According to a new report, Apple’s mini-LED suppliers for its 12.9-inch iPad Pro have for its redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring flat edge-to-edge design, no touch bar, fingerprint sensor, powered by next-generation Apple Silicon, M1x chip built on 5nm+ process. The updated machines are slated to launch in quarter 3 2021.
Apple mini-LED suppliers preparing for 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro launch in September
According to the report, Zhen Ding Technology and Tripod Technology will be gearing up in the third quarter of 2021 to meet the demand for 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, which are “set for launch in late third-quarter 2021,” sources told DigiTimes.
Zhen Ding Technology and Tripod Technology have both entered the supply chain for Apple’s upcoming mini LED-backlit MacBook series, and will be ramping up their shipments of backlight boards starting the third quarter, according to industry sources.
Tripod has reportedly cleaned Apple’s validations for equipment and capacity at its new plant in China’s Xiantao, Hubei province, and will be able to begin production of mini-LED backlight boards for the redesigned MacBook Pro sources in the third quarter. As for Zhen Ding, the company will complete its second-phase investment in capacity expansion for such boards in the third quarter.
The third quarter runs from July through September, so Apple could announce the redesigned MacBook Pro models during or around its annual iPhone event, which will return to its September schedule this year. Keeping in mind the recent disruptions the tech giant has faced due to the ongoing global health crisis, a September MacBook Pro announcement is not out of the question.
The highly anticipated redesigned MacBook Pro models will feature the most significant design update users have seen since 2016. The 14-inch model will replace the current 13-inch variant whereas the 16-inch model will be a counterpart to the existing 16-inch Macbook Pro model.
Industry sources claim the new models will have a flat-edged design similar to iPhone 12. The updated machines could also address several complaints users have had with the lineup for years by including MagSafe charging, replacing Touch Bar with physical keys, and featuring an HDMI port and SD card reader. As is customary with updated MacBook models, users can expect enhanced performance and improved battery life.
Read more:
