Popular Apple analyst, Ming Chi-Kuo has revealed in a new research note to investors that Apple will likely launch a new iPad with a mini-LED display and new AirPods 3 sometime during the first half of 2021. Apple is expected to contract Chinese manufacturer Jialianyi for its LCP (liquid crystal polymer) soft boards technology, bringing the company as part of its supply chain for various Apple products.
With the LCP technology, Apple will be able to utilize a flexible connection between components, with high-speed, low-latency data transfer capabilities. The mini-LED iPad start mass production in the first half of 2021, with soft board acoustic and optical components.
Mini LED displays have nearly all the benefits of an OLED display, without its drawbacks like burn-in, etc. According to Kuo, Apple is said to have 7 products in the pipeline with mini-LED displays – 12.9-inch iPad Pro, a 27-inch iMac Pro, a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro, a 16-inch MacBook Pro, a 10.2.-inch iPad, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini.
Along with this, Apple is also expected to launch the 3rd generation of the regular AirPods in the first half of 2021. These AirPods will have a shorter stem and replaceable ear tips design similar to the AirPods Pro, thanks to a new System-in-Package. It will have improved battery life but will not feature the premium stuff like noise cancellation. That will be reserved for the AirPods Pro series.