iPad Pro Mini-LED and Power Draw

[sorgo †]

Given the Liquid Retina XDR’s implementation of Mini-LED with its locally-dimmable backlight zones — almost a cruder version of OLED’s per-pixel lighting technology — is it likely that darker user interfaces/“Dark Mode” might help reduce power draw and extend battery life?

After some unsuccessful internet sleuthing and not seeing any other threads about it I thought I would start one here. I’m sure it’s probably out there somewhere in some engineering journal or something but again I couldn’t find much of anything (there was however this interesting piece from the Optical Society of America about gauging and potentially improving upon the so-called halo effect of HDR mini-LED displays).

Again I’m sure this conversation has already taken place somewhere but regardless: It is my feeling that since the XDR’s mini-LED system uses thousands of individual dimming zones rather than one uniform off-or-on backlight having darker content on-screen should theoretically help with power draw akin to OLED, right?

🤔

 

[fwmireault]

It is very possible that mini-LED helps somewhat with power efficiency, but it’s hard to tell for sure. M1, 5G, brighter screen (HDR), usage and a little bigger battery are all factors that can help to improve or worsen the battery life compared to the previous gen. So far on my side, it’s very similar to the 2020 iPP, but I have read that it is worse for others.

Also, even with darker blacks, mini-LED can’t achieve the same power efficiency than OLED, because of the dimming zones. Even with 2500 of them, there is still a good amount of backlighting even in dark mode, and that makes the mini-LED probably better than LCD for power efficiency, but not as good as OLED. Everything I say is based on what I’ve experienced and what I’ve read. Maybe someone has made a more scientific study about the power efficiency of mini-LED on iPad, but as I said it’s difficult to isolate only one factor from the global battery life of the device.

 

[sorgo †]

It is very possible that mini-LED helps somewhat with power efficiency, but it’s hard to tell for sure. M1, 5G, brighter screen (HDR), usage and a little bigger battery are all factors that can help to improve or worsen the battery life compared to the previous gen. So far on my side, it’s very similar to the 2020 iPP, but I have read that it is worse for others.

Also, even with darker blacks, mini-LED can’t achieve the same power efficiency than OLED, because of the dimming zones. Even with 2500 of them, there is still a good amount of backlighting even in dark mode, and that makes the mini-LED probably better than LCD for power efficiency, but not as good as OLED. Everything I say is based on what I’ve experienced and what I’ve read. Maybe someone has made a more scientific study about the power efficiency of mini-LED on iPad, but as I said it’s difficult to isolate only one factor from the global battery life of the device.

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I think for now with this basic theory in mind I will disable automatic light/dark mode-switching and leave dark mode on more or less permanently akin to how I’ve been using my iPhone 12.

 

[collin_]

This is the type of nerdy question I wonder about, too. Smaller LEDs are generally more efficient, so that combined with its ability to essentially turn black regions of the screen off = very high chance that it is more power efficient unless you’re watching HDR content that actually has a max nits value of 1,600 or something. I own this iPad and I still haven’t been able to see what 1,600 nits looks like because most HDR content puts a cap around 1,000. I think viewing video I took with my 12 Pro Max might give me the best shot at this.

This is a bit off-topic but to be honest I have not been impressed with this thing’s battery life. It’s longer than my 16 inch x86 MBP which is a very low bar, but still a lot shorter than my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Much closer to the battery life of the MBP. I was expecting more from a latest-generation Apple mobile device — especially since it’s the larger model. iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 Pro Max battery life is on a whole other level compared to every other device I’ve used.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Given the Liquid Retina XDR’s implementation of Mini-LED with its locally-dimmable backlight zones — almost a cruder version of OLED’s per-pixel lighting technology — is it likely that darker user interfaces/“Dark Mode” might help reduce power draw and extend battery life?

After some unsuccessful internet sleuthing and not seeing any other threads about it I thought I would start one here. I’m sure it’s probably out there somewhere in some engineering journal or something but again I couldn’t find much of anything (there was however this interesting piece from the Optical Society of America about gauging and potentially improving upon the so-called halo effect of HDR mini-LED displays).

Again I’m sure this conversation has already taken place somewhere but regardless: It is my feeling that since the XDR’s mini-LED system uses thousands of individual dimming zones rather than one uniform off-or-on backlight having darker content on-screen should theoretically help with power draw akin to OLED, right?

?

