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Tag: Display Supply Chain Consultants

  • Rumor: Apple to incorporate similar or identical mini-LED display found in current 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 12.9-inch iPad Air

    Rumor: Apple to incorporate similar or identical mini-LED display found in current 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 12.9-inch iPad Air

    Apple’s rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air is rumored to be equipped with a mini-LED display that could be similar or identical to that of the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants.

    Per Young, the move to mini-LED technology for the 12.9-inch model would provide increased brightness for HDR content, deeper blacks, and more.

    Young revealed this finding in a post on X on Thursday, stating that the 12.9-inch iPad Air will use leftover mini-LED display panels from the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Young also touted lower power consumption as another benefit.

    Given that Apple does not have an existing inventory of 10.9-inch mini-LED display panels, it is likely that the smaller iPad Air will remain equipped with an LCD panel.

    It’s rumored that the next-gen iPad Pro models will transition over to OLED display, which would eliminate backlighting to allow for a higher contrast ratio with true blacks, and provide other enhancements compared to LCD and mini-LED technologies. The new iPad Pro models are also expected to be announced in May.

    Young currently has a solid track record of display-related Apple rumors and technical information.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @DSCCRoss

  • Rumor: Apple could ship next-gen iPads in April

    Rumor: Apple could ship next-gen iPads in April

    Apple’s updated iPad Pro models, complete with OLED displays, could begin shipping to customers as early as April, according to information shared by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants.

    This rumor has also been somewhat confirmed by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who stated that the new tablets might not ship until “deeper” into April via his recently Power On Newsletter on Sunday:

    “I’ve repeatedly said that new software for the iPad Pro — a variant of iPadOS 17.4 designed for the updated models — won’t be complete until the end of March or even sometime in April. Once the OS is finished, Apple needs to send it off to the factories to be installed on the new hardware. That process could last a couple weeks, probably taking us deeper into next month.”

    Young stated that the new iPad Pro tablets could be announced in “late March or early April,” and would allow for an unveiling later in March.

    Young reiterated that Apple plans to launch a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air as well, and it will likely be announced alongside the new iPad Pro models.

    The following iPad-related announcements are expected either this month or in April:

    • Two new iPad Pro models with the M3 chip, OLED displays, a thinner enclosure, a landscape-oriented front camera, a redesigned rear camera bump and other design tweaks, and possibly MagSafe wireless charging
    • Two new iPad Air models with the M2 chip and a landscape-oriented front camera, including a first-ever 12.9-inch model
    • A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro with a larger trackpad, a partially-aluminum enclosure, and other design tweaks
    • A new Apple Pencil


    Young has also stated that Samsung will be the exclusive supplier of OLED displays for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, while Samsung and LG will apparently split orders for the 11.1-inch model.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors, displaysupplychain.com, and Bloomberg

  • Rumor: Apple considering a foldable iPad

    Rumor: Apple considering a foldable iPad

    Apple could be planning a foldable iPad in the future according to sources along the supply chain.

    Per a paywalled preview over at DigiTimes, Apple “is rumored to have been working on foldable smartphones for several years, reportedly is considering extending the effort to the tablet sector,” the preview says, citing sources from the upstream supply chain.

    The report corroborates existing rumors of a folding iPad, and back in January, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted a foldable iPad would launch in 2024, although Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO Ross Young said they had not heard anything about such a device at the time. Kuo said the foldable iPad would feature an all-new design and a lightweight and durable carbon fiber kickstand.

    Similar to foldable smartphones from companies such as Samsung and Google, a foldable iPad would feature a hinge that would allow the unit to be opened and closed like a book, thereby allowing for a much larger display than existing models when it is unfolded. A foldable iPad would likely be positioned above the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which starts at $1,099.

    Apple has yet to release any devices with foldable displays, and it’s rumored that the company is considering all options over the long term, including a foldable iPhone, iPad, and Mac. These devices could still be in the research and development stage, with no set timeline as to when they’ll enter production or be released to the market.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and DigiTimes

  • Rumor: Apple may have shelved its anticipated 27-inch mini LED display

    Rumor: Apple may have shelved its anticipated 27-inch mini LED display

    If you were hoping for Apple’s rumored 27-inch display with mini LED backlighting to arrive in early 2023, Apple may have shelved the project.

    Rumors circulated about a pro-level 27-inch display since the introduction of the Studio Display. As a screen that lacks HDR, ProMotion, and the improved mini LED backlighting as found in other Apple products, an upgrade was thought to be on the way.

    Per a tweet released on Monday, by Display Supply Chain Consultants analyst Ross Young, Apple has “killed off the 27″ display completely.”

    According to Young, Apple had made some progress with the panel, with some shipping to the supply chain in 2022, but they did not make it into a consumer-facing product at all. The display may still be used in a future product though, as Young offers that the pause is “at least for now.”

    Young had previously advised of a 27-inch mini LED display launch for early 2023 as of October 2022. The previous tweet was shared to super followers on Twitter, making it visible only to paying members.

    Apple already incorporates mini LED display technology into the displays of the 14-inch MacBook, the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. A replacement for traditional LED backlighting, mini LED enables for higher contrast levels close to those of OLED, localized dimming, and a generally more vibrant display.

    If it ever ships, the 27-inch mini LED display stands to become the mini Pro Display XDR that rumor followers wanted.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and @DSCCRoss

  • Rumor: Apple to release 27-inch external mini-LED display in Q1 2023

    Rumor: Apple to release 27-inch external mini-LED display in Q1 2023

    If you’re truly hankering for a high end Apple monitor, you may get your wish next year.

    According to a tweet shared by Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young, Apple is planning to launch an external 27-inch monitor with a mini-LED display in the first quarter of 2023.

    Young’s tweet indicated that Apple had “pushed” the debut of the monitor to Q1 2023. Young is presumably talking about the first calendar quarter of 2023, aka the months from January to March.

    Young has also mentioned this before on the MacRumors podcast back in July, and stated that he initially expected Apple to introduce the display in June at WWDC, but he said in May that the launch had to be delayed until October because of design delays. Apple is also unable to meet the October goal, and Young believes the company is now aiming for 2023.

    Over the course of 2022, Apple has been dealing with supply constraints among its Mac and display lines, which could be the reason for the delay.

    The upcoming display is said to feature mini-LED technology alongside ProMotion support, which would allow for a 120MHz refresh rate. The device is not expected to be a direct replacement for the Pro Display XDR, which is a larger, 6K display. It will instead be similar to the Apple Studio Display, which is a 27-inch monitor.

    It’s also thought that the upcoming display could be more expensive than the current Studio Display, which is priced starting at $1,599.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @DSCCRoss