LEDinside, a division of TrendForce, points out that Apple has just released the Pro Display XDR 32-inch 6K display, which utilizes a brand new LED backlight solution. In doing so, Apple is motivating the display industry to actively explore new solutions for high end products, with next generation Mini LED backlight technology to become the main area of development for many suppliers. Mini LED backlight revenue is expected to reach US$340 million in 2023 (not including the revenue from other driver ICs and backplanes).
TrendForce points out that the brand new LED backlight solution includes a bright array of 576 blue LEDs and a passive-matrix driver IC that can control each LED with swift precision. This allows Apple's Pro Display XDR 32-inch 6K display to achieve 1,000 nit brightness and can even reach a peak brightness of 1,600 nit, with a contrast ratio of up to 1,000,000 : 1. Although this backlight solution isn't the Mini LED backlight widely rumored in the industry, it does shine a ray of light for LED and display manufacturers.
Displays utilizing Mini LED backlights are equipped with local dimming, which gives a contrast effect similar to that of OLED displays. Mini LED backlight displays even cost less than OLED displays. For panel manufacturers, this will allow product specifications to go that extra mile and get a chance to compete with OLED technology.
Although current high-end displays still lack backlight technology on par with true Mini LED backlights, we can already see high-end TVs, whether produced by Samsung or Sony, using multiple traditional backlight LEDs with the help of local dimming methods to give a display performance of higher contrast and quality.
Currently, costs still form the main challenge faced by Mini LED backlight products. Factors such as the increasing number of LED chips and driver ICs, yield and uniformity caused costs to remain high. Furthermore, despite the speedy downfall of current LCD panels prices, the additional Mini LED backlight costs will offset this fall and even increase overall display costs, seriously impacting customers' desire to introduce Mini LEDs.
TrendForce asserts that Mini LEDs can be viewed as both a chance and a challenge. Many panel suppliers are actively seeking to develop glass backplanes with active driving solutions in an attempt to lower the costs of LED driver ICs and PCBs. Equipment manufacturers are also developing new methods of mass transfer to lower component manufacturing costs for Mini LED. Suppliers hope to lower costs down to a degree viable for commercialized mass production.
