Apple Inc. is on track to start production of a new iPad Pro with a mini-LED display in April, according to the latest investor note from famed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

According to Kuo, the new iPad Pro, an upgrade from the last model released in March 2020, will be the first Apple product to use the display technology. A mini-LED display uses small light-emitting diodes to produce the display’s light, promising to deliver high contrast ratios, a wider color range and other image boosts.

“According to our latest survey, the current production yield and quality have reached Apple’s high standards, so it is expected that assemblers will start mass production of mini-LED iPads after mid- to late April,” Kuo said.

Apple was first reported to be looking at deploying the technology last year, but given it’s a new technology with some expense involved, Apple’s attempts to bring it to market has been restricted until now.

Backing up Kuo’s report, sources referenced by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg claim Apple will announce its new iPad Pro lineup as early as April. Along with the mini-LED screen, the devices will have an updated processor on par with the M1 chip used in the latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini devices.

The new iPad Pros are said to have improved cameras and support a Thunderbolt connector, the same port on the latest Macs. The port doesn’t require a new charger but does enable connectivity with additional devices such as external monitors and hard drives. The existing iPad Pro model includes an industry-standard USB-C port.

The use of mini-LED technology in the iPad Pro is a stepping stone for Apple to roll out the screens across its products. As Apple Insider noted, Kuo has previously predicted that mini-LED screens are expected to grace at least two MacBook Pro models in 2021, with the MacBook Air benefiting from the technology in 2022. Kuo forecasts that mini-LED display shipments will be 10 million in 2021 and between 20 million and 30 million in 2022.

Apple is not the only company developing mini-LED technology. Chinese manufacturer TCL Technology Group Corp. was the first company to debut a mini-LED television in 2019, while both Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and LG Electronics Inc. plan to launch mini-LED televisions this year.

Image: Apple