MacBook’s future is looking bright: First OLED model to release in 2024

Screen technology is advancing rapidly and this is bringing about more affordable products. For instance, OLED screens that were once only seen in high-end smartphones, can now be found in mid-range phones, laptops, and PC monitors. So, when can we expect Apple to adopt OLED technology in its MacBook models, given that it is already using this technology in iPhones? Here are the details…

First OLED MacBook in 2024?

According to analysts, Apple is expected to release its first OLED MacBook by the end of 2024 at the earliest. Display analyst Ross Young had previously stated that it was “looking increasingly likely” that a MacBook with an OLED display would be released in 2024, with the possibility of it being a 13-inch MacBook Air or MacBook Pro model. However, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since stated that this is not a certainty and that the launch date may not be until after 2024.

Apple’s journey with display technology began with IPS LCDs with conventional backlighting, which are still used in older Macs and cheaper iPhones. They then transitioned to miniLED technology, which is still IPS LCD, but with smaller LED backlighting for more precise control of the backlighting. The company first adopted OLED technology in the Apple Watch before bringing it to the iPhone with the iPhone X.

Apple is also expected to transition to MicroLED technology, a more advanced version of OLED that is brighter, more power-efficient, and does not suffer from burn-in. This technology is expected to come to the Apple Watch first, followed by the iPhone, iPad, and Macs in that order. A report has also suggested that a top-end Apple Watch with MicroLED display will be released next year.

OLED MacBooks are expected to have the advantage of being thinner and lighter, and offering more diverse form factor design options, like folding. Additionally, they