Apple Reportedly Seeks to Release 12.9-inch iPad Pro Featuring Mini-LED Display Q1 2021

Apple is rumoured to release a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro featuring a mini-LED display within the first quarter of 2021.

In a new report from Digitimes via MacRumors, BOE has gained approval to provide OLED displays and touch panels for the new iPad while GIS will be providing touch panels for future iPhones and iPad. According to Digitimes’ report:

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 steadily working on bringing new devices featuring mini-LED displays to light for quite some time. Early reports indicated that the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro was intended to release in the second half of 2020 but was ultimately delayed. The transition to mini-LED displays appeared to have always been intended to begin with a new iPad Pro.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously noted that while the iPad Pro was delayed out of 2020, he does expect it to launch within the first half of 2020. Digitimes’ new report appears to narrow that window down significantly. Kuo has also stated that at least six iPad and Mac products featuring mini-led displays are in the pipeline and are expected to all release by the end of 2021.