Adoption of mini-LED panels expected to drive MacBook shipments in 2022
Adoption of mini-LED panels expected to drive MacBook shipments in 2022
The adoption of mini-LED panel for the MacBook is expected to drive significant growth for the rest of the year and 2022.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that all-new designs, upcoming Apple Silicon and the adoption of mini-LED panels will boost MacBook shipments significantly by 20% or more in 2021 and 2022. While Apple is expected to use a mini-LED panel for the next 11-inch iPad Pro, Kuo thinks the next-generation iPad Pros are unlikely to be the main drivers of mini-LED panel shipments.
In addition, Kuo believes Apple is trying to diversify supply risk and lower the cost of mini-LED technology by looking for second suppliers. DigiTimes reported in July 2020 that Apple recruited two more suppliers to manufacture flexible printed circuit boards (PCB) for mini-LED devices.
As for micro-LED, Kuo claims the production cost of the new display technology will "improve significantly" and is likely to be the market focus from 2023. Apple reportedly invested $334 million to focus on R&D and production of mini-LED and micro-LED displays in Taiwan.
The iPhone maker has been rumoured since 2018 to be developing its own micro-LED display panels for the Apple Watch and iPhone. It is also said to be working with Taiwan-based firm PlayNitride to enter the micro-LED market.
Source: 9to5Mac