Apple expected to release iPad Pro, MacBook Pro with Mini LED displays

Apple's current iPad Pro

Doubling down on an earlier prediction, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple will produce new iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models featuring high-quality Mini LED displays in late 2020 or early 2021.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is again reporting that he believes Apple will move to producing high end models of the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro which use Mini LED screens. These displays, said to be comparable to OLED, are expected to be launched in late 2020 or early 2021.

Kuo has previous predicted iPad Pro improvements, and higher-quality MacBook Pro display, but now he offers more detail about the specifics of the display.

Kuo believes the displays for both iPad Pro and MacBook Pro will use 10,000 Mini LEDs. The forthcoming Apple Pro Display XDR monitor is confirmed to have 576 LEDs.

LED and Mini LED screens are said to be comparable to OLED displays, but without the production issues or potential for burn-in. Moving to Mini LED could also reduce Apple's reliance on Samsung's OLED manufacturing.

According to Kuo, the Mini LED screens will be produced by LG Display, and utilize components from half a dozen other suppliers, including Epistar. Apple has previously been reported developing both Mini and Micro LED displays with Epistar and others.

As previously claimed, Kuo says the new iPad Pro will have a display of between 10 and 12 inches, and the MacBook Pro will have between 15 and 17-inch screens. This implies the whole high end of both models getting the new screens.

Kuo says that the new iPad Pro will be released at the end of 2020 or the start of 2021. The MacBook Pro will be early 2021.