A new report from Korean website The Elec claims that Apple will replace the current LCD displays on their laptops and iPads with OLED screens by 2025. The outlet says Apple originally planned to debut the tech on its laptop range in 2025, but now the date is likely postponed. The iPad range, on the other hand, could get OLED screens in late 2024.
MacBook Pro With Double-Layer OLED Panels
The flagship 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models are said to be the first models to get the new OLED screens. They will reportedly get the double-layer panel, which means both sides of the panels will have their own OLED panels. On the other hand, the 11-inch MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Air will get OLED screens on their displays only on the top.
“It is expected that OLED panels for the MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro will be used in their upper parts, which makes the top parts less prone to cracking or cracking at the corners, compared to the current LCD panels. The use of OLED panels in the top parts is also expected to be conducive to reducing the weight of the MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro,” the report said.
The Future of Computing
Unfortunately, the report does not clarify which of the devices will be upgraded to OLED screens. It also does not specify how many OLED screens each product line will get. So it is possible that Apple will keep the LCDs around for a while, even though the new devices will only have OLED displays.
Why Apple Is Doing This
Apple has already been testing out OLED screens on its laptops, but they have yet to be implemented on the lineup. According to the report, Apple is looking to cut down its reliance on Samsung, the supplier of the displays for the previous MacBook Pro models. The report says Apple is set to source the screens from LG, and the company has already started tests on the new screens.
The Future of Laptops and Tablets
The report says Apple has invested around $10 billion in research and development of new components and OLED technology. Apple has been rumored to be working on a radical new laptop design since at least 2016. The alleged prototypes of the hybrid Macbook Pro-tablet laptop were said to have a larger screen, thinner bezels, a smaller form factor, and almost no physical keyboard. It seems those plans have been ditched in favor of the smaller form factor and sharper screens expected on Apple’s iPhones this year.
The update has already been rumored to bring a redesign of the MacBook Air, but a radical new laptop design would likely be the biggest thing to change. The idea of an iPhone in your lap would be impressive but most laptops are simply far too big and clunky for everyday use.
Conclusion
There are many factors that make a decision on OLED more complicated than it might appear on the surface. First, it would be very different to what Apple has done before with displays. The company has always put a high priority on making the displays itself as small as possible. OLED panels are known for their extreme size, which makes it much easier for Apple to pack them in on the laptop range but significantly more difficult for Apple to fit them into iPads and iPhones, where the displays have to be much larger to offer the necessary screen property. It’s a case of compromise. Apple can achieve it, but it means that the devices would end up looking rather different from what they look today.
