Foreign technology media 9to5Mac recently took stock of information related to the MacBook notebook lineup with OLED panels. The report points out that the first product with an OLED panel is the MacBook Air, which Apple is expected to launch in 2024.
Why did Apple choose OLED?
Apple’s MacBook lineup currently uses both LCD and mini-LED panel materials. The MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro use LCD screens; the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro use mini-LED screens.
Apple plans to change the iPad Pro panel material from mini-LED to OLED next year, while the MacBook is slightly different.
The first MacBook device with an OLED panel
Rose Young, CEO of screen supply chain consulting firm DSCC, said the first MacBook to switch to an OLED display will be the MacBook Air, while the MacBook Pro will continue to use mini-LED panels in the coming years.
Ross Young said Apple plans to launch new MacBook Air 13-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch models with OLED displays in 2024.
Ross Young did not share additional details, but earlier this year he said all three devices will have “two layers” of OLED displays with two red, green and blue emitting layers to increase brightness and reduce power consumption. Ross Young previously said that all three devices will also support ProMotion, which allows for refresh rates of up to 120Hz.
Another senior analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, also said Samsung Display (SDC) plans to significantly boost OLED panel shipments for laptops in 2023, aiming for a 70% YoY increase to 6-7 million units in 2023.
Kuo explained why Apple chose the MacBook Air over the MacBook Pro. Kuo said, “Laptops with OLEDs offer the advantage of being thinner and lighter than mini-LEDs, and offer more diverse form factor options.
Being thin and light is far more important for the MacBook Air than it is for the MacBook Pro. This allows Apple to focus on upgrading the display technology in the MacBook Air before choosing to upgrade to the MacBook Pro.
The report also says Apple will use “tandem stack” OLED panel technology. This technology can extend the life of the display, improve power efficiency and increase brightness.
