Years

gilly33 said:

Ahh no OLED iPad Pro? Sigh.

From the story above;

"The display industry says that mini LED backlights LCDs are able to provide a screen that comes the closest to reality thus far."

Maybe you won't actually want an OLED after MiniLED screens are released.

CloudTalkin 916 comments · 5 Years

tmay said:

gilly33 said:

Ahh no OLED iPad Pro? Sigh.

From the story above;

"The display industry says that mini LED backlights LCDs are able to provide a screen that comes the closest to reality thus far."

Maybe you won't actually want an OLED after MiniLED screens are released.

From the story above:
"Compared to current display technology, mini LEDs offer better color reproduction, contrast ratios, and local dimming than conventionally backlit displays. The display industry says that mini LED backlights LCDs are able to provide a screen that comes the closest to reality thus far."

Although nebulously written, I think the context of the sentences implies miniLED's strengths against other LCD backlighting only, like edge lighting for instance. The statement can't be true vs OLED tech. MiniLED could possibly offer better color reproduction than OLED. Depends on the OEM's color science. But it can't offer greater contrast ratios or local dimming than OLED. MiniLED offers local dimming zones vs OLED dimming (actually turning off) down to the indivdual pixel.

MiniLED also still has that minor FALD blooming issue with which to contend.

tl;dr I don't think that quote references anything other than backlighting tech.

iSalmanPak 58 comments · 8 Years

Certainly glad I spent a bunch of money on a 2020 12.9" iPad Pro. The LiDAR sensor that I never use was a welcome addition as was the "new" CPU. Does anyone know why they even bothered to release an iPad Pro this year?