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Mini-LED M1 MacBook Pro and Mini-LED iPad Pro Models Coming First Half of 2021

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Apple is widely reported to be embracing mini-LED display backlighting technology for some products next year, and a new report today by DigiTimes has named several of Apple's partners in the supply chain that are expected to benefit from the switch.

16-inch-MBP-Mini-Led.png

According to the report, Apple is set to launch its first mini-LED iPad Pro in the first quarter of 2021 and mass produce mini-LED MacBook Pro models in the second quarter, and a number of Taiwan manufacturers are building a "pre-emptive presence" in the Mini-LED segment in anticipation.
Apple's suppliers in Taiwan, including LED chip vendor Epistar, testing and sorting specialist FitTech, SMT service provider Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology, backlight board supplier Zhen Ding Technology, cooling solution provider Auras Technology and process equipment maker All Ring Technology, are all ready to gain growth momentum from upcoming shipments for Apple's miniLED-backlit devices, the sources said.

The sources continued that Foxconn Technology and Compal Electronics will share the assembly orders for miniLED iPad Pro devices, and MacBook Pro products adopting M1 chipsets will be mainly produced by Quanta Computer and partly by Foxconn.
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The report goes on to note that among Apple's supply chain partners, TSMC will still benefit most from these devices, as the foundry has reportedly landed all the 5nm chip manufacturing orders for both Mini-LED iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models. Coupled with strong iPhone sales, 2021 is said to be looking good for TSMC, with first-quarter revenues likely to hit a new high, according to DigiTimes' sources.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, production will begin on mini-LED displays for the iPad Pro in the fourth quarter of 2020, with a launch expected in the first half of 2021. Apple is also believed to be working on new 16.1 and 14.1-inch MacBook Pro models with mini-LED displays, which are expected to be released during the first half of 2021.

Mini-LED displays offer impressive wide color gamut performance, high contrast and HDR, and local dimming, and Kuo says adoption of the tech will "significantly improve productivity and the entertainment experience."

All future MacBook Pro models are expected to use Apple Silicon chips now that the first Apple Silicon Macs with M1 chip are available.

Article Link: Mini-LED M1 MacBook Pro and Mini-LED iPad Pro Models Coming First Half of 2021
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/11/30/mini-led-macbook-pro-ipad-pro-1h2021-launch/
5nm+ in q4.

in time for iPhone 13.

probably same design rules as 5nm, just a small process shrink. so maybe we see a

m1 that's "m1.5" chip in these new MacBooks.


Would apple release a new MacBook design and keep the same m1 chip on regular 5nm? Maybe on the low end MacBook/mba/mini.

the 5nm+ m1 or m1.5 chips will probably take over mid and upper range. Intel MacBook will probably be cornered to absolute top configs.
 
So the current prices for the 16" MBP start at $2399, but $3399 for 32GB, ITB SSD and no graphics upgrade might be a more 'typical' purchase.

Question 1: Will there be more than one AS MBP 16" model? And if not how would they differ if mini-LED is standard?
Question 2: How much do you think they'll cost?
 
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Wasn't there a rumor/story around Micro-LED being right around the corner from Mini-LED? Or have I got that wrong?

Or is Mini-LED meant to be better than Micro-LED?
 
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Is the MacBook Air expected to receive a redesign and mini-LED panels in 2021?

SSD-GUY said:
Wasn't there a rumor/story around Micro-LED being right around the corner from Mini-LED? Or have I got that wrong?

Or is Mini-LED meant to be better than Micro-LED?
Click to expand...

As far as I know, micro-LED is much better than mini-LED as a technology. I think micro-LED consist of little led pixels, where each pixel itself radiates light. Similar to OLED but instead of chemicals that ended up consuming themselves, those are just micro diodes. Whereas mini-LED is just a regular LCD panel with a better local dimming of the back-light panel.
 
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Should stick to LED/LCD all round, not impressed with the OLED on the wife's iPhone 12 mini, nor was my friend on his son's one... Nothing against the tech, looks great on my current Samsung (and his Pixel 5) but not sure why Apple's are so bad, both colour and off-axis are well below par.
 
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kepler20b said:
5nm+ in q4.

in time for iPhone 13.

probably same design rules as 5nm, just a small process shrink. so maybe we see a

m1 that's "m1.5" chip in these new MacBooks.


