DigiTimes: Apple likely to adopt mini-LED for new products launching later this year

11-inch iPad Pro
11-inch iPad Pro (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

  • Apple might launch mini-LED products later this year.
  • That's according to a new DigiTimes report.
  • It says Apple could adopt mini-LED backlighting for products in the second half of 2020.

A new report says Apple may adopt mini-LED display technology in products launching in the second half of 2020.

According to DigiTimes:

Apple is likely to adopt mini LED backlighting for its new product models to be launched in the second half of 2020 and this is expected to bring orders for Taiwan-based display driver IC design houses and backend service providers, according to industry sources.Those who may receive a boost include: driver IC designers Novatek Microelectronics, Macroblock and Parade Technologies; packaging and testing service providers ChipMOS Technologies and Chipband Technology; semiconductor and optoelectronic device testing and inspection equipment makers MPI and Chroma ATE; and LED probing, sorting and testing equipment vendor FitTech, the sources said.

As you'll note, there's no indication of what those products might be. A report in the last 24 hours noted that DigiTimes believes Apple is working on a new mini-LED iPad Pro, but that this has been delayed until Q1 of 2021, having previously been touted for a release this year.

As the report notes, mini-LED is likely to expand to desktops and notebooks as well as tablets. It would allow Apple to make thinner and lighter display housings, as well as improve the quality of their displays. It has previously been reported that Apple may be working on mini-LED versions of a new MacBook Pro, possibly the 16-inch model, as well as a new 27-inch iMac. The report notes that Apple's competitors are also likely to adopt mini-LED in notebooks and tablets in smaller volumes towards the end of the year.

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9