Apple is reportedly on track to release a mini-LED display as early as this year with two MacBook Pro models that purportedly feature the new technology. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a 13.3 inch MacBook Air might get its own mini-LED display sometime in 2022.
Mini-LEDs are believed to be a much better alternative than the traditional LCD displays used by the existing line of MacBooks. They offer brighter and sharper images with deeper blacks and better contrasts, while also consuming less power compared to OLED technology and lasting longer due to their ability to resist burn-in damage more effectively than OLEDs. Additionally, Mini LED panels can enable different types of functionality such as dynamic dimming, improved color accuracy along with True Tone support, making them ideal for displaying content like movie or TV shows produced in HDR formats.
It’s worth noting that the timeline Kuo mentions follows Apple’s usual yearly product cycle which means we could expect that both the MacBook Pro and Air models mentioned could be unveiled at WWDC 2021 in June as part of Apple’s ‘One More Thing’ event pattern from years past.
What is Mini LED?
Mini LED is a new display technology that uses tiny LEDs as backlighting. This technology can create more brightness and better color accuracy than current LCD displays, while also reducing power consumption. By using the mini LEDs, Apple can reduce the thickness and weight of their laptops while increasing battery life. Thanks to its superior performance and low power consumption, Mini LED is now regarded as the future of laptop displays.
According to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, two new MacBook Pro models with mini LED displays will be released this year. The upcoming 12-inch MacBook Air also reportedly has a Mini LED display and is expected to be released in 2022. By making the switch from traditional LCDs to Mini LEDs, users can enjoy improved display performance from their MacBooks without sacrificing battery life or portability.
Apple’s Plans for Mini LED
According to prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to introduce two MacBook Pro models with mini LED displays in 2021, followed by a MacBook Air with a mini LED display in 2022. This news has been incredibly exciting for Apple fans and tech enthusiasts alike, as the mini LED display technology promises improvements to the display’s brightness, color accuracy, and power consumption.
Let’s take a look at what Apple’s plans for mini LED may be.
Two MacBook Pro models getting mini LED in 2021, MacBook Air in 2022 says Kuo
According to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to launch two MacBook Pro models with Mini LED displays in 2021. Kuo said that these models will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2021. He further revealed that the company plans to have a MacBook Air model with such display technology ready for launch in 2022.
Mini LED displays, which entered mass production stage earlier this year, offer several advantages over conventional LCDs. Such displays are thinner and more power efficient; they offer higher contrast ratios than LCDs while producing better color accuracy and dynamic range. To achieve this, Mini LEDs are just one tenth of their regular size and can be placed very close to each other on display backlights.
The rumor mill also hints at Apple replacing the butterfly keyboards in its MacBook line with scissor switch mechanisms. The scissor switch mechanism has been gaining attention due to its better key stability as compared to butterfly keyboard as it provides superior levels of typing feel along with actuation-point accuracy and isn’t prone to dust accumulation like its predecessor. It remains unclear if the new model(s) will feature this new keyboard or will it come with something else entirely like a MagSafe connector.
MacBook Air getting mini LED in 2022
According to recently reported predictions by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to launch two MacBook Pro models with mini LED displays in 2021 and an additional MacBook Air model with a mini LED display in 2022.
Mini LED is an emerging display technology that offers a significantly improved image quality over traditional LCD screens. It utilizes thousands of micro-sized LEDs placed behind the LCD panel to provide more precise control, better contrast ratios, and improved brightness compared to typical backlit displays.
In addition to offering better visuals, the Mini LED screens will also reduce power consumption by up to 40%. Apple’s use of Mini LED won’t only be limited to its upcoming MacBooks either; the company is reportedly testing mini LED for its iPad Pro as well and could launch as soon as late 2021 if all goes according to plan.
Apple’s move towards Mini LED will come at a higher cost than current displays; however, this cost is still significantly lower than traditional OLED screens. As such, it represents a cost-efficient way for Apple to improve their product lines without increasing prices too greatly while still giving customers the best possible experience when using their MacBooks.
Benefits of Mini LED
When it comes to display, Mini LED technology is all the rage right now. Apple is reportedly planning to add Mini LED displays to two MacBook Pro models in 2021 and MacBook Air in 2022, according to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
As the technology becomes more mainstream, we can analyze the benefits of Mini LED technology and why Apple is adding it to its devices.
Improved brightness
Mini LED technology is able to achieve improved brightness, a wider color gamut, and higher contrast ratio as compared to other current LED backlighting solutions. Part of the reason for this improvement is that Mini LED backlighting takes advantage of a larger number of individual LEDs. Whereas an LCD display might contain hundreds of single LEDs, Mini LED displays may include tens of thousands of miniaturized LEDs that are just 0.2 mm across or smaller. This high level of precision allows Mini LED to deliver superior clarity and greater brightness levels while consuming less power than conventional LCD displays.
Due to the greater illumination capabilities enabled by Mini LED, MacBooks with this technology will be able to provide users with more vivid colors, more accurate gradients, brighter highlights and better viewing angles than traditional LCD displays. In addition to improving image quality significantly, this new backlight should also enhance the eye comfort during extended use—allowing users to focus on their work more easily without feeling fatigued.
Increased battery life
LED lighting technology offers numerous benefits, including improved colour performance, higher efficiency and increased battery life. Mini LED technology takes LED lighting to the next level by providing significantly adequate colour performance and amazing levels of brightness control, while using less energy than most traditional lighting sources. It has been estimated that using mini LED technology in a laptop or tablet can increase battery life by up to five hours.
The introduction of mini LED-backlight displays in the two MacBook Pro devices in 2021 and (reportedly) MacBook Air in 2022 is expected to offer improved power consumption, allowing for extended battery life compared to past models. This will not only prolong the laptop’s uptime but also reduce its reliance on an external power source, thereby making it more portable and well-suited for travel purposes.
Furthermore, mini LED-backlight displays also provide higher contrast ratios than conventional full array backlighting systems due to their shadows sharpness capabilities resulting from a large number of high contrast local dimming zones. This allows the users to experience more vivid color and truer black shades for better contrast levels.
Reduced eye strain
One of the top benefits of Mini LED is reduced eye strain compared to traditional LCD displays. Mini LED provides a wider color gamut, thanks to its ability to produce more colors in the RGB spectrum, while also allowing for greater control over brightness levels.
A mini LED display with 809,600 local dimming zones can be adjusted to a much lower level than regular LCD displays. This allows for better control of brightness and color reproduction, avoiding issues related to excessive blue light exposure such as fatigue and eyestrain.
Additionally, this means that when a product with Mini LED technology is used in low-light settings – like reading a book or playing video games – there’s less risk of eyestrain when reducing the brightness levels below what would be possible on an LCD display.