Supply chain rumors are flying this morning with one of the latest being centered on Apple's upcoming iPad with a mini-LED display. A Digitimes news snippet today is reporting that Apple reportedly is set to launch its first miniLED-backlit iPad Pro in the first quarter of 2021 and mass produce miniLED-backlit MacBook Pro devices in the second quarter, with Taiwan supply chain partners set to play a major role.

The report goes on to point out behind a paywall, that many manufacturers in Taiwan will benefit from Apple’s change, including LED chip supplier Epistar photoelectric, Whitfield Technology in the field of measurement and control, surface assembly supplier Taiwan Watch Technology, backlight board supplier Zhending Technology, Cooling solution provider Shuanghong Technology and process equipment manufacturer Hualing Technology and more.

In addition, the new iPad Pro with mini-LED screen will be mainly manufactured by Foxconn and Compal, and the new MacBook Pro will be the main foundry by Quanta, with a small portion of Foxconn won.

In yet another supply chain report, Digitimes reports that Novatek Microelectronics has reportedly signed a deal with Apple for LCD driver ICs for entry and iPad Air iDevices.

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