Kuo: iPad Air to Adopt OLED in 2022, Mini-LED to Remain Exclusive to iPad Pro Models

[MacRumors]

Apple will transition the iPad Air to OLED displays in the second half of next year, while mini-LED display technology will remain exclusive to upcoming higher-end iPad Pro models, according to a new report from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple is expected to be just weeks away from launching a mini-LED iPad Pro, the first Apple device to feature the newer technology. In Kuo's latest investor note, seen by MacRumors, the analyst underlines his belief that even when the iPad Air transitions to an OLED display in 2022, mini-LED will remain in its tablet lineup as a display technology exclusive to iPad Pro models.

The market is worried that if the iPad starts to use OLED in 2022, Apple will abandon the mini LED. However, according to our latest industry survey, if the iPad adopts an OLED display in 2022, it will be the mid-/low-end iPad Air, while the high-end iPad Pro will still use a mini LED display. The adoption of OLED in iPad does not affect the positive trend of mini LED. Since the OLED used in iPad is a rigid type and has a significantly lower PPI than iPhone, it is less challenging to produce, and the cost is close to the LCD currently used in iPad Air.

Kuo envisions a future iPad lineup in which OLED and mini-LED further differentiate Apple's mid-to-low end iPad Air models from its iPad Pro devices. Apple currently uses OLED displays in the Apple Watch and the iPhone, while Macs and iPad still retain the older LCD technology. OLED displays offer higher brightness, deeper blacks, and wider viewing angles. However, they often cost significantly more to produce than LCDs.

Earlier this month, DigiTimes reported that a 10.9-inch iPad, presumably the iPad Air, will be updated with an OLED display in early 2022. In contrast to Kuo's note, DigiTimes stated that Apple would also adopt OLED technology for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. DigiTimes has also claimed that Apple might release 16-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro with OLED later on next year.

Apple is already working on several products with mini-LED displays, including redesigned MacBook Pros. Kuo believes that Apple's use of mini-LED will accelerate in the coming years as production costs decrease, with Apple's mid-to-high-end devices consistently adopting the technology first.

Article Link: Kuo: iPad Air to Adopt OLED in 2022, Mini-LED to Remain Exclusive to iPad Pro Models

 

[Justin Cymbal]

I’m definitely getting the 12.9” iPad Pro in April - that mini LED screen is going to be awesome and the 12.9” screen is much nicer for multiple windows and using a keyboard

 

[Kung gu]

makes sense. Pro devices get mini-LED that has no burn in, but still has most of the advantages of OLED

 

[xxray]

I’d rather have OLED than mini-LED though. You get true infinite contrast, and burn in has never been a thing with Apple’s OLED.

Mini-LED is just a glorified LCD panel with slightly better contrast. It still doesn’t compare to OLED pure blacks. It makes no sense that mini-LED would be the premium product while OLED is the mid- to low-tier product.

 

[iSayuSay]

makes sense. Pro devices get mini-LED that has no burn in, but still has most of the advantages of OLED

I don't know.. miniLED is basically an LCD with controlled backlit. It still has some sort of backlight bleeding, or halo effect in the edges between dark and light images? TCL uses miniLED for their latest TVs, because it's cheap for its ability to mimicking OLED contrast (to some degree).

OLED however is pixel perfect. If anything OLED is still the king of high-end display both for TV and mobile market. I mean why Pro model iPhones (before 12 Series) go with OLED if it's not a premium offering? It's been years since iPhone uses OLED and I don't see any meaningful burn-in problems.

 

[profets]

Yeah I don’t entirely get it. I’m all for display improvements, but feels weird that OLED comes to the Air while mini LED (LCD with improved backlighting) is exclusive to Pro.

Really curious to see what all the hype is with mini LED when the new Pro launches.

 

[Falhófnir]

makes sense. Pro devices get mini-LED that has no burn in, but still has most of the advantages of OLED

I would say mini LED is the superior tech for being a more rounded package, but it is slightly muddled messaging with the flagship iPhones using OLED.

 

[Kung gu]

I’d rather have OLED than mini-LED though. You get true infinite contrast, and burn in has never been a thing with Apple’s OLED.

Mini-LED is just a glorified LCD panel with slightly better contrast. It still doesn’t compare to OLED pure blacks. It makes no sense that mini-LED would be the premium product while OLED is the mid- to low-tier product.

IF that was the case Samsung would use it in their TVs, but they don't because for larger panels its not as good.

 

[locoboi187]

IF that was the case Samsung would use it in their TVs, but they don't because for larger panels its not as good.

Most inaccurate thing I read to start my day.

 

[44267547]

OLED at this point doesn’t interest me, mini LED does. Followed by hopefully the transition of micro-LED to the iPhone and Apple Watch.

 

[iSayuSay]

IF that was the case Samsung would use it in their TVs, but they don't because for larger panels its not as good.

But then again in the premium TV market, LG OLED consistently beats Samsung QLED years after years?

LG also has their own lineup for QLED which is called NanoCell. It is okay, bigger and cheaper, a bang for your bucks. But obviously a second grade product compared to their own OLEDs.

 

[locoboi187]

But then again in the premium TV market, LG OLED consistently beats Samsung QLED years after years?

