Apple is planning to use mini-LED displays for much of its product lineup, adding the technology to multiple Mac notebooks and iPads. Mini-LED displays will bring some useful technology improvements to Apple's products, as outlined in our guide below.

13inchmacbookpro20203

What is Mini-LED?

LCD panels used by Apple use LEDs, or light-emitting diodes inside for backlighting purposes to light up the display. Mini-LEDs, as the name suggests, are smaller diodes that are less than 0.2mm.

A device like a TV features an LCD panel with LEDs for backlighting, with the panel used to control where light is displayed on the screen. Depending on what's on the display, the LEDs are lit up fully or dimmed down for dark scenes. Apple's MacBook models currently use a strip of LEDs at the bottom, while the new Pro Display XDR uses multiple LEDs, 576 to be exact. A mini-LED display will be somewhat similar to the Pro Display XDR, but with more LEDs.

Compared to a traditional LCD that uses multiple LEDs, a panel light with mini-LEDs uses many more LEDs, which means there are more total dimming zones to work with. A traditional display might use hundreds of LEDs, but a mini-LED display could have more than a thousand. Apple, in fact, is said to be exploring mini-LED displays that use 10,000 LEDs, each one below 200 microns.

Mini-LED Improvements

Because there are more LEDs and more dimming zones, mini-LED displays can offer deeper, darker blacks, brighter brights, richer colors, and better contrast because there's more control over what's displayed on the screen with so many LEDs.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that Apple's transition to mini-LED will allow for thinner and lighter product designs that offer a lot of the same benefits as OLED. Mini-LEDs are close to the deep blacks and better HDR provided by OLED, but without the burn-in or degradation issues.

LED-backlit LCDs are much more power efficient than the cold cathode fluorescent lighting used for LCD panels in the past, and mini-LED LCDs will have additional power efficiency gains.

Mini-LED vs. Micro-LED vs. OLED

Though the names are similar, there are notable differences between micro-LED and mini-LED displays. Mini-LED is the same as LED backlighting that's used today but with many more LEDs for more dimming zones, while micro-LED is similar to OLED with self-emissive pixels that can each be independently lit.

Apple is working on micro-LED technology as well, but mini-LED will come first in iPads and Macs because micro-LED technology is so expensive right now.

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, and in an OLED display, every pixel or subpixel lights up individually in a specific color or switches as power is applied or turned off, allowing for the deepest blacks and the best contrast. micro-LED is similar, but it is made from an inorganic material that does not decay as fast as OLED.

OLED is superior to mini-LED technology because it produces more even lighting with no pixel groups involved, but micro-LED is believed to be superior to OLED because it can offer higher levels of brightness and there are no issues that can lead to screen burn in or drops in brightness over time.

Apple uses OLED displays in its iPhones, but OLED is also a technology that has so far proven to be too expensive to be used for the larger displays of Macs and iPads. Apple may be planning to skip OLED all together in its Macs and iPads, going from mini-LED technology to micro-LED eventually.

Micro-LED is the future technology to look forward to, but mini-LED is the technology that Apple is ready to debut in the near future.

Products with Mini-LED Displays

Apple has been working to implement mini-LED technology for the iPad and Mac lineups, and the following products have mini-LED displays:

Mini-LED Future

The first mini-LED products came out in 2021, and there are currently Macs and iPads with mini-LED displays. Apple is planning to expand its mini-LED product lineup going forward, transitioning much of the Mac and ‌iPad‌ lineup to mini-LED technology.

Guide Feedback

Have a question about Apple's transition to mini-LED, know of something we left out, or want to offer feedback? Send us an email here.

Related Articles

iPad Air 12

12.9-Inch iPad Air No Longer Expected to Feature Mini-LED Display

Wednesday April 24, 2024 8:37 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Air will feature an LCD display like its smaller sibling, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO and analyst Ross Young. Earlier this month, Young said that the larger iPad Air would feature a mini-LED display like the current iPad Pro of the same size. The existing 10.9-inch iPad Air is equipped with a standard LCD panel, and the move to mini-LED ...
apple studio display blue

Apple Mini-LED External Display Rumored to Offer ProMotion, But Launch Delayed to Early 2023

