OLED MacBook Pro still has to wait several years
Apple’s inaugural iPad Pro model, graced with an OLED screen, is anticipated to debut in 2024. This advancement is projected to subsequently cascade onto the iPad Air and iPad mini models. Rumors are rife that Apple has entered negotiations with tech behemoths, Samsung and LG, with aspirations to commence mass production by the close of 2025, followed by a grand release in 2026. Apple’s ambitions are not confined to merely introducing OLED technology to its iPad range; the MacBook product line is also on the horizon. Whispers concerning Apple’s endeavors in crafting an OLED-laden MacBook Pro have been circulating for a while now.
According to Bloomberg, though Apple ostensibly perceives mini-LED as merely a transitional technology, a complete transition to OLED might be on a more protracted timeline. At present, Apple’s supply chain lacks the requisite infrastructure for such production lines, implying that an OLED MacBook Pro might remain an aspiration for several more years. Earlier speculations hinted at Apple potentially postponing its OLED MacBook Pro launch, shifting its release from 2026 to perhaps 2027.
While OLED boasts superior response times and contrast ratios, its manufacturing costs are significantly steeper. The market is already replete with OLED monitors, televisions, and devices sporting OLED displays, though the quality of these displays can vary considerably. Apple has perennially maintained stringent standards for its screens, which might result in a selection of panels that command even higher production costs.
Moreover, of late, the MacBook product line has witnessed a subdued sales performance. Consequently, Apple has curtailed its panel procurement, casting a shadow on future product strategies. For Apple, a transition to new panels demands substantial market demand as an underpinning. Unless specific purchasing quantities are achieved and cost objectives met, Apple remains unlikely to transition hastily.
