New iPad Pro 2021 with mini-LED display just confirmed in new leak

iPad Pro 2021
(Image credit: Pigtou)

The iPad Pro 2021's main new feature is all but confirmed. We've just learned from another source that Apple is readying the new screens long rumored for the next high-end iPad.

Rumors of a mini-LED iPad began hitting the internet last summer. The latest smoke is emanating from the supply-chain news site DigiTimes, which claims that "Ennostar to start production of miniLED BLUs soon reportedly for Apple." If the rumors of an iPad Pro 2021 arriving at an Apple spring event are true, production will begin ramping up quickly.

Ennostar is a Taiwanese technology firm that produces a wide array of components, including chips, displays, semiconductors, lights, and even packaging. According to DigiTimes, Ennostar will begin production on mini-LED displays "at the end of first-quarter 2021 or in the second quarter." Ennostar's home page breathlessly hypes up the future of mini-LED panels, which deliver a vast improvement over the LCD panels Apple currently uses. 

If the mini-LED rumors come true, it seems like the best chance Apple has to convince shoppers to invest in its expensive tablets. mini-LED panels use smaller LEDs that give you better contrast ratios, truer black tones and higher brightness.

Aside from this change, the next iPad Pro is expected to be very similar to the existing model. It may be a hair thicker to accommodate the new display tech.

Word of the mini-LED displays in new MacBook Pro models have also been around, but the recent rumors have more focused on them arriving in the iPad Pro first.

Apple could also introduce a successor to the A12Z Apple Silicon, or just replace it with the speedy M1 chip seen in its MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini.

TOPICS
Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

Latest in iPads
iPad Air M3 on a windowsill
Quick! Amazon just slashed $40 off the new iPad Air M3 — first ever discount
Concept image of foldable iPad
Apple reportedly has an 18.8-inch foldable iPad prototype with under-display Face ID
iPad Air M3
Apple iPad Air M3 review: The sweet spot just got even sweeter
iPad Air M3
iPad Air M3 and iPad 11 surprisingly miss out on Apple's C1 modem
iPad Air M3 tablet shown in various colors
iPad Air M3 vs iPad Air M2: What's different?
Apple iPad 11
iPad 11 just announced — here’s what’s new
Latest in News
Bill Gates in 2019
Bill Gates just predicted the death of every job thanks to AI — except for these three
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Wednesday, March 26 (#654)
Gemini screenshot image
Google unveils Gemini 2.5 — claims AI breakthrough with enhanced reasoning and multimodal power
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 design just teased in new cases leak — and the outer display is huge
Google Chrome
Chrome failed to install on Windows PCs, but Google has issued a fix — here's what happened
nyc spring day AI image
OpenAI just unveiled enhanced image generator within ChatGPT-4o — here's what you can do now