Apple plans to launch a new 23-inch iMac later this year, as well as an 11-inch iPad Air, according to a recent report from the China Times.
The report also detailed the impact of COVID-19 on Apple's plan to transition to mini-LED.
This is not the first time we have heard about the new 11-inch iPad. Just yesterday, it was reported that Apple is developing a new 11-inch iPad Air that may use the fingerprint under the screen to identify Touch ID.
Unfortunately, the China Times report did not provide more information about the rumored 11-inch iPad. The report just said that the screen size of this year's "low-cost version of iPad Air" will increase to "nearly 11 inches", and mass production is planned for the third quarter.
In addition, the report also stated that Apple is developing a new 23-inch iMac, which may be released in the fourth quarter of this year and mass production will begin in the third quarter. Apple last updated its iMac in March last year and brought a new ninth-generation Intel processor.
One possibility is that the physical size of the 23-inch iMac is the same as the existing 21.5-inch model, but the frame size is reduced. The iMac should have undergone a design update a long time ago. This will be a logical change, providing more screen space at similar physical sizes.
The report also stated that due to the supply chain disruption caused by COVID-19, Apple's planned transition to mini-LED was postponed. This is following a report earlier today, which said that the 5G version of iPad Pro equipped with mini-LED was postponed until 2021, but did not indicate whether other Apple hardware will be affected.
It is reported that Apple originally planned to bring mini-LEDs to the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro this year, but due to the delay of COVID-19, these plans have been transferred to 2021.
Earlier, Tianfeng International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple will release a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro this year, along with a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 27-inch iMac Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, 10.2-inch iPad and 7.9-inch iPad mini.
It is unclear whether Apple will release these new products. For example, there are reports that we can expect a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a scissor switch keyboard in the near future, but what about the new iMac Pro without mini-LED?
We should be skeptical about the China Times report. Nonetheless, according to this report, combined with other anecdotes in the supply chain, it seems that Apple’s planned transition to mini-LED is facing multiple roadblocks. Even when iPhone production is advancing, it will also be due to the new crown The virus is facing some obstacles.
