OLED MacBook Air pushed back to 2029, but MacBook Pro on schedule for 2026

Jump to First Reply
AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited February 11

A new supply chain report claims that Apple is continuing to plan OLED screens for the MacBook Pro in 2026, but has further delayed an OLED MacBook Air.

Open laptop on a desk showing a blue abstract design on the screen, set against a softly lit background.
MacBook Air



Backing up recent rumors that an OLED MacBook Air will not be released until 2028 at the earliest, a new report says it will now be 2029. Unsurprisingly, the report claims that the higher-cost MacBook Pro will be first to get this improved display, but it too backs up rumors of a 2026 release for this model.

According to The Elec, Samsung Display is adding a second depositor, the production line equipment needed for OLED screens. The existing first depositor is believed to be dedicated to producing OLED screens for the MacBook Pro, while Samsung Display looks for other customers for this second line.

It's implied that Samsung Display may have expected to need a second depositor to meet demand from Apple for an OLED MacBook Air. Samsung Display's total OLED capacity using the two depositors is believed to be 10 million units annually, but Apple is expected to ship only between 3 million and 5 million MacBook Pro models.

While Apple has reportedly pushed back an OLED MacBook Air to 2029, the same report claims that this device will see a screen update in 2027. Specifically, the MacBook Air will move to an improved LCD panel using Oxide TFT technology.

It's claimed that this technology offers sharper images than the current anopholytic silicone (a-Si) TFT technology. It's said that this move will bring faster performance in scrolling, and also improve power efficiency.

Samsung Display and BOE are both constructing production lines for the New MacBook Air screens. Separately, BOE is said to be making flexible smartphone OLED screens, specifically because of the change to the MacBook Air order.

It's previously been reported that one reason for Apple delaying the OLED MacBook Air is the cost of production. However, it's also believed that the OLED iPad Pro failed to prompt the strong upgrade cycle that Apple had expected.

Apple may also be looking to create more daylight between the lower-cost MacBook Air and the more expensive MacBook Pro. When it launched the OLED iPad Pro, Apple brought a larger screen to the iPad Air, which may have cannibalized sales of the more costly model.

Note that The Elec is generally a decent source of supply chain information. It tends to be less accurate in its conclusions about Apple's plans based on that information, however.

Rumor Score: Likely

Read on AppleInsider

cubeover

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 9
    Cesar Battistini Mazierocesar battistini maziero Posts: 434member
    I don't think screen quality is bad on the air. 

    The baseline people won't care, Apple needs to make it thinner.
    tht
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 9
    apple4thewinapple4thewin Posts: 422member
    I know Apple will use a high quality OLED panel but how much does it differ from current offerings like the Asus Rog Zephyrus?
    williamlondon
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 9
    cubeovercubeover Posts: 32member
    I would very much like an IGZO display with 120Hz in the macbook air m4.
    That would be an immediate order of the top specced Air.
    I have seen and used such displays for years now and consider them superior for my usage (excludes super-bright outdoors use).
    Otherwise the current Air displays are inferior to my Dell XPS 2-in-1 from 2019 which offers darker blacks (no backlight blue bleed) and richer color palette.
    williamlondon
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 9
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,551moderator
    I know Apple will use a high quality OLED panel but how much does it differ from current offerings like the Asus Rog Zephyrus?
    The display in the iPad Pro uses tandem OLED, dual layer for double the brightness and longer lifespan (reduced burn-in). Peak brightness is 1000 nits, 1600 nits HDR. Asus laptops are 500 nits.

    https://www.techradar.com/tablets/ipad-pro/the-ipad-pro-2024s-new-tandem-oled-screen-explained-why-its-important-and-why-it-took-so-long-to-come

    This would be better than mini-LED in current MBPs, which have a backlight flicker when changing between SDR and HDR brightness.

    It would be nice to have on the Air too, even if it was a premium BTO ($100-200) option.

    LG has been pushing QNED displays recently as an alternative to OLED, they are closer to mini-LED with smaller LEDs. They offer similar quality to OLED at a lower price but every other technology just seems like a compromise vs OLED. The mainstream Air model might have supply issues for OLED as it would sell 10m+ units but as a BTO option, it would be ok. The MBPs have lower unit volume.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 9
    yyzguyyyzguy Posts: 55member
    Cesar Battistini Maziero said:
    I don't think screen quality is bad on the air. 

