New MacBook Pros, 2022 MacBook Air a huge boost to Apple mini-LED prospects, says Kuo

Macbook Air M1
Macbook Air M1 (Image credit: Daniel Bader / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has significantly revised predictions for Apple mini-LED shipments over the next two years.
  • He now says Apple could ship up to 12 million devices next year, and 28 million the year after, thanks in part to two new mini-LED MacBook Pro models, and a 2022 MacBook Air.

Renowned supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has significantly revised previous predictions about Apple's mini-LED prospects over the next two years, stating the company will sell up to 450% more devices than previously estimated.

In a research note seen by iMore, Kuo says that he has increased shipment predictions for mini-LED devices in 2021 and 2022 by 350% and 450% respectively. Previously, Kuo had forecast shipments of 2-3 million units and 4-5 million units respectively over the next two years. However, citing the cost improvement for mini-LED tech being better than expected, and the use of mini-LED panels in upcoming MacBooks being greater than expected, those figures are now 10-12 million and 25-28 million respectively.

Kuo reiterated reports that in 2021, Apple will release two new MacBook Pros with a new design, likely a 14-inch and 16-inch model featuring Apple silicon. Kuo also says that in 2022 there will be a new MacBook Air featuring a fresh design that will be priced lower than the current M1 version. That's because the cost of Apple silicon is so much lower than Intel, that Apple can offset the increased cost of mini-LED technology.

Kuo says that MacBook will be the main driver of mini-LED shipments as its adoption rate of the tech and shipment growth are better than the iPad. Thanks to Apple silicon, Kuo says shipments of MacBooks will grow 100% over the next three years.

In an interesting aside, Kuo also said that Apple could launch two or three new Gallium Nitride chargers in 2021, however there is no indication as to what these could be for, whether Apple's MacBook, mobile devices, or something else.

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