Kuo: MacBook Air With Mini-LED Display Still on Track for 2022 Launch

Apple's first entry-level Mac to feature mini-LED display technology will be a new MacBook Air due to launch next year, according to TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Flat MacBook Air Feature 1
From his latest investors note, obtained by MacRumors:

We expect that the new MacBook Air will adopt a mini LED in 2022, increasing MacBook's mini LED adoption rate. In contrast, only high-end iPad models will use mini LED displays, and the overall growth momentum may be lower than that of MacBooks.

The 2022 ‌MacBook Air‌ will also feature Apple Silicon, according to Kuo. The analyst believes that Apple will be able to offset the increased cost of using mini-LED panels in its Macs precisely because the cost of ‌‌Apple Silicon‌‌ chips is significantly lower than that of Intel processors.

Kuo said last year that he believes a mini-LED ‌MacBook Air‌ is due to arrive in 2022, and also said he expected Apple to release two redesigned MacBook Pro models, both equipped with mini-LED displays, in the second half of this year. In today's note, Kuo underlined how much suppliers can expect to benefit from Apple's wider adoption of mini-LED as a result.

We expect the new MacBook Pro will boost the shipment of mini LED displays in 2H21 because the new MacBook Pro will equip with mini LED displays, and MacBook's mini LED display is less challenging to produce than the iPad. We forecast that mini LED display shipments in 2021 and 2022 to be 10 million and 20–30 million, respectively.

In addition to Apple silicon and Mini-LED displays, Kuo expects the new ‌MacBook Pro‌ designs to feature a flat-edged top and bottom, an HDMI port and SD card reader, classic MagSafe charging with a magnetic power cable, and physical function keys instead of the Touch Bar. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has corroborated many of these details, and he was first to report that an SD card reader is returning.

Today's note from Kuo also said that Apple's first mini-LED 12.9-inch iPad Pro will enter mass production in the second half of April, and that the iPad Air would adopt OLED displays in 2022, positioning mini-LED as a display technology exclusive to ‌iPad Pro‌ devices in the company's tablet lineup.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro and Air Feature

Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

Friday September 19, 2025 10:02 am PDT by
As reported by Bloomberg today, some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores today are already scratched and scuffed. French blog Consomac also reported on this topic. The scratches appear to be most prominent on models with darker finishes, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the iPhone Air in Space Black. Images Credit: Consoma ...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone Like 'Two Titanium iPhone Airs' Joined at the Hinge

Monday September 22, 2025 2:16 am PDT by
Next year's rumored foldable iPhone will showcase an ultra-thin design resembling "two titanium iPhone Airs side-by-side," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says Apple's first foldable device will be "super thin and a design achievement," combining Apple's thinnest iPhone form factor with cutting-edge folding...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

iOS 26.1 Adds New Apple Intelligence Languages and Expands AirPods Live Translation

Monday September 22, 2025 11:15 am PDT by
With iOS 26.1, Apple Intelligence is gaining support for additional languages, including Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. Apple announced plans to expand the languages that can be used with Apple Intelligence last year, and now the added language support is here. Apple Intelligence is now available in the following...
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
iPhone 17 Pro and Air N1 Feature

Some iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air Users Experiencing Intermittent Wi-Fi Issue

Monday September 22, 2025 8:44 am PDT by
Apple's latest iPhone models launched on Friday, and some early adopters of the devices are experiencing intermittent Wi-Fi issues. Affected customers say Wi-Fi connectivity periodically cuts out on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air, with hundreds of comments about the issue posted across the MacRumors Forums, Reddit, and the Apple Support Community over the...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...

Top Rated Comments

SirAnthonyHopkins Avatar
59 months ago

The 2022 MacBook Air will also feature Apple Silicon, according to Kuo
Right? As opposed to what? Going back to using Intel silicon?

"The laptop will also feature the Apple logo on the upper lid, according to Kuo"
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ian87w Avatar
59 months ago

Apple really should make it habit to update EVERY Mac model YEARLY, just like back in the Steve Jobs days. It's ridiculous that we are now consistently waiting a couple of years for Mac updates for the past ~5-6 years. Just look at any Mac model and the slow pace is stupid. 16" MacBook Pro? Last update was in 2019. iMac? It's been around a year now. Mac Pro? 2019 again. And now MacBook Air is gonna be 2 years away from an update, not to mention it was so neglected in the 2016-18 era.
You have to understand that there's the intel factor as well. Intel consistently failed to deliver their own roadmap in a timely fashion, and when they did, the delta improvements are not that significant. I cannot blame Apple to not refresh their lineup regularly.

I believe with Apple silicon, we would see a more consistent refreshes in the future since now Apple themselves know what kind of chips they're getting, since it's their own.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
steve09090 Avatar
59 months ago
Too many leaks that mean nothing. I just want a timeline for upgraded Hardware. I’ll decide when I see it, whether it fits my need to upgrade. Other than that, this 'business' for clicks just wears me out.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
asiga Avatar
59 months ago
This should really need to be a 15inch. We want big displays but lighter than the MacBook Pro (the MBP is great if you really need it, but there are plenty of scenarios in which you want a big display that you can carry with you without noticing its weight... and yes, the MBP has been made lighter with the years, but it's still heavy if you want extreme mobility).

And I don't care if a 15inch MBA would be prone to bending, not rigid enough, looks like plastic,... whatever... all I want is a big display light as paper, with NO fans, and running MacOS.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ian87w Avatar
59 months ago

I don't care so much about the weight than the cost. I still use a 2013 MBP. It is powerful enough for me and the M1 in the current Air would be all I need. But I like a bigger display but doesn't need to be a Pro machine that can be used for 4K video editing. Just Word, Browser, Zotero and Mail.
Yup. It would be nice if Apple do a 15" Air. Not everyone who wanted larger screens need a Pro performance. But Apple seems to equate larger screens to Pro premium price (iPad Pro 12.9, iPhone Pro Max, MacBook Pro, etc). :(
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aknabi Avatar
59 months ago
Looks like I'll be back to upgrading my macs every 18-24 months... my brain is excited, my wallet is not.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)