Ming-Chi Kuo: Mini-LED will be one of the selling points of high-end Apple iPads in 2021–2023

According to the official WeChat account of Tianfeng International, the latest research by Ming-Chi Kuo's team shows that Mini-LED is the key display technology for iPad in 2021-2023. Apple may not release the OLED iPad Air in 2022, but Apple will continue to research new display technologies for tablet products.

　　Ming-Chi Kuo revised his previous prediction that Apple will launch an iPad Air with an OLED display in 2022.

　　Guo Mingchi believes that iPad Air will continue to use existing TFT-LCD display technology in 2022 for the following reasons:

　　In terms of marketing, the iPad Pro with an 11-inch Mini-LED display will be the marketing focus of the iPad product line in 2022. However, since OLED is positioned as a high-end display technology in the mobile phone and TV markets, if Apple also launches an OLED iPad Air in 2022, it may be detrimental to the high-end product positioning and shipments of the iPad Pro with an 11-inch Mini-LED display.

　　In terms of technology, the iPad Air was originally going to use an LTPS OLED display, but because the performance and cost could not meet Apple's requirements, Apple canceled its plan to launch an OLED iPad Air in 2022.

　　Kuo also believes that Mini-LED is expected to be one of the main selling points of high-end iPads in 2021–2023 for the following reasons:

　　Past experience shows that after Apple develops and commercializes key technologies, it will use them for at least three years or more. Given the current cost structure, it will be challenging to equip low-end and mid-range iPad products with Mini-LED displays in the future. Therefore, Kuo Ming-Chi reiterated his previous forecast that MacBooks will be the main driver of Mini-LED display shipments.

　　Guo Mingchi believes that lighter, thinner and foldable designs are the key long-term trends for tablet products for more than 3-5 years, and this is the design challenge of Mini-LED. Although Apple may not launch an OLED iPad Air in 2022, Apple has not stopped researching and developing new display technologies for tablet products.