Tuesday July 12, 2022 12:16 pm PDT by
Apple's rumored external monitor with a 27-inch mini-LED display will feature ProMotion technology, but may not launch until early 2023, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young. During the latest episode of The MacRumors Show, Young said that after missing an initial release date scheduled for June this year, Apple has again been unable to meet its rescheduled ...
studio display 3

Apple's Rumored 27-Inch Mini-LED Display Now Said to Launch in October

Friday May 20, 2022 8:07 am PDT by
Apple now plans to release a new 27-inch display with mini-LED backlighting in October due to the Shanghai lockdown, which has resulted in production of the display being delayed, according to display industry consultant Ross Young. In a tweet, Young said Apple is in the process of moving production of the display from Quanta Computer to a different supplier and/or location, resulting in a...
iMac M1 Blue Mini LED Feature

Reputable Analyst Doubles Down on Claim Apple Will Unveil 27-inch Mini-LED Product in June

Thursday March 17, 2022 4:56 am PDT by
Reliable display analyst Ross Young has reiterated his belief that Apple will unveil a new product with a 27-inch mini-LED display around June, despite another well-known analyst claiming new mini-LED products from Apple are unlikely this year. On Wednesday, Ming-Chi Kuo said there may be no new products with mini-LED displays from Apple in 2022 because of cost concerns to do with sourcing...
mac studio and studio display

Kuo: Mini-LED Versions of 11-Inch iPad Pro and Studio Display Unlikely This Year

Wednesday March 16, 2022 8:00 am PDT by
Apple is unlikely to launch any products with new mini-LED display sizes in 2022 due to cost concerns, reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a tweet today. When asked for further details by email, Kuo clarified that only Apple's existing mini-LED products like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro may be updated in 2022, with no additional products to transition to mini-LEDs this year. For example, Kuo...
iPad Pro Big Ol Logo

11-Inch iPad Pro No Longer Expected to Gain Mini-LED Display in 2022

Thursday March 10, 2022 1:13 am PST by
The updated 11-inch iPad Pro expected to launch sometime this year can no longer be expected to feature a mini-LED display like its larger 12.9-inch sibling, display analyst Ross Young said today on Twitter. Earlier rumors indicated that after keeping mini-LED exclusive to just the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2021, Apple would expand the newer display technology to the smaller 11-inch form...
iPad Pro Mini LED yellow

Apple Ramping Up Supply of Mini-LED Displays for New Devices in 2022

Thursday March 3, 2022 5:02 am PST by
Apple is purportedly ramping up mini-LED chip production and bringing more manufacturers into its supply chain to meet demand for new devices in 2022, DigiTimes reports. Apple has expanded its use of mini-LED technology over the past three years and currently offers three devices that feature mini-LED displays: The Pro Display XDR, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the high-end MacBook Pro. The...
macbook pro sizes space gray

Apple's Third Potential Supplier of Mini-LED Display Chips Hits Certification Hurdle

Wednesday January 5, 2022 12:18 am PST by
Apple's search for additional mini-LED display suppliers has hit a speed bump after its primary candidate's latest attempt to pass certification failed, according to a new industry report. Apple's 2021 M1-powered 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ was the first Apple product to feature the company's Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED, rather than traditional LCD or OLED. Last year also saw...
MBA Mock White Front Blue

2022 MacBook Air Again Rumored to Feature Mini-LED Display

Friday October 22, 2021 2:35 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation MacBook Air will feature a mini-LED display and launch in 2022, according to DigiTimes. DigiTimes previously said that the MacBook Air is set to get a mini-LED display in the future, but the Taiwanese publication has now doubled-down on the claim. Citing industry sources, the latest report says that Apple is "likely" to adopt mini-LED backlighting for a MacBook Air ...
Flat 2021 MacBook Pro Mockup Feature 1

Kuo: MacBook Shipment Growth to Drive Market Adoption of Mini-LED Technology

Monday August 16, 2021 1:14 am PDT by
Apple's use of mini-LED panels in its forthcoming MacBook lineups will catalyze supplier investment and push the entire industry toward adoption of the display technology, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, Apple's upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are expected to feature mini-LED displays. In his latest investor note, seen by MacRumors, Kuo...
iPad mini pro feature