I think it's highly debatable whether or not mini-LED actually drains less battery or more battery.

 

[UBS28]

The battery life of my M1 12.9 (Wifi only) is extremely good. Much better than my previous iPad. So I guess the XDR display is not bad for the battery.

 

[rui no onna]

I think it's highly debatable whether or not mini-LED actually drains less battery or more battery.

I think it depends on display brightness and content. At brightness levels of 0-30%, I was getting much better onscreen battery life from the M1 iPP than any other iPP I’ve used.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

This is the type of nerdy question I wonder about, too. Smaller LEDs are generally more efficient, so that combined with its ability to essentially turn black regions of the screen off = very high chance that it is more power efficient unless you’re watching HDR content that actually has a max nits value of 1,600 or something. I own this iPad and I still haven’t been able to see what 1,600 nits looks like because most HDR content puts a cap around 1,000. I think viewing video I took with my 12 Pro Max might give me the best shot at this.

This is a bit off-topic but to be honest I have not been impressed with this thing’s battery life. It’s longer than my 16 inch x86 MBP which is a very low bar, but still a lot shorter than my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Much closer to the battery life of the MBP. I was expecting more from a latest-generation Apple mobile device — especially since it’s the larger model. iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 Pro Max battery life is on a whole other level compared to every other device I’ve used.

Have u managed to play videos or movies at 1600 nits?

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

This is the type of nerdy question I wonder about, too. Smaller LEDs are generally more efficient, so that combined with its ability to essentially turn black regions of the screen off = very high chance that it is more power efficient unless you’re watching HDR content that actually has a max nits value of 1,600 or something. I own this iPad and I still haven’t been able to see what 1,600 nits looks like because most HDR content puts a cap around 1,000. I think viewing video I took with my 12 Pro Max might give me the best shot at this.

This is a bit off-topic but to be honest I have not been impressed with this thing’s battery life. It’s longer than my 16 inch x86 MBP which is a very low bar, but still a lot shorter than my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Much closer to the battery life of the MBP. I was expecting more from a latest-generation Apple mobile device — especially since it’s the larger model. iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 Pro Max battery life is on a whole other level compared to every other device I’ve used.

How can you tell most HDR content is capped at 1000 nits ? And why is that ?

 

[collin_]

How can you tell most HDR content is capped at 1000 nits ? And why is that ?

Hi 0089294. Sorry it’s taken me so long to respond to your posts. Sadly I don’t think I have managed to watch any 1,600 nit content yet.

I’m not sure about HLG or HDR10+, but I know that HDR10 and Dolby Vision both allow a brightness of 10,000 nits. However, HDR10 content in particular and seemingly and HDR content in general are commonly mastered with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits — at least on platforms like YouTube, Apple TV, and with HDR movie and TV torrents.

Basically, most of the editors mastering HDR videos appear to be capping the brightness at about 1,000 nits most of the time. I am not sure why, but my guess is that it improves compatibility between HDR-capable devices.

This page has additional information.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Hi 0089294. Sorry it’s taken me so long to respond to your posts. Sadly I don’t think I have managed to watch any 1,600 nit content yet.

I’m not sure about HLG or HDR10+, but I know that HDR10 and Dolby Vision both allow a brightness of 10,000 nits. However, HDR10 content in particular and seemingly and HDR content in general are commonly mastered with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits — at least on platforms like YouTube, Apple TV, and with HDR movie and TV torrents.

Basically, most of the editors mastering HDR videos appear to be capping the brightness at about 1,000 nits most of the time. I am not sure why, but my guess is that it improves compatibility between HDR-capable devices.

This page has additional information.

I thought you died tbh

Actually I think you're wrong here.hdr10 doesn't allow 10k nits,only hdr10+ does

I'll send you the link if I find it again,but I have seen that (surprisingly) ,some movies mastered at,say,1000 nits,could go higher than that actually.or movies mastered at 400nits would go up to 800nits .mastering doesn't mean you cap the brightness,it only means you are optimising the colors and dynamic range for that brightness (afaik) .and it would seem that the movie can go higher than the brightness it's been mastered at

In any case,what was tempting me on this MBP really was that sweet display.when I saw that the amount of dimming zones is rather small,I figured it would be counterbalanced by the brightness levels it can reach.if however u can't rly go higher than 1000nits, I'd say oled is definitely FAR superior,as it allows for a better contrast,better shadows,and sima's brightness

 

[collin_]

