Apple is expected to release a variety ofnew Macs running Apple Silicon this year, including new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. A new report on the supply chain ofDigiTimesgoes in line with these first rumors, according to which the new 14-inch MacBook Pro will be released during the second half of this year, and will arrive with Mini-LED screen technology.
The report focuses primarily on Radiant Opto-Electronics, one of the most influential backlight suppliers on the market that works with many brands, both in the tech and automotive markets.DigiTimesclaims that it is this company that has been favored by Apple and which will be the exclusive supplier of backlight units for the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
Mini-LED technology at the heart of expectations
Mini-LED backlighting technology should liven up this year 2021. In addition to seeing it land onthe next MacBook Pros, the latter should probably appear on the next iPad Pro.
As a reminder, for the moment Apple tablets and computers have LCD screens which have classic LED backlighting technology. “Mini-LED” technology, as its name suggests, will significantly increase the number of LEDs on the product, the latter being smaller. This should allow for better control over brightness, with contrasts expected to be greatly improved. Defenders of this technology even argue that it consumes less energy than the classic LED model we use today.
Arrival planned for the “second half of 2021”
The term “second half of 2021” is quite broad, and it is for the moment the only temporal element that manages to escape from Apple Park. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the most reliable analysts around, offered a more precise timeline when talking about the third quarter of the year. A logical announcement, Apple not wanting to wait until the last moment to launch these products, but a date may be too close to the releasenew iPhones, which could overshadow the arrival of these Macs on the market.
In addition to bringing with them Mini-LED technology, the new MacBook Pros should feature a new design, with square sides, similar to the latest iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPhone 12. The 14-inch MacBook Pro will also feature sharper edges. ends to adapt the 14-inch screen to the 13-inch MacBook Pro model, currently available. A technique that had already been used in the past by Apple, when it released the 16-inch model, taking advantage of the dimensions of the 15-inch to enlarge it very slightly.
Kuo also reported that Apple should backtrackregarding the connection ports on his computers. After very refined MacBook Pros leaving room for only two small USB-C ports, Apple has decided to reintroduce more varied ports, in particular with the return of HDMI and a slot for the SD card.
