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Apple Said to Release 31.6-Inch 6K Display With Mini LED-Like Backlight Design in 2019

Sunday February 17, 2019 4:50 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple will release a 31.6-inch 6K display with a Mini LED-like backlight design in 2019, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who detailed his expectations for Apple's 2019 roadmap in a research note obtained by MacRumors.



Apple left the display market back in 2016 with the discontinuation of the outdated Thunderbolt Display. Apple did, however, say they were working on a new screen alongside the new Mac Pro. Apple's Phil Schiller said in 2017:
With regards to the ‌Mac Pro‌, we are in the process of what we call "completely rethinking the ‌Mac Pro‌." We’re working on it. We have a team working hard on it right now, and we want to architect it so that we can keep it fresh with regular improvements, and we’re committed to making it our highest-end, high-throughput desktop system, designed for our demanding pro customers.

As part of doing a new ‌Mac Pro‌ — it is, by definition, a modular system — we will be doing a pro display as well. Now you won’t see any of those products this year; we’re in the process of that. We think it’s really important to create something great for our pro customers who want a ‌Mac Pro‌ modular system, and that’ll take longer than this year to do.
Kuo describes the new monitor as a "6k3k" display.

Related Roundups: Mac Pro, Apple Pro Display XDR
Tag: Ming-Chi Kuo
Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Don't Buy)
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JoeCassara
9 months ago
That is one damn ugly, ineffective infographic.
Rating: 57 Votes
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sfwalter
9 months ago
Hip-hip-hooray for a real Mac rumors
Rating: 22 Votes
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cult hero
9 months ago
I wonder if the decline in phone sales is getting Apple to re-evaluate the high margins of professional hardware.
Rating: 22 Votes
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cmaier
9 months ago
I predict it will be pricey :-)
Rating: 12 Votes
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coolfactor
9 months ago

I wonder if the decline in phone sales is getting Apple to re-evaluate the high margins of professional hardware.


More likely they've settled into their new campus and able to re-focus their energies on their products, where it needs to be.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Andres Cantu
9 months ago
Dang, strong news day for being Sunday!

So, I'm guessing this means the next iMac redesign will also have a 31.6" screen for the larger model, and probably a 25" screen for the smaller model.

And that image seems to imply no Apple Watch Series 5 until 2020, which is fine by me!
Rating: 10 Votes
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uchosen
9 months ago
Yup, and it will cost $6K
Rating: 9 Votes
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ksec
9 months ago

What exactly is a "Mini LED-Like Backlight Design"? It's either LED or a backlit panel... what is "LED-like"?


I assume it’s meant to mean “the pixels are their own ‘backlight’”

Obviously very sloppy writing.


Possibly mis-translated for microLED: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroLED


OLED is nothing like MicroLED. Two completely different technologies.

OLED is not suited for desktop monitors at all. The dock would be burned into the display in no time.


I'm thinking it may mean they are using something like Samsung's QLED technology ('https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2017/09/19/what-is-qled-and-why-does-it-matter/#247072787fb3').


Why settle for local dimming LCD when micro LED is coming out?


1. Mini LED Tl;DR: Instead of having Micro LED as individual backlight for pixel, Mini LED are much larger version of MicroLED responsible for a group of pixels, which is still better than the current LED backlight technology. Basically they are fitting more than traditional LED backlight to allow fine grained control.

2. MicroLED not coming any time soon. At least not in the next 3 years.

3. Apple decided not to go QLED ( Quantum Dots ) long time ago due to the uses of Environmentally damaging Chemicals. That problem was claimed to be solved two to three years ago. But I have yet to seen any plans to commercialise it. ( Which likely means the solution has its own set of trade off that is not likely to compete well on the market )

4. I wouldn't write off OLED just yet. LG have a few more tricks up its sleeve, how good it is remains to be seen. May be by ~2022 they could have a OLED that is fit for Computer display, we should know when their show their 2020 OLED TV lineup. One thing for sure though, LG WOLED will be cheaper than Mini LED LCD Display by ~2020.


Back to the topic. I have been wondering if Apple might discontinue their 21" iMac. It is simply too expensive to make. ( Find me a 4K Monitor at 21" Size ) I think after the Pro Display, we should see iMac Lineup refresh in 2020 as well.
Rating: 7 Votes
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pixelpro
9 months ago
Finallllly....
Rating: 6 Votes
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Sebct
9 months ago

Way too big, imo.

Have no idea why people want to sit right in front of massive television-sized displays. It looks gaudy. Same with the massive phones they make now.

Hope they make a smaller version, but I doubt they will.


Regardless of how it 'looks', some users need that extra screen real-estate.
Rating: 6 Votes

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