A pair of new reports from research firm TrendForce today offer additional details on Apple’s transition to Apple Silicon, as well as the iPad Pro and Mac transition to mini LED display technology. According to TrendForce, Apple is likely to introduce a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with mini LED in Q1 2021.
The report explains that Apple’s transition to mini LED technology will start with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro during the first quarter of 2021. At the same time, Apple is also reportedly expected to begin sourcing suppliers for mini LED technology for the 16-inch MacBook Pro and a new 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Mini LED screens offer a rich wide color gamut, high contrast ratios, high dynamic range, and localized dimming. mini LED is also believed to result in thinner panels that are more power-efficient, and they do not suffer from burn-in like OLED. These benefits are why Apple has made mini LED a “focus in the company’s future planning process of new display products.”
TrendForce notes that Apple will likely rely primarily on Taiwanese manufacturers for its mini LED displays as a way of reducing reliance on manufacturers in China:
In a separate report published today, TrendForce also details Apple Silicon and how Apple will transition the Mac, iPhone, and iPad to its newest custom processors. The report explains that 5nm Apple Silicon processors will be significantly more cost-effective to Apple than similar Intel processors:
The report goes on to explain that mass production of the A14 Bionic processor for this year’s iPhone 12 is already underway. The A14X Bionic is expected to power the new iPad Pro devices in Q1 2021, and mass production is scheduled to begin “in small volumes” sometime during Q3 2020.
Apple has already confirmed that it will ship its first Mac with Apple Silicon before the end of this year, but it remains to be seen which Mac that is and which processor will be inside. Interestingly, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that a new 24-inch iMac will be one of the first Macs to make the switch to Apple Silicon.
