Although Apple has yet to release a product with a micr0-LED display, sources have stated that Apple is in an “active development program” of new products with this technology.
Per Nikkei Asia, Hideaki Ryugen offered the following tidbits about the differences between OLED and mini-LED displays:
Midsize OLED panels for tablets and notebooks, in particular, pose a bigger manufacturing challenge than small panels for smartphones. The limited production scale has contributed to the higher costs of such displays.
Meanwhile, mini-LED displays share many of the same components as conventional mass-produced LCDs, which keeps costs down, while achieving image performance close to that of OLED screens.
Mini-LED screens also have better brightness. Both the latest MacBook Pro and iPad Pro boast brightness levels of up to 1,600 nits, which is more than 30 percent greater than the OLED-equipped iPhone 13 Pro.
The article also noted that mini-LEDs typically range in width “from around 100 microns to several hundred microns” while the iPad Pro measures “about 200 microns.” Then, by the end of the story, Nikkei offered the following prediction as to Apple’s moves towards mini-LED and micro-LED technologies:
In the long term, industry insiders expect the rise of even smaller micro-LEDs that measure under 100 microns and can express primary colors without the use of a filter.
Apple has made an acquisition in micro-LEDs and is said to have an active development program in this field.
Noted analyst Ming-Chi-Kuo said that starting in 2023-2024, “the production cost of Micro LED will improve significantly” and “it will likely be a market focus from 2023 onwards.”
“We believe Apple is developing Micro LED technology, but the production schedule is not yet confirmed. We also think that if the Mini LED is successful, it will help more companies invest in Micro LED design and R&D and help to realize Micro LED mass production.“
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac, and Nikkei Asia