Innolux to Supply Mini-LED Panels for iPad Pro to Launch in Second Half of 2020

[MacRumors]

Taiwan-based Innolux has won orders to supply Apple with mini-LED panels for a new iPad Pro due to launch later this year, according to a new report today.

Taiwan's Economic Daily News reports that the panel maker has already sent samples to Apple and has now won orders with the tech giant to supply them in bulk for the tablet, said to be launching in the second half of the year.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that Apple plans to release four to six products with mini-LED displays over the next two to three years, including a high-end 12.9-inch ?iPad Pro set for launch in the third quarter of 2020?.

Kuo has said the mini-LED displays will "significantly improve productivity and the entertainment experience," and will allow for thinner and lighter product designs, while offering many of the same benefits of OLED displays used on the latest iPhones, including higher contrast ratio, higher brightness, and deeper blacks.

LG Display and General Interface Solution (GIS) will be the other significant benefactors of these mini-LED products, according to Kuo. Previous reports claim Apple has contracted for related components with Epistar, Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology (TSMT), Zhen Ding Technology, and Flexium Interconnect.

Apple is widely rumored to refresh the ?iPad Pro? in spring 2020. If it does, another new 12.9-inch model in fall 2020 would certainly be an early addition to the range.

Article Link: Innolux to Supply Mini-LED Panels for iPad Pro to Launch in Second Half of 2020

 

[CrysisDeu]

10000+ led display coming?
Will PDX get an update sometime? The performance is underwhelming.

 

[recoil80]

I like my iPad but when I watch movies on it I'm always bothered by the lack of true blacks on the display. My iPhone's display is better, but too small to really enjoy watching videos.
I'd much rather have OLED on my tablet than on the phone, so hope this rumor turns out to be true!

 

[Dave245]

So are Apple going to update the iPad Pro with Mini-LED and a new camera system in March? OR are they going to fragment the line up and add another "premium" iPad Pro later in the year. I hope they just update the iPad Pro in March with Mini-LED, a new processor and the new camera system. They don't need to add another version of the iPad Pro later in the year.

 

[Nimrad]

I like my iPad but when I watch movies on it I'm always bothered by the lack of true blacks on the display. My iPhone's display is better, but too small to really enjoy watching videos.
I'd much rather have OLED on my tablet than on the phone, so hope this rumor turns out to be true!

I agree. OLED/mini-LED/micro-LED would be a welcome addition to the iPad. Also, backlit Smart Keyboard folio would be great. A little tip to Apple: In stead of making The mini-LED version thinner, just put larger batteries in it.

 

[Falhófnir]

Looking forward to this, HDR on iPad will be brilliant!

So are Apple going to update the iPad Pro with Mini-LED and a new camera system in March? OR are they going to fragment the line up and add another "premium" iPad Pro later in the year. I hope they just update the iPad Pro in March with Mini-LED, a new processor and the new camera system. They don't need to add another version of the iPad Pro later in the year.

Sounds like the mini LED is only coming to the 12.9" model later this year, the smaller March refresh might be for the 11" only, or for both but with the 12.9" updated again late in the year.

 

[iPadified]

Looking forward to this, HDR on iPad will be brilliant!


Sounds like the mini LED is only coming to the 12.9" model later this year, the smaller March refresh might be for the 11" only, or for both but with the 12.9" updated again late in the year.

Perhaps, there are also case leaks which usually is a good sign for a close release. Still confused how Apple will do this. An A14X in March before the A14 for iPhone - not likely. Better display in the autumn for 12.9 inch could be acceptable but then iPP will run A13X.

 

[PickUrPoison]

So are Apple going to update the iPad Pro with Mini-LED and a new camera system in March? OR are they going to fragment the line up and add another "premium" iPad Pro later in the year. I hope they just update the iPad Pro in March with Mini-LED, a new processor and the new camera system. They don't need to add another version of the iPad Pro later in the year.

Who knows, but nobody has said mini-LED next month. Kuo has said a mini-LED, A14X 12.9 in Q3. This report says mini-LED in Q3/Q4. Other reports say iPad Pro earlier, including Kuo 1H2020. I guess he’s hedging his bets.

It’s impossible to know much of value due to the conflicting rumors, imo. The only consistent reports are mini-LED later in the year.

Maybe a spring release, with the mini-LED display a +$150 optional upgrade to the regular display, available later in the year when it’s ready.