Would apple release a new MacBook design and keep the same m1 chip on regular 5nm? Maybe on the low end MacBook/mba/mini.

the 5nm+ m1 or m1.5 chips will probably take over mid and upper range. Intel MacBook will probably be cornered to absolute top configs.
Click to expand...
Why would it be m1.5? Apple has had same nanometer sized iPhone processor updates as full numbers, so I don’t see why m1 would be different. We will prob get m2 and then a m2x for the 16 inch and high end iMacs.
 
SSD-GUY said:
Wasn't there a rumor/story around Micro-LED being right around the corner from Mini-LED? Or have I got that wrong?

Or is Mini-LED meant to be better than Micro-LED?
Click to expand...

As far as I know, Mini LED is simply the same as a FALD TV set.
It's just a normal LED panel, but instead of one or two leds along one edge. which is on all the time to light up the LCD panels, you have a grid of white LED's behind the LCD panel so you can vary the brightness of the backlight as needed.

IT's a fudge/bodge really, but it's better then just a single sidelight and is just a mid-term stepping point before you get to MicroLED

Micro LED is totally different and more like OLED in that there is no backlight (which is what you want)
The pixels themselves give off the actual light, so black = totally black.

Mini LED = Better, but, well, it's ok for now.
Micro LED = Where we want to go :)
 
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Well, so will be with us the new MBP in the first half 2021 or in the second half?

The miniled displays are manufactured for the new designs or it will be another iteration of the current models/design?
 
Steve121178 said:
Very tempted with the current M1 Macs, but I know it will be worth the wait for a redesigned MacBook Pro with the very latest tech such as mini-led and hopefully FaceID.
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Yep but I got myself a M1 Mac mini anyway. I think Apple wanted to get M1 Macs out there as soon as possible with the current designs to get as many people on board and developing apps and momentum and fine tuning while prepping for what is to come.
I can’t wait. And this is not just for Apple consumers, this paves the way for everyone. I can’t wait to see what this momentum will do for Window, Android, Intel, AMD, Qualcomm and smaller companies. And of course, for us consumers.
This is hopefully the push the computer industry needed to get it out of this stubborn stagnation ditch that it has been stuck in for the past couple of decades. Hopefully this lights a fire under Intel and gets it moving again.
 
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If there is going to be a new MacBook Pro releasing at least six months after the first Apple Silicon model then with a major change to the screen technology then I'm pretty sure that it will have a more powerful chipset, even if it is just the M1X.
 
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sniffies said:
M1 has certainly made Mac great again!
Click to expand...
Really? Wait until we see the sales figures on just M1 Macs sold

I hope intel comes out with a RAW power chip that blows the M1 out of the water.

I don't like the way people are bashing Intel. Intel has been making processors a very long time. not Apple

It's Like Steve Jobs is alive again and the Hate and bashing of Intel processors has started all over again.
 
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Freeangel1 said:
Really? Wait until we see the sales figures on just M1 Macs sold

I hope intel comes out with a RAW power chip that blows the M1 out of the water.

I don't like the way people are bashing Intel. Intel has been making processors a very long time. not Apple

It's Like Steve Jobs is alive again and the Hate and bashing of Intel processors has started all over again.
Click to expand...
You won’t see m1 sales figures as Apple simply shows Mac sales overall.

Main reason Apple released the M1 is because of performance issues and constant delays on Intel’s side. Intel is (was) the top performance leader in chip design. However, I think they rested on their laurels. Then they either lost key talent or stopped investing as much in r&d. Which has allowed Apple, AMD, Qualcomm to step up their game.

Apple likely would have stayed with a Intel if they haven’t been so stagnant and continually missed deadlines of their own to get off the 14mm process. Intel is a great company and I hope Intel will use this opportunity to realize they need to invest for their future.
 
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goobot said:
Why would it be m1.5? Apple has had same nanometer sized iPhone processor updates as full numbers, so I don’t see why m1 would be different. We will prob get m2 and then a m2x for the 16 inch and high end iMacs.
Click to expand...
I doubt. Apple put a lot of effort into designing the M1, so I don’t think we’ll get an M2 until end of last year, but more like an M1X or M1Z on the new machines.
 
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