In a new supply chain report today it is said that we can see a 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro with a miniLED screen. This is according to a recent report by renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo said just over a month ago that we could see two MacBook Pro models with a brand new form factor, as well as miniLED backlighting …
Background
As a reminder, miniLED should not be confused with microLED, which is a completely new form of display that is expected to start replacing OLED at a later stage.
miniLED, on the other hand, is a new form of backlighting for the LCD screens used in current MacBooks. It uses many more, smaller LEDs to provide the backlight – probably about 10,000 for a MacBook screen – so different parts of the screen can illuminate differently. It facilitates brighter colors, deeper blacks and improved power efficiency.
Kuo’s predictions about miniLED products date back to April 2019, when he said we could expect the technology to be used in a new iPad and new MacBook by the end of 2020 or early 2021. He also indicated that Apple is working on a 31.6-inch 6K. monitor later that year – a prediction that could not materialize.
Next, Kuo estimated that the technology will be used in a significant number of iPads and MacBooks.
Kuo’s latest investment note indicates that approximately 30-40% of iPads, and 20-30% of MacBooks, will now use miniLED backlight. This brings the technology into a wider range of models.
The analyst bases this estimate on Apple’s second supplier of miniLED chips for next year […] Having two suppliers increases competition, which means Apple will be able to negotiate cheaper prices, which will make the technology more affordable in more models. Kuo estimates the cost to Apple will drop from $ 75-85 per unit to “less than $ 45”.
2021 16-inch MacBook Pro with miniLED
Digitimes today cites a source from supply chain to report that one of these will be a new version of the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Apple is reportedly looking for miniLED screens for its new iPads and MacBook Pros in 2021, while Samsung Electronics is expected to release a miniLED tablet and Micro-Star International (MSI) a miniLED notebook, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. […]
The sources expect that Apple’s 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros and 16-inch MacBook Pro, which will be released in 2021, will be equipped with miniLED screens and that the acceptance of miniLED will be expanded in 2022 to its MacBook Air products.
Of course, it’s no problem that the next 16-inch MacBook Pro is powered by Apple Silicon, whether it’s an M1 chip or a later variant. It is also almost certain that we can expect a slimmer rand.
A combination of Apple Silicon, a better screen and a new design will provide a compelling upgrade for many people, including me.
MacBook Pro Draft Image: Viktor Kádár
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