Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Mini-LED screen will be launched in the first quarter of 2021, according to a new report from DigiTimes. The report claims that Apple has diversified its supply chain for displays and touch panels, and that BOE has finally obtained approval to offer OLED panels for the iPhone and GIS to provide touch panels for both the iPhone and the upcoming iPad Pro.
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GIS approved investments of NT $ 2.198 billion (US $ 76.3 million) and NT $ 1.421 billion proposed by its subsidiary in Chengdu, China, in August and November 2020, respectively, with the funds to focus on expanding production capacity for integrated touch modules used in tablets. said. The subsidiary will invest another $ 753 million from NT to improve production line automation. The subsidiary currently manufactures integrated touch modules for iPads and MacBooks, the sources said.
In addition to iPhones, GIS will also manufacture integrated touch modules for the 12.9-inch miniiPad Pro miniLED backlit panels, which will be launched in the first quarter of 2021.
There have been rumors for some time that Apple is preparing a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a ‘Mini-LED’ screen, which offers a number of improvements over current iPad screens, including darker blacks, brighter bright, richer colors and better contrast. Using thousands of individual LEDs to light the screen, the technology should offer many advantages that OLED screens offer, but without the disadvantages of the technology.
Previous reports, including from well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, have indicated that the Mini-LED iPad Pro will be launched somewhere in the first half of 2021, but today’s report from DigiTimes indicates that the debut is expected in the early part of the period.
If we look beyond the next generation iPad Pro, there have been a few reports claiming that Apple wants to switch the line to OLED screen technology, although it seems unlikely that Apple will switch to ‘Mini-LED’ just shortly before switching back and OLED. One rumor claims that the OLED iPad Pro will be launched in the second half of 2021, but a more recent report claims that the change is unlikely to take place until 2022.