OLED Displays At Apple Would Take 3 Years

Apple’s iPhones and the Apple Watch have long had OLED displays, which have advantages over LCD. However, other Apple products will probably have to do without the technology for a few more years. The introduction of the MacBook and iPad is slow.

The OLED thing on Mac and iPad is still taking some time

Years ago there were initial reports that Apple would like to use OLED in other products such as the iPhone and the Apple Watch. The problem: The company has no suppliers who can provide the necessary capacities and sizes. According to the usually well-informed specialist Ross Young, CEO of the research company Display Supply Chain Consultants, it will be years before MacBooks and iPads can be offered with OLED. Exception: The iPad Pro.

Speaking to Bloomberg as MacRumors reported, Young explains that Apple is currently still working with its supply chain partners to build mass production of laptop-sized OLED panels. Since these complex logistical processes can only be accelerated to a limited extent, he expects that MacBook Pro models with OLED displays will not come onto the market before 2026.

Young sees an almost identical schedule for the iPad Air and iPad mini. Here too, Apple will probably take until 2026 to make the switch to OLED displays, so LCD technology will still be used for the next two years.

The expert agrees with previous rumors that at least one Apple device will have an OLED panel as early as next year. Accordingly, Apple is probably ready to use the display technology in the next generation of iPad Pro models, which are scheduled to come onto the market in 2024.

For the iPhone and Apple Watch, on the other hand, there will be a move away from OLED in the next few years; Apple is said to be planning to use MicroLED here. However, this change will probably only be heralded in 2025 with the Apple Watch. It will be interesting to see how display technology in Apple products develops in the coming years.