MacBook Pro Won't Switch to OLED Display Next Year, Two Analysts Say

[MacRumors]

While it has been rumored that the MacBook Pro will eventually get an OLED display, two analysts believe that change won't happen next year.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and display industry analyst Ross Young today both predicted that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will continue to use mini-LED displays in 2025. This lines up with previous rumors that have claimed the MacBook Pro will switch to OLED display technology as early as 2026.

Compared to current MacBook Pro models with LCD screens, benefits of OLED technology would include increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more. The switch to OLED displays could also contribute to future MacBook Pro models having a thinner design.

The next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips are rumored to be announced in October, with no design changes expected. Apple last redesigned the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021, and the latest models with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips were released last October.

Article Link: MacBook Pro Won't Switch to OLED Display Next Year, Two Analysts Say

 

[coffeemilktea]

I wonder why it's taking so long... other brands like Asus, Dell, and Lenovo already have laptops with OLED screens. Is there just some super-secret sauce that Apple insists on adding to theirs that makes it impossible to just use whatever screen technology already exists? 🤔

 

[Kylo83]

Honestly what’s going on with Apple, after the AirPods max having nothing, and all designs not changing year after year, now the MacBooks, I have the M1 Max MacBook Pro 16 and 4 years in and all we get is chip bump each year; how about removing the notch or make it lighter or something; it’s like Apple doesn’t have any design team anymore. This is poor

 

[Isengardtom]

I wonder why it's taking so long... other brands like Asus, Dell, and Lenovo already have laptops with OLED screens. Is there just some super-secret sauce that Apple insists on adding to theirs that makes it impossible to just use whatever screen technology already exists? 🤔

They probably want good brightness so tandem OLED + keeping their margins. I suspect the screen tech is too expensive for such large panels

 

[Kazgarth]

Almost every high end Windows laptop has OLED screen.

What are they waiting for?

 

[Kylo83]

I wonder why it's taking so long... other brands like Asus, Dell, and Lenovo already have laptops with OLED screens. Is there just some super-secret sauce that Apple insists on adding to theirs that makes it impossible to just use whatever screen technology already exists? 🤔

Yeah and the iPads have the tandom oled why can’t they use that in the MacBooks. The chip upgrades don’t help with sales much when the M1 Max can get all the ai and is still overkill in many tasks

 

[Account25476]

After it took them 4 years to pick 5 colors and add a USB-C port to the AirPods Max, it will take at least 5 more years to put an OLED on a Mac.

Meanwhile, the customer keeps paying.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Of course not

Apple has stopped worrying about making the best products they can

It's now just a big product/price tiering and Services rent extraction operation

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

What's more profitable for Apple: reuse the same old technology that "we" will "just buy anyway" or adopt the newer, more expensive technology that we will also buy but make less profit for AAPL? If the money is going to readily change hands anyway, I presume AAPL is clinging to the "most profitable" choice.

Windows PCs generally lack Apple's fat margins courtesy of intense competition. So they can put in a superior technology like OLED screens and still be priced below MBs. How? By not demanding such a big cut of each transaction as profit. And all that competition presses them to try to out-FAB each other in pursuit of more volume vs. maximize profit per unit sold to a relatively small number of buyers.

Apple can just do what modern Apple does: prioritize profit above all else. They know "we" will buy anyway. Throw us a bone with a new case color or other visible but barely meaningful benefit beyond an immediate reaction.

If we want big, (r)evolutionary changes, we- as a group- have to speak the only language modern Apple will hear: opt to NOT buy and they'll "try harder." Else, complain/whine/gripe but buy anyway and seller is doing exactly the right thing: maximizing profit for shareholders.

 

[The Game 161]

2026 is about right

 

[neuropsychguy]

I have the M1 Max MacBook Pro 16 and 4 years in

Is that a bad thing? What you have is still working well and you're getting longevity out of it (although it's really 3 years, not 4). Sounds like an excellent situation to be in. Would OLED by itself be reason to upgrade?

Apple does not only wait on some things for financial reasons. There are still concerns about color accuracy of OLED versus IPS. Also, how many high quality 14 and 16" OLED screens are there that reach 600 nits SDR brightness, 1000 nits full-screen XDR, and 1600 nits peak HDR? This is a serious question. The iPad Pro with OLED screen hits that, but it's a maximum of 13". Until they can be mass produced to Apple’s standards at the sizes and resolution required, it’s hard to put them in laptops.

