What’s causing the Retina iPad mini to launch so late in the year, and why is demand expected to be so limited at launch? Display yield issues tend to be viewed as the culprit, but what exactly is happening? According to a new rumor, LCD burn-in is to blame.
According to Korea’s ETNews, Sharp is having problems with burned-in images on its new IGZO displays destined for the Retina iPad mini.
The issue appears to be one with Sharp’s thin-film transistor layer. This is the heart of IGZO, which allows more light from the LED backlights to actually pass through the display’s pixels. It is this technology that allowed Apple to half the battery and number of LED lamps in the iPad Air while maintaining the same battery life.
According to ETNews’ source, the burn-in is not actually visible to the naked eye, but the panels still can’t be used because of Apple’s incredibly strict quality-control process. It might seem frustrating that Apple’s not loosening these standards just a tad to get the iPad mini in more hands before Christmas, but let’s face it, this is what makes Apple Apple.
Source: ETNews
