Apple is expected by many observers to use mini-LED display backlighting technology in some of its products as soon as next year. A new supply chain report by DigiTimes backs up those rumors and names several Apple supply chain partners that are expected to benefit from the move.
DigiTimes says is planning on launching its first mini-LED iPad Pro in the first quarter of 2021 and will begin mass production of mini-LED M1 MacBook models during the second quarter of 2021.
Apple’s suppliers in Taiwan, including LED chip vendor Epistar, testing and sorting specialist FitTech, SMT service provider Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology, backlight board supplier Zhen Ding Technology, cooling solution provider Auras Technology and process equipment maker All Ring Technology, are all ready to gain growth momentum from upcoming shipments for Apple’s miniLED-backlit devices, the sources said.
The sources continued that Foxconn Technology and Compal Electronics will share the assembly orders for miniLED iPad Pro devices, and MacBook Pro products adopting M1 chipsets will be mainly produced by Quanta Computer and partly by Foxconn.
The report indicates TSMC will be the supply chain partner to benefit the most from the move, as the chip fabricator will be the producer of all of the 5nm chips used in both the mini-LED iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models. 2021 is expected to be a good quarter, revenue-wise, for TSMC, thanks to the above devices, as well as strong iPhone sales.
Mini-LED and OLED displays both hold advantages over traditional LCDs, including higher brightness, improved contrast ratio, and increased power efficiency. Apple currently uses OLED technology in the iPhone 12 lineup and the Apple Watch.
