Demand for displays in consumer products is shrinking, while demand for mini-LEDs for other uses is rising, as Apple intends to shift its iPad and MacBook production lines to OLED displays in the next few years, said one of the company’s major mini-LED suppliers.
The DigiTimes report cites industry sources at Epistar, which has been supplying mini-LED displays to Apple for some time, as saying that demand for mini-LED displays for consumer electronics is declining and that demand for mini-LED displays for dashboards and automotive displays is expected to spike in 2023.
Reports indicate that Samsung is now prioritizing the development of a specific type of OLED display that Apple plans to use in the new iPad Pro model. According to DigiTimes, Apple is expected to announce the first iPad Pro with an OLED display in 2024, prompting mini-LED suppliers to look at other areas of application for their displays.
In addition to the OLED iPad Pro, Apple is also expected to launch the MacBook Air 13-inch with an OLED display in 2024, according to the leak. According to to display analyst Ross Young, Apple is also considering using OLED panels in the new iPhone SE model but is still discussing whether to use LCD or OLED displays.