 

[69Mustang]

I like my iPad but when I watch movies on it I'm always bothered by the lack of true blacks on the display. My iPhone's display is better, but too small to really enjoy watching videos.
I'd much rather have OLED on my tablet than on the phone, so hope this rumor turns out to be true!

If this rumor is true, you won't be getting OLED on your tablet. OLED and mini-LED are entirely different technologies. Mini-LED is still backlighting coupled to an LCD.

 

[delta0]

This pretty much confirms the IPP is coming later this year. 2 releases in a year is not going to happen.

 

[PickUrPoison]

This pretty much confirms the IPP is coming later this year. 2 releases in a year is not going to happen.

That would be my preference, with A14X, 5G and mini-LED.

 

[recoil80]

If this rumor is true, you won't be getting OLED on your tablet. OLED and mini-LED are entirely different technologies. Mini-LED is still backlighting coupled to an LCD.

Even if is not OLED it should be better than LCD for watching content as far as I understand.

 

[mazz0]

If this rumor is true, you won't be getting OLED on your tablet. OLED and mini-LED are entirely different technologies. Mini-LED is still backlighting coupled to an LCD.

I think I read that mini-LED is as good as OLED in terms of blackness and contrast ratio?
[automerge]1582545678[/automerge]

I think I read that mini-LED is as good as OLED in terms of blackness and contrast ratio?

Although having just read what mini-LED means I'm a bit dubious. Sounds like it rather depends how small they are.

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

Im so confused! I got abosolutely no problem waiting till the fall for the pro, but i need an ipad now. I will happely go out and get the budget model and sit on it for the next 6 months and then sell it towards the pro, but there is no way they would put out two versions of the same thing in the same year would they?

 

[The Game 161]

This is so confusing so are we getting it in march and in fall? Surely not?

If nothing comes in march then you know it’s not going to be til 2nd half of the year

 

[AppelGeenyus]

Makes way more sense for iPads to go OLED until microLED is ready given screen size. Local dimming stinks, and I'm not sure how they figure it will allow for "thinner products", especially for mobile devices given local dimming layers add both thickness and power draw.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

that’s March ruled out then

 

[EugW]

The timing makes it sound more like a 2021 mini-LED release. If they just recently won the contract, then fall 2020 is too early.

 

[Falhófnir]

Perhaps, there are also case leaks which usually is a good sign for a close release. Still confused how Apple will do this. An A14X in March before the A14 for iPhone - not likely. Better display in the autumn for 12.9 inch could be acceptable but then iPP will run A13X.

Yeah a lot of noise around this, I still think it's possible we see an A13X and upgraded camera model(s) soon, with a (maybe more expensive?) 'iPad Pro XDR' later in the year which also gets the A14X. If Apple are wanting to release it this year but the tech will only be ready by the end of the year it can't be helped (vis the 16" MacBook Pro only being ready in November but the 2019 15" still being released in July).

 

[1bcoolrob]

Make mini Led's Great Again??

 

[The Game 161]

that’s March ruled out then

Nah I think this will still happen...timings aren’t accurate so maybe this will be out feb 2021

 

[Jim Lahey]

I would kill for an OLED iPad, but I suspect the nature of how they are often used - internet browsing for several hours on end - may expose such a device to potential image retention problems. Yes I know that OLED isn't always necessarily a burn-in disaster, but an iPad would be a prime contender for issues in this regard.

 

[Freeangel1]

WOW Sony's new Xperia One MKII phone has a 4k display! CinemaWide" 4K HDR OLED (3840x1644)

Can we please get 4k displays on the new iPhone and iPad Pro ? along with 8K video recording like the samsung S20 and 120 HZ refresh rate on the display and 108MP camera??

 

[Zdigital2015]

That would be my preference, with A14X, 5G and mini-LED.

If I may humbly submit...I would also like the above plus the three camera system, 6GB of DRAM across the board, 128GB starting capacity, a bit thicker with a larger battery or at least no thinner and add the headphone jack back. I use the headphone jack all the time for audio levels monitoring, etc and needing a dongle for that seems silly. I get it for the iPhone, but my iPad rarely ends up in the same peril my iPhone does on a daily basis. Just my 2¢.

 

[jarman92]

So are Apple going to update the iPad Pro with Mini-LED and a new camera system in March? OR are they going to fragment the line up and add another "premium" iPad Pro later in the year. I hope they just update the iPad Pro in March with Mini-LED, a new processor and the new camera system. They don't need to add another version of the iPad Pro later in the year.

Well if Apple just awarded the display contract, I seriously doubt they’ll be releasing a new iPad in a few weeks