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

Tuesday March 9, 2021 7:44 am PST by Joe Rossignol

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.

iPad Pro Mini LED
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 quarter, the industry sources said. The timeframe suggests that the device could be announced by Apple within the next few weeks, or in April at the latest.

A new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display has been widely rumored for many months. The device would still have an LCD display, but with Mini-LED backlighting for higher brightness, improved contrast ratio, and other benefits. It's unclear if the 11-inch iPad Pro will be updated with a Mini-LED display too, as many rumors have only mentioned the 12.9-inch model, despite the fact the devices are usually updated together.

The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro is also expected to feature a faster A14X chip and support for 5G networks on models with cellular connectivity.

March is a common month for Apple to announce new or updated products. Apple last updated its iPad Pro lineup in March 2020 with a marginally improved A12Z Bionic chip, an Ultra Wide camera, a LiDAR Scanner, and better sounding microphones.

Chinese leaker "Kang" recently suggested that Apple plans to host an event on March 23, and while he has a strong track record so far, Apple could of course opt to announce the new iPad Pro with a press release. Other rumored products include Apple's long-awaited AirTags items trackers, a new Apple TV, new AirPods, and more Apple silicon Macs.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro

Tag: Mini-LED Guide

Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

nStyle

73 months ago

First of all, DigiTimes has proven time, and time again that is not reliable in the slightest.
but secondly, we‘ve known.
we get it, the iPad‘s are coming in March. You’ve reported on it over, and over, and over, and over, and over again.
same with the iMac Pro discontinuation, we get it. It was discontinued. No need to run an article every time it goes out of stock, and then goes back into stock. just update the old articles.
The iPad Pro is coming in March, and the iMac Pro is being discontinued.
if you didn’t know by the several articles they’ve ran about it.
what’s next, you’re gonna tell me the iPhones are launching in the fall? That’s crazy talk

You’re on a website that specifically focuses on Apple news. What else do you expect?

Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)

bsamcash

73 months ago

I’m still loving my 11 incher!

. . . That came out wrong.

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Lounge vibes 05

73 months ago

First of all, DigiTimes has proven time, and time again that is not reliable in the slightest.
but secondly, we‘ve known.
we get it, the iPad‘s are coming in March. You’ve reported on it over, and over, and over, and over, and over again.
same with the iMac Pro discontinuation, we get it. It was discontinued. No need to run an article every time it goes out of stock, and then goes back into stock. just update the old articles.
The iPad Pro is coming in March, and the iMac Pro is being discontinued.
if you didn’t know by the several articles they’ve ran about it.
what’s next, you’re gonna tell me the iPhones are launching in the fall? That’s crazy talk

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

HarryKeogh

73 months ago

As I type this on my iPhone, My iPad Air 2 stares at me from across the kitchen island. It has no idea how much I’m looking forward to replacing it with the iPad Pro.

Soon, it will be passed down to my children where it will spend its waking moments playing “Henry Danger” and “A Series of Unfortunate Events” on a constant loop.

It is oblivious to its fate. And I am giddy with anticipation.

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Falhófnir

73 months ago

Why not just OLED and be done with it. Not like Apple has ever been concerned with saving us money...

OLED has a lot of problems associated with it, this saves on most of those while still giving the deeper blacks that is the primary benefit of OLED anyway.

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)