Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro
Todd Haselton | CNBC
Research and development of new generation Apple products using a new display technology called mini LED are not affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, according to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo expects Apple to launch several new products using Mini LED technology from the end of the year, with six products expected to hit the market before the end of 2021.
“We anticipate that Apple is currently developing six mini LED stand products,” Kuo wrote in a note dated March 4. “Including 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 27-inch iMac Pro 4T20, 14.1-inch MacBook Pro (upgraded from 13.3 inches), 16-inch MacBook Pro, 10.2-inch iPad inches and an iPad mini 7.9 inches in 2020. “
Mini LED has some advantages over the LCD and OLED screens currently used on most gadgets. They can offer high contrast and are less prone to “burns”, that is to say when an image is permanently displayed on a defective screen.
Kuo is well known for publishing research on new, enterprise-focused Apple products that make up Apple’s supply chain. The note released Tuesday focuses on suppliers of Mini LED parts and equipment, and the companies that should benefit if Apple embraces the technology quickly.
Apple previously warned that it would miss its March sales target as demand is falling in China and iPhone supply may be limited as the factories with which Apple signs contracts to manufacture products do not operate at full capacity.
The process of launching new products manufactured in Chinese factories often requires practical work on the part of engineers, which is threatened since Apple said in January that it limits international travel to essential business functions .
Foxconn, one of Apple’s main manufacturing partners, said Tuesday that its factories have already returned to 50% of “seasonal capacity required” and expects to return to full seasonal capacity by the end of March.
Apple CEO Tim Cook last week said he was optimistic about the coronavirus situation in China, and said Apple was in “phase three” to speed up production.
Apple stocks have fallen more than 6% since Apple’s revenue warning on February 17.