I thought you died tbh

Actually I think you're wrong here.hdr10 doesn't allow 10k nits,only hdr10+ does

I'll send you the link if I find it again,but I have seen that (surprisingly) ,some movies mastered at,say,1000 nits,could go higher than that actually.or movies mastered at 400nits would go up to 800nits .mastering doesn't mean you cap the brightness,it only means you are optimising the colors and dynamic range for that brightness (afaik) .and it would seem that the movie can go higher than the brightness it's been mastered at

In any case,what was tempting me on this MBP really was that sweet display.when I saw that the amount of dimming zones is rather small,I figured it would be counterbalanced by the brightness levels it can reach.if however u can't rly go higher than 1000nits, I'd say oled is definitely FAR superior,as it allows for a better contrast,better shadows,and sima's brightness

My understand is that selecting the maximum brightness is one of the many things that someone who is mastering HDR content does, but I guess we would need a cinematographer to weigh in to be sure.

PC OLED displays have been really disappointing, but I’m sure Apple would do a great job. My main gripe is that you’re still capped at 500 nits if there’s not HDR content onscreen. They could have at least raised it to 600 to match the miniLED iPad Pro. :s

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

My understand is that selecting the maximum brightness is one of the many things that someone who is mastering HDR content does, but I guess we would need a cinematographer to weigh in to be sure.

PC OLED displays have been really disappointing, but I’m sure Apple would do a great job. My main gripe is that you’re still capped at 500 nits if there’s not HDR content onscreen. They could have at least raised it to 600 to match the miniLED iPad Pro. :s

Ye ,can't find a cinematographer when I need one haha

You mean apple would do a great job at making an oled laptop? There are rumors about double stack OLED but it would surprise me if it comes anytime soon tbh


And yes I agree,I don't really understand why they didn't give it at least 600nits like the iPad...like rly,why not ??

 

[collin_]

Ye ,can't find a cinematographer when I need one haha

You mean apple would do a great job at making an oled laptop? There are rumors about double stack OLED but it would surprise me if it comes anytime soon tbh


And yes I agree,I don't really understand why they didn't give it at least 600nits like the iPad...like rly,why not ??

As much as I would love to see a microLED display, I think the double-stacked OLED is more likely. My guess is that it will debut in 3 years as they usually update the display when they do a major design update which has historically been every 4 years for the MacBook Pro.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

As much as I would love to see a microLED display, I think the double-stacked OLED is more likely. My guess is that it will debut in 3 years as they usually update the display when they do a major design update which has historically been every 4 years for the MacBook Pro.

That's the year the leaker gave ..fwiw.

2025

In the meantime IG the mini led is very good lol ,I'm just unsure how good the contrast is

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Surprise Collin !

UHD Media Mastered at 1000 nits vs. 4000 nits

www.avsforum.com

This website is full of people who seem to know what they are talking about ...I say seem because u can't ever be sure .i linked u a specific comment which I thought will interest you

 

[collin_]

Surprise Collin !

UHD Media Mastered at 1000 nits vs. 4000 nits

www.avsforum.com

This website is full of people who seem to know what they are talking about ...I say seem because u can't ever be sure .i linked u a specific comment which I thought will interest you

That is super helpful thank you! Might torrent some of the super high brightness ones just to take a look

 

[sparksd]

Surprise Collin !

UHD Media Mastered at 1000 nits vs. 4000 nits

www.avsforum.com

This website is full of people who seem to know what they are talking about ...I say seem because u can't ever be sure .i linked u a specific comment which I thought will interest you

It's a great site - been on it for years. Some really knowledgeable people on there.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

That is super helpful thank you! Might torrent some of the super high brightness ones just to take a look

Do let me know how it goes,whether u notice something,a difference,whatever

What are u gonna use to watch it tho?what app/software i mean,since torrents are usually mkv


So u have any infos about dune?I have only found it with HDR10 ,which means it's capped at 1000nits sadly

 

[collin_]

Do let me know how it goes,whether u notice something,a difference,whatever

What are u gonna use to watch it tho?what app/software i mean,since torrents are usually mkv


So u have any infos about dune?I have only found it with HDR10 ,which means it's capped at 1000nits sadly

I use Infuse. Not sure yet but I’m going to try to find something in Dolby Vision.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I use Infuse. Not sure yet but I’m going to try to find something in Dolby Vision.

Sent u a pm btw,you'll see why lol