Industry analyst Ming Chi-Kuo says Apple will be switching to mini LED backlighting for its future Macs and iPads, starting with a 31.6-inch iMac, which will be launched later this year.
A DigiTimes report cites comments by Kuo to local media, and claims Apple will make use of the mini LED backlighting for an upcoming 31.6-inch iMac (to be launched in the second or third quarter of 2019), a 10- to 12-inch iPad to hit shelves in the fourth-quarter 2020 or first-quarter 2021, and a 15- to 17-inch MacBook which will debut in the first-half 2021.
DigiTimes says Apple is attracted to mini LED display technology, due to its high contrast ration,. high dynamic range, wide color gamut, and local dimming.
The backlight unit to be used in the 31.6-inch iMac will be made of 500 LED chips of 600 microns in size. Japan-based Nichia will supply the LEDs, Kuo said.
The report also says that technically, the display will be a quasi-mini LED BLU display, as the chip size is much larger than those of standard mini LEDs. However, industry sources indicate the use of the technology will allow the supply chain to improve mini LED production in cost and yield rate.
Over 10,000 mini LEDs will be required for the new iPad’s display, says the report, which will be manufactured by Epistar. LG Display will crank out the LCD panels, and the BLUs will be produced by by Radiant Opto-Electronics. All three companies will supply parts for the mini LED-backlit MacBook.
