Volume production of Apple's miniLED-backlit MacBook Pro series may have to be postponed to fourth-quarter of 2021 or first-quarter 2022 if the sudden surge in the number of COVID infections in Taiwan continues to worsen, according to industry sources.
Having launched its miniLED-backlit 12.9-inch iPad Pro in late April, Apple plans to release two miniLED-backlit MacBook Pro products - one having a 14-inch display and the other a 16-inch display - in the second half of 2021, said the sources.
But the sources indicated that the production for the 12.9-inch miniLED iPad Pro started one quarter later than its original schedule due to issues with miniLED supply from Ennostar, indicated the sources.
Yield rates at Ennostar have improved since April, but the belated production for the iPad Pro has in turn deferred support for the new MacBook Pro, the sources said.
The supply chain makers will now kick off small volume production of the 14-inch MacBook Pro in the third quarter of 2021 before entering volume production in the fourth quarter, said the sources.
The volume production of the 16-inch MacBook Pro is to begin in the first quarter of 2022, added the sources.
Based on the latest production schedule - barring COVID impacts - the new miniLED-backlit MacBook Pro products are likely to hit store shelves in 2022 at the earliest, the sources indicated.
Meanwhile, Ennostar has revealed that its production of miniLED chips will peak in third-quarter 2021, with all its production lines operating at full capacity.
The company said that its production capacity will also be fully loaded in the fourth quarter thanks to the production for new miniLED chips.