Next-Generation iPad Mini Will Reportedly Feature a Mini-LED Display

Thursday July 22, 2021 9:03 am PDT by
Apple is widely rumored to be planning a new iPad mini with a significant redesign, including a larger 8.5-inch to 9-inch display with slimmer bezels, a Touch ID power button instead of a home button, a USB-C port instead of a Lightning connector, and more. According to a paywalled preview of a DigiTimes report today, the sixth-generation iPad mini will also feature a mini-LED display:BLU...
Mini LED MacBook Pro Feature

Apple Reportedly Spending $200 Million to Improve Mini-LED Production for Upcoming 14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro

Thursday July 1, 2021 12:04 am PDT by
Apple is taking a significant step to improve the production of mini-LED displays for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, by investing $200 million in purchasing new equipment for four brand new mini-LED assembly lines, according to a paywalled report from DigiTimes, seen by MacRumors. According to the report, Apple will spend $200 million on procuring additional SMT or ...
Mini LED MacBook Pro Feature

Apple Seeking Additional Suppliers to Meet Mini-LED Display Demand for iPad Pro and Upcoming MacBook Pro

Wednesday June 30, 2021 7:27 am PDT by
Apple is continuing to struggle to meet demand for mini-LED displays in its recently launched 12.9-inch iPad Pro and displays in upcoming MacBook Pros, prompting the company to begin looking for extra suppliers in an attempt to ease the load. According to a paywalled preview of a DigiTimes report slated to be published tomorrow, Apple is looking for suppliers beyond Taiwan Surface Mounting...
13 inch macbook pro m1

DigiTimes: MacBooks With Mini-LED Displays May Be Delayed Until 2022

Monday May 17, 2021 7:06 am PDT by
Apple is widely rumored to be planning redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with mini-LED displays, but the notebooks may be released later than expected. While multiple sources have indicated that Apple planned to release the new MacBook Pro models in the second half of 2021, including analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Taiwanese supply chain news website DigiTimes today claimed that the...
Flat MacBook Air Feature 1

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

Thursday March 18, 2021 2:33 am PDT by
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. 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...
iPad Pro Mini LED

Kuo: Mini-LED 12.9-inch iPad Pro to Enter Mass Production in 'Mid-to-Late April'

Thursday March 18, 2021 1:38 am PDT by
Apple's new 12.9-inch mini-LED iPad Pro will enter mass production in the second half of April, according to a new note by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The prediction adds further credence to a Bloomberg report just yesterday that said next month would be the earliest time we should expect the new models to appear. In an investors note obtained by MacRumors, Kuo says that mass production for...
iPad Pro Mini LED

DigiTimes: 12.9-Inch iPad Pro With Mini-LED Display No Longer Expected to Ship Until At Least April

Wednesday March 17, 2021 2:44 am PDT by
Apple will not launch a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display until at least the second quarter of the year, which begins on April 1, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes. From today's report: Epistar has become the exclusive supplier of miniLED chips to be used in 12.9-inch miniLED-backlit iPad Pro, with nearly 50% of the corresponding production capacity booked up for...
iPad Pro Mini LED

12.9-Inch iPad Pro With Mini-LED Display Said to Launch as Soon as Late March

Tuesday March 9, 2021 6:44 am PST by
Taiwanese touch panel maker GIS plans to expand its backend module capacity for new products at its factory in Chengdu, China, according to industry sources cited in a report today from supply chain publication DigiTimes. One of the new products will likely be Apple's long-rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display, which is slated to launch at the end of March or early in the second ...
flat mbp 14 inch feature yellow

Redesigned 14-Inch MacBook Pro Expected to Feature Brighter Mini-LED Display With Slimmer Bezels and More

Thursday February 25, 2021 6:48 am PST by
Apple plans to unveil new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Mini-LED-backlit displays in the second half of this year, according to industry sources cited by Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes. The report claims that Radiant Opto-Electronics will be the exclusive supplier of the Mini-LED backlight units, while Quanta Computer is said to be tasked with final assembly of the...
iPad Pro Mini LED

New iPad Pro and MacBook Models With Mini-LED Displays Again Rumored to Launch This Year

Monday February 22, 2021 8:32 pm PST by
Taiwanese company Ennostar will begin production of Mini-LED backlight units for an upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the late first quarter or second quarter of this year, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes. Ennostar is a holding company that was jointly established in January 2021 by LED-related manufacturers Epistar and Lextar Electronics. Apple is expected to unveil the new ...