LG also has their own lineup for QLED which is called NanoCell. It is okay, bigger and cheaper, a bang for your bucks. But obviously a second grade product compared to their own OLEDs.

QLED is garbage compared to OLED. Same thing with Mini-LED when compared to OLED.

 

[xxray]

IF that was the case Samsung would use it in their TVs, but they don't because for larger panels its not as good.

1. “If that were true” - ?? It is true. It is literal fact. OLED has infinite contrast, mini-LED does not. iPhone X is going on 4 years old and all subsequent models of iPhone X/Pro have been OLED, all Apple Watch models have been OLED, and there have been no reports of widespread burn-in.

2. LG’s OLED TVs are consistently considered the best possible picture you can get on a TV by professionals who test displays objectively for a living.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

QLED is garbage compared to OLED. Same thing with Mini-LED is compared to OLED.

They say follow the science, so I'll point out something scientific. OLED is organic and has a predetermined life cycle. That means the chemicals decay and die out eventually. I'll bet mini-LED and LCDs outlast OLED in any form.

 

[iSayuSay]

QLED is garbage compared to OLED. Same thing with Mini-LED is compared to OLED.

That is true.. problem is QLED isn't exactly cheap either, it's the literal highest end Samsung TV you can buy today. Now if only Samsung willing to swallow its pride and make their own OLED TVs, it will give LG some competition and bring the price down even faster.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

IF that was the case Samsung would use it in their TVs, but they don't because for larger panels its not as good.

They actually did for a couple of years, but their technology wasn't living up to LGs and they had production issues, so they instead shifted back to LEDs. Of course, even Samsung knows that OLED is the best, so they started marketing their LEDs as 'QLED' to trick uninformed consumers like you into buying their second rate displays.

If you go to any TV rating site, you'll see OLED displays easily winning over QLED displays, over and over again.

 

[locoboi187]

They say follow the science, so I'll point out something scientific. OLED is organic and has a predetermined life cycle. That means the chemicals decay and die out eventually. I'll bet mini-LED and LCDs outlast OLED in any form.

While that may be true, it’s not like OLEDs will die soon after a few years. Worth it for the picture quality, and by the time it’s that old, move on to the next thing.

Also everything has a predetermined lifecycle in engineering. Typically you see them on TVs since they make that information public, aka how many hours or cycles the TV is designed to last for.

 

[iSayuSay]

They say follow the science, so I'll point out something scientific. OLED is organic and has a predetermined life cycle. That means the chemicals decay and die out eventually. I'll bet mini-LED and LCDs outlast OLED in any form.

Same thing has been said about good old plasma tvs. They were said to have a limited lifespan with gas being lighted up over and over again.

But that lifespan is actually longer than what you would do with your tv normally. Still keeping my decade-old 65” 1080p plasma in my living room. And guess what? It outlives my son’s 43” 4K LED which only lasts about 4 years.

 

[Okasian]

Why are they putting the superior panel tech on the lower end Air?

Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer that, but I would assume the OLED would be on the Pro’s and the Mini-LED stop-gap to be on the Air’s.

All this talk about burn-in. As an anecdote: I’ve been using my LG C8 55 OLED as an extended desktop for ~2 years now, with lots of static visual elements and it’s been fine.

It is my understanding that Mini-LED panels are physically thicker and limited to finite contrast per dimming-zone (not per-pixel) in comparison.

 

[ascender]

So regardless of the screen type, am I right in thinking that rumours of the last week or so seem to suggest we shouldn't expect a massive change in terms of design from the 2021 iPad Pros? For a short time there I thought we were maybe going to see significant changes to the form factor and features to differentiate it from the Air, but maybe the screen tech is going to be the main thing.

 

[Kylo83]

Doesnt make sense tho Oled is the better screen tech

 

[falainber]

IF that was the case Samsung would use it in their TVs, but they don't because for larger panels its not as good.

Is that why Samsung uses OLED for their flagship tablets?

 

[falainber]

Why are they putting the superior panel tech on the lower end Air?

Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer that, but I would assume the OLED would be on the Pro’s and the Mini-LED stop-gap to be on the Air’s.

All this talk about burn-in. As an anecdote: I’ve been using my LG C8 55 OLED as an extended desktop for ~2 years now, with lots of static visual elements and it’s been fine.

It is my understanding that Mini-LED panels are physically thicker and limited to infinite contract per zone (not per pixel) in comparison.

It's possible that Apple just can't procure 12" OLED panels (although Samsung does use those in their flagship tablets)

 

[mazz0]

I'd take this with a pinch of salt. Maybe it'll be the case with the first update in 2022, but it surely seems unlikely that in 2023 we'll see that year's Air with OLED and that year's Pro with LCD.

 

[kyjaotkb]

LOL. Mini-LED is just marketing for FALD with more zones, but it is still an LCD display. I would generally take an OLED over any LCD technology, but now I wonder. Will the iPad Air use LG's RGB OLED technology, which is essentially red, blue and green filters (like in an LCD) back-lit by red, blue and green OLEDs (which, combined, produce white backlighting), or is it going to be using Samsung's Super-AMOLED tech, which we have in iPhones and which relies on a less sharp pentile arrangement? I can see how mini-LED could be marginally better on a larger (and lower PPI, vs iPhone) screen than pentile.