Next iPad mini won't use mini LED, says new supply chain sources

Contrary to the conventional wisdom, sources within Apple's supply chain are saying that the forthcoming "iPad mini 6" won't have a mini LED backlit display.

CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, Ross Young, says that recent reports are wrong — the upcoming iPad mini will not use mini LED. He sourced the information from Apple's "supposed mini LED supplier."

No miniLED iPad Mini this year. Digitimes story was not correct.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) July 23, 2021

The supplier he's referring to may be Radiant Optoelectronics, referenced in a recent report. The company was said to be providing mini LED units in Q3 2021, with a volume expansion for Q4.

Apple shifted to a new backlight technology called mini LED for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro which enables much improved black levels. Reports have suggested the backlight technology could come to the "iPad mini 6."

An Apple engineer referred to the mini LED display as a "whole new level of engineering." The display controller had to be engineered from scratch, and Apple chose the 12.9-inch iPad Pro for the technology.

If getting the technology small enough to fit into the large iPad Pro was a challenge, then Apple may not be ready to move it to the much smaller iPad mini. Notoriously, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is thicker because of mini LED, which caused problems with some accessories.