    The baseline people won't care, Apple needs to make it thinner.
    I agree.  I have the M3 MBA and don’t care.  Display is fine.  I prefer a good value at a lower price than a fancy more expensive display.  
    nubuswilliamlondon
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 9
    thttht Posts: 5,891member
    Cesar Battistini Maziero said:
    I don't think screen quality is bad on the air. 

    The baseline people won't care, Apple needs to make it thinner.
    Yeah. If you compare the iPad Air and iPad Pro side by side in the Apple Store, it is very hard to tell the difference. The deep blacks, high contrast, 120 Hz, just hard to tell in the Apple Store. 
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 9
    nubusnubus Posts: 779member
    yyzguy said:
    I don't think screen quality is bad on the air. 

    The baseline people won't care, Apple needs to make it thinner.
    I agree.  I have the M3 MBA and don’t care.  Display is fine.  I prefer a good value at a lower price than a fancy more expensive display.  
    MBA M3 is a very nice computer (using one right now...) and I much prefer it to my MBP 14" due to weight and balance. Also like the price and I don't need more display quality. But staying on LED beyond 2029 won't work. Dell is already shipping Tandem OLED in what used to be XPS. I do hope Apple will ship MBP M5 with OLED as an option.
    williamlondon
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 9
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,551moderator
    tht said:
    Cesar Battistini Maziero said:
    I don't think screen quality is bad on the air. 

    The baseline people won't care, Apple needs to make it thinner.
    Yeah. If you compare the iPad Air and iPad Pro side by side in the Apple Store, it is very hard to tell the difference. The deep blacks, high contrast, 120 Hz, just hard to tell in the Apple Store. 
    In controlled lighting, the IPS displays hold up pretty well and the black levels are better than old IPS displays but there are times where the difference is clearer to see, the black background looks more grey on IPS and stands out against the bezel:





    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOAbFAca0OU&t=325s

    Once you get used to either mini-LED or OLED with the improved black levels and color depth, especially red, the cheaper display types start to look like how TN panels used to look compared to IPS.

    Raising the entry price isn't needed because the IPS displays will suffice for most people but it would be ok to offer a higher quality display at a higher price for people who want the best experience for videos, photos, games, artwork etc. When people use the display every day for years, an extra $100-200 is not so expensive for the extra quality and faster response times.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 9 of 9
    thttht Posts: 5,891member
    Marvin said:
    tht said:
    Cesar Battistini Maziero said:
    I don't think screen quality is bad on the air. 

    The baseline people won't care, Apple needs to make it thinner.
    Yeah. If you compare the iPad Air and iPad Pro side by side in the Apple Store, it is very hard to tell the difference. The deep blacks, high contrast, 120 Hz, just hard to tell in the Apple Store. 
    In controlled lighting, the IPS displays hold up pretty well and the black levels are better than old IPS displays but there are times where the difference is clearer to see, the black background looks more grey on IPS and stands out against the bezel:





    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOAbFAca0OU&t=325s

    Once you get used to either mini-LED or OLED with the improved black levels and color depth, especially red, the cheaper display types start to look like how TN panels used to look compared to IPS.

    Raising the entry price isn't needed because the IPS displays will suffice for most people but it would be ok to offer a higher quality display at a higher price for people who want the best experience for videos, photos, games, artwork etc. When people use the display every day for years, an extra $100-200 is not so expensive for the extra quality and faster response times.
    I think the iPad Pro OLED is worth it. Plan on getting it as I tend to use my iPP10.5 in bed, in darkness a lot.

    But if you didn't label those images and did a blind test asking people which is which, I don't think people can tell the difference, especially the soda image, where the iPA display seems really saturated. Easier to tell the difference. Easier to tell if you know what to look for. For the mass market, I don't think that know. This makes the iPP harder to sell in the retail store.

    So, I think the iPP has to go to ~12.5 and ~13.5 to make it obviously different.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
Sign In or Register to comment.