Apple likely won’t launch any MacBook Pro models boasting OLED displays for at least three years, says Ross Young, CEO of research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants.
Young’s comments came during a display-related webinar with Bloomberg Intelligence’s Woo Jin Ho. Young said it will be a few years until Apple’s supply chain partners can build out their manufacturing lines to handle mass production of laptop-sized OLED panels, so he estimates that MacBook Pro models with OLED displays won’t debut until 2026 or 2027.
OLED technology offers several advantages over LCD tech, including increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more.
Young also mentioned that the first OLED iPad Pro models are expected to launch in 2024, before committing to using the new display panels for the iPad mini and iPad Air. The new iPad Pro is expected to boast larger OLED displays, the M3 chip, and support for a redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory.
Apple is currently seeking more suppliers for OLED displays designed for the iPad. The OLED panels are due to be provided by LG and Samsung.
The next-generation iPad Pro is expected to launch in 2024 and be the first major update to the product since 2018.