OLED iPad Air and mini-LED MacBook Air coming in 2022 — Apple cutting back on OLED displays

News
By Darragh Murphy
published

Make way for mini-LED

iPad Air
(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Apple seems to be a big fan of mini-LED displays, as rumours suggest we'll be getting a new iPad Pro with mini-LED tech as soon as next month. While this may be pushed back, seeing as there's no sign of an Apple event in March, we are getting a sneak peek of what's to come next year.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims the tech giant is planning to release a mini-LED MacBook Air and OLED iPad Air by 2022, but don't expect too many other OLED displays down the line. 

According to Kuo (via 9to5Mac), while the upcoming iPad Pro will get a mini-LED display, all other iPads to to be released in the near future will use OLED, starting with the iPad Air 2022 model. OLED displays are cheaper than mini-LED panels, so Apple will stick to using OLED to keep the price down on its more affordable tablets — possibly including the iPad mini, iPad Air and original iPad.

Kuo states upcoming MacBooks won't have OLED displays due to burn-in concerns, and claims a mini-LED MacBook Air will be coming out as soon as 2022. Rumour has it, a 16-inch MacBook Pro is on the horizon, set to release sometime this summer, with reports also suggesting it will use mini-LED panels.

So, mini-LED panels seem to be taking over Apple products, and even though they provide more efficient backlighting, they are pricier, which hints an increase in prices for upcoming MacBooks and 2021 iPad Pro.  

Darragh Murphy
Darragh Murphy
Editor

Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it's connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.