Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
66,564
35,806


Apple will this year begin transitioning its devices to mini-LED technology, according to Apple analyst ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌, and a new DigiTimes report on Thursday reiterates Kuo's expectation that a mini-LED version of Apple's MacBook Air is set to arrive in 2022.

m1-macbook-air.jpg

Kuo believes Apple will release iPad Pro models and redesigned MacBook Pros in 2021, followed by a new MacBook Air in 2022, all with mini-LED displays and Apple Silicon chips. Today's DigiTimes report, citing supply chain sources, echoes that general sentiment:
The sources expect that Apple's 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros and 16-inch MacBook Pro set to be released in 2021 will be equipped with miniLED displays and adoption of miniLED will be expanded to its MacBook Air products in 2022.
In addition to a redesigned 16-inch MacBook Pro, Kuo has said he expects Apple to launch a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an all-new design in the late second quarter or third quarter of this year. Kuo says these MacBook Pro models will feature Mini-LED displays for increased brightness, improved contrast, richer colors, and more.

MacBook Pro models are projected to be the main driver of mini-LED panel shipments since they will purportedly gain mini-LED before the iPad and see faster shipment growth.

As a result, Apple will likely introduce mini-LED as a "Pro" Mac feature, however Kuo believes the company will be able to offset the increased cost because the cost of ‌Apple Silicon‌ chips is significantly lower than that of Intel processors, which will allow it to bring the technology to its most popular MacBook further down the line.

Kuo's optimistic scenario sees MacBook shipments growing by 100 percent over the next three years, with up to 35 million units per year, thanks to the adoption of ‌Apple Silicon‌ and the refreshed designs.

Article Link: DigiTimes: Mini-LED MacBook Air to Launch in 2022
 
I’m definitely planning on getting this! I currently have the Intel MacBook Pro that came out in May 2020 but am planning on getting either the 2nd or 3rd gen version of the MacBook Air with Apple silicon. The addition of a Mini LED screen would be awesome!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marbles1 and na1577
Apple giving more for the same price is quite the norm for them. We seen it with the 5K iMac for instance. And moving the cost budget away from the CPU and onto other things makes a lot of sense to me. We are already very much past where people see big changes from processors, but everyone sees the benefit of a better screen, nicer keyboard, more natural sounding speakers, and hopefully the upcoming dawn of high quality webcams(though you can’t cheat physics so it will need to be computational as there isn’t room for huge sensors and lenses.).
 
How long has there been rumors now of a mini-led macbook coming next year? 5 years, 10 years?
Less than a year. Early 2020 we heard MacBook Pro with mini-Led would come out at the end of 2020 or early 2021. This has moved by about 6 months as we are still expecting MacBook Pro with mini-led in Q2/2021. The article above is about the MacBook Air, and that's the first time there is a rumour about a MacBook Air with mini-Led.
 
very happy with my M1 air so may think about upgrading it in 2022 so will see.

first I've heard of the 11 inch iPad Pro being updated for mini led. sounds like it will just be the 12.9
 
How long has there been rumors now of a mini-led macbook coming next year? 5 years, 10 years?
Not that long at all, but it seems like big changes are FINALLY happening. The Mac Pro redesign and the M1 Apple Silicon prove this. New displays / display technology, redesigns etc.

Now is the time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tagbert
I’m definitely planning on getting this! I currently have the Intel MacBook Pro that came out in May 2020 but am planning on getting either the 2nd or 3rd gen version of the MacBook Air with Apple silicon. The addition of a Mini LED screen would be awesome!
Same. Using a 2020 MBP myself - it's great as the machine is lightning fast and all the news coming out about the arm Macs is good; just means the 2nd or 3rd gen is going to be the machine to buy. Kinks ironed out, a reliable solution for running windows business apps, some kind of an outcome for how Steam and gog.com games will run.

Of course I'm thankful to all the early adopters for buying up machines now to help with the testing process!
 
I haven’t had an Apple PC in almost 6 years. I might finally switch back with this and continued improvements to Apple SoC.
 
anyone regret getting the recently released air after this news? I wonder if you'll be able to change the display to the miniled or will the air likely to be redesigned to the current one?
 
Same. Using a 2020 MBP myself - it's great as the machine is lightning fast and all the news coming out about the arm Macs is good; just means the 2nd or 3rd gen is going to be the machine to buy. Kinks ironed out, a reliable solution for running windows business apps, some kind of an outcome for how Steam and gog.com games will run.

Of course I'm thankful to all the early adopters for buying up machines now to help with the testing process!

This is my dilemma. I've just received a new, current MBP 16" and am debating whether to use it or to sell it and buy a new gen when they come out. I do need access to Windows, so I wouldn't buy an Apple Silicon machine until it's fully supported, and who knows when that will happen (I do think it will happen eventually). There will certainly be kinks in any new architecture/ form factor, and gen 2 will be a long wait. That said, I think the smart move is to sell and wait (depending on what I could get for it) but it's awfully tempting to open that box....
 
Yep i wanted to replace my 2011 MacBook Pro so that will be on my shopping list
exact same boat. I barely ever use my 2011 pro now, but that's because my work laptop is a 2019 15" macbook pro. I'd really probably only use it for surfing the web. So I'll be eyeballing the 14" MacBook Air around the 2022 timeframe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bazooka-joe
anyone regret getting the recently released air after this news? I wonder if you'll be able to change the display to the miniled or will the air likely to be redesigned to the current one?
My guess is the MacBook pros will be redesigned this year and the air will be redesigned for 2022, with the inclusion of Mini LED.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ModusOperandi
Looks like I'm stuck to a 2 year upgrade cycle! 2018 MBA Redesign > 2020 M1 MBA > 2022 Redesign. :)
 
In addition to a redesigned 16-inch MacBook Pro, Kuo has said he expects Apple to launch a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an all-new design in the late second quarter or third quarter of this year. Kuo says these MacBook Pro models will feature Mini-LED displays for increased brightness, improved contrast, richer colors, and more.
This is the bit I'm most excited about, to see what the new MBP redesign will look like.
 
I personally have the 2018 rMBP 15, high-equipped standard version. When do you guys think would be a good time for me to upgrade?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.