Sorry, 11-inch iPad Pro — no mini-LED display for you. The new type of screen will reportedly be in Apple’s largest top-tier tablet for 2021 but not the smaller version.
In addition, there are supposedly changes to the speakers and camera hump in this high-end tablet that’s expected in early spring.
The Mac Treasure Tracing Club (AKA MacOtokara) has an inside source of information on the upcoming tablets. They say the new 12.9-inch version will be slightly thicker than its predecessor because of the mini-LED screen. The same isn’t true of the 11-inch version.
mini-LED screens have thousands of small LEDs providing the backlight, far more than with a standard LCD. That should give the iPad Pro much greater control over lighting, so some on-screen objects can be bright while others dim. mini-LED isn’t quite as beautiful as the OLED displays used in iPhone, but they cost less.
The new screen type is expected to be a hallmark of the 2021 iPad Pro. The other major enhancement is likely to be a version of the speedy A14 processor that debuted last autumn in the iPad Air 4 and iPhone 12.
More leaked details of the 2021 iPad Pro
According to Mac Treasure Tracing Club’s source, there are two-thirds fewer speaker holes on the sides of both tablet sizes. And the speakers have been moved, though it’s not clear by how much. Plus, the source says the camera hump protrudes from the casing less.
These changes might be hard on companies that make tightly-fitting cases for the iPad Pro series. But Apple’s own accessories will likely be unaffected.
The upgraded tablet is supposedly launching in March. Other sources agree on that too. If true, that’ll be a year after the 2020 iPad Pro series debuted.
