DigiTimes reported today that Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Mini-LED display will be launched in the first quarter of 2021. Previous reports, including that of well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, stated that the Mini-LED iPad Pro will be launched sometime in the first half of 2021, but today’s piece from DigiTimes indicates that the devices are expected to be unveiled early in that time period.
According to the report, Apple has diversified the display and touch panel supply chain, BOE has finally obtained approval to supply OLED panels for the iPhone, and GIS has turned to provide touch panels for the iPhone and the upcoming iPad Pro.
GIS approved investments of NT$2.198 billion (US$76.3 million) and NT$1.421 billion proposed by its subsidiary in Chengdu, China in August and November 2020 respectively, with the funds to focus on expanding production capacity for integrated touch modules used in tablets, the sources said. The subsidiary will invest another NT$753 million to improve production line automation. The subsidiary currently produces integrated touch modules for iPads and MacBooks, the sources said.Besides iPhones, GIS will produce integrated touch modules for miniLED-backlit panels of 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ to be launched in first-quarter 2021, the sources noted.
Apple has been rumored to be preparing to launch a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display for some time. The display will have many improvements over the current iPad display, including deeper blacks, brighter luminosity, richer colors, and better contrast. This technology uses thousands of stand-alone LEDs to illuminate the display, which could provide several of the benefits of OLED displays and does not even have some of the disadvantages of this technology.