Mini LED coming to MacBook Air in 2022, Kuo says

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited July 2021
Apple is predicted to incorporate mini LED screen technology in a MacBook Air model set to debut in 2022, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

MacBook Air


Kuo in a note to investors on Friday said Apple's next-generation MacBook Air will adopt a 13.3-inch mini LED display. Currently, MacBook Air sports a 13.3-inch Retina display with standard LED backlighting.

Thanks to localized dimming, the incorporation of mini LED technology will deliver vastly increased contrast ratios, deeper blacks and higher peak brightness when compared to existing models.

Apple introduced mini LED to its product lineup with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro that debuted in April. Dubbed Liquid Retina XDR, the display features a backlight consisting of more than 10,000 mini LEDs grouped into 2,596 local dimming zones. The result is an LCD display with contrast ratios rivaling those of OLED.

Apple is widely rumored to bring mini LED to MacBook Pro later this year. While the tech giant limited integration on iPad Pro to the larger 12.9-inch model, Kuo anticipates both 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops will benefit from the screen technology.

Looking ahead, a long overdue iPad mini revamp is also rumored to receive the mini LED treatment. Kuo first predicted the shift last year and a report supported those claims this week.

Kuo in today's note said Sunrex will join Apple's supply chain later this year to provide light guides for MacBook Air scissor switch keyboards.

The analyst believes Apple will release a mini LED-equipped MacBook Air in the middle of 2022. If supply shortages continue to improve, Kuo said he expects overall MacBook shipments to grow to 20 million to 22 million units in 2022 on the back of demand for the new MacBook Air and other models with improved Apple Silicon chips.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 4
    wood1208wood1208 Posts: 2,913member
    Just like upcoming Macbook Pro, why not 14" Macbook Air ?
    TheObannonFile
  • Reply 2 of 4
    caladaniancaladanian Posts: 380member
    Don’t like the blooming. It’s a shame oled seems not possible. 

    Edit: or micro-LED instead of mini-LED
    edited July 2021 TheObannonFile
  • Reply 3 of 4
    MplsPMplsP Posts: 3,925member
    Don’t like the blooming. It’s a shame oled seems not possible. 

    Edit: or micro-LED instead of mini-LED
    I get the impression micro LED is the ultimate goal/future, we’re just not quite there yet. LCD has definite advantages over OLED and mini-LED is a nice way of minimizing the disadvantages. 

    I’m curious about how much additional battery life Apple will be able to get with this. The M1 is already extraordinary efficient. Add power savings from a mini LED screen on top of that and you’ll have an awesome all-day laptop. 
    williamlondon
  • Reply 4 of 4
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,362member
    Sorry guys, but what’s the deal with the new pop-up videos on AppleInsider consuming 1/3rd of the screen real estate on my iPad? There’s a non-responsive close button on the pop-up to add insult to injury. 

    Is this the new normal for AppleInsider?
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