OLED also has the potential for uneven wear over time (that can happen with all LED, but OLED appears to be more affected). This might happen outside the realistic lifespan of the computer, but OLED can age more quickly in direct sunlight or in the context of higher heat than LED will. Again, the effects might take longer than many people will use a device, but it's not as simple as OLED are better and Apple is not designing or doing anything new.

There are companies that publicly throw things against the wall to see what sticks. Then there are other companies that are methodical in line with a larger vision. Apple is more methodical.

 

[now i see it]

But I want to stare at a display outputting square waves now!

 

[RedTheReader]

I have the M1 Max MacBook Pro 16 and 4 years in and all we get is chip bump each year

Slight correction, the M1 Max was released a little under 3 years ago, not 4 years ago. I see your frustration though.

 

[n-evo]

If OLED translates to another steep price increase they can keep it. I’m pretty satisfied with the current mini-LED panels tbh.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Apple has stopped worrying about making the best products they can

I’m sure their engineers have the designs, plans and probably prototypes ready in their labs, but…

Is there just some super-secret sauce that Apple insists on adding to theirs that makes it impossible to just use whatever screen technology already exists?

After Timmy has gathered the figures from his quarterly tour through the labs and run them through their anticipated gross margin calculator, he arrived at the conclusion:

“They’re designing it wrong”

 

[aussy]

Honestly what’s going on with Apple, after the AirPods max having nothing, and all designs not changing year after year, now the MacBooks, I have the M1 Max MacBook Pro 16 and 4 years in and all we get is chip bump each year; how about removing the notch or make it lighter or something; it’s like Apple doesn’t have any design team anymore. This is poor

not really sure how you got "4 years in". I bought my m1 max 16inch as soon as they were announced (oct 2021). so as of writing this, it has been 2 years and 11 months. How does 2 years and 11 months translate to "4 years in" ???

 

[BB8]

looks like my 2021 M1 is going to live another year then

 

[maka344]

I want an Air with OLED!

 

[terminator-jq]

If they are bringing tandem OLED to MacBook Pro, I say let them cook! It’s a great experience on iPad (literally the only thing that made me update from my 2018 iPad Pro) and has clear advantages over standard OLED. I’d rather they take their time to ensure the durability and longevity we need for a laptop.

Not to mention 2026 lines up about right with a 5 year generation.

 

[nicolas_s]

I wonder why it's taking so long... other brands like Asus, Dell, and Lenovo already have laptops with OLED screens. Is there just some super-secret sauce that Apple insists on adding to theirs that makes it impossible to just use whatever screen technology already exists? 🤔

No thanks, I don't want these weak 400 nits displays in a Pro laptop.

 

[hoodlum90]

This would mean the Macbook Pro design change won't happen with the M5 2nm chip in 2025, as a thinner design needs the OLED display to be integrated for thinner battery and the benefits of longer battery life.

 

[Kylo83]

not really sure how you got "4 years in". I bought my m1 max 16inch as soon as they were announced (oct 2021). so as of writing this, it has been 2 years and 11 months. How does 2 years and 11 months translate to "4 years in" ???

I mean when the 2025 update comes out would have been 4 years

 

[VisceralRealist]

This would mean the Macbook Pro design change won't happen with the M5 2nm chip in 2025, as a thinner design needs the OLED display to be integrated for thinner battery and the benefits of longer battery life.

Maybe...but five years is a long time with no redesign. I'm still expecting a redesign in 2025, even if the panel remains the same.

 

[czoli]

What's more profitable for Apple: reuse the same old technology that "we" will "just buy anyway" or adopt the newer, more expensive technology that we will buy? If the money is going to change hands anyway, I presume AAPL is clinging to the "most profitable" choice.

Windows PCs generally lack Apples fat margins courtesy of intense competition. So they can put in a superior technology like OLED screens and still be priced below MBs. How? By not demanding such a big cut of each transaction as profit. And all that competition presses them to try to out-FAB each other in pursuit of more volume vs. maximize profit per unit sold to a relatively small number of buyers.

Apple can just do what modern Apple does: prioritize profit above all else. They know "we" will buy anyway. Throw us a bone with a new case color or other visible but barely meaningful benefit beyond an immediate reaction.

If we want big, (r)evolutionary changes, we- as a group- have to speak the only language modern Apple will hear: opt to NOT buy and they'll "try harder." Else, complain/whine/gripe but buy anyway and seller is doing exactly the right thing: maximizing profit for shareholders.

keep buying ..... then

 

[SpotOnT]

Almost every high end Windows laptop has OLED screen.

What are they waiting for?

And how long do those displays last with any color accuracy?

A lot of people keep their MacBooks for 5+ years. Apple needs to screen that can last that long without too much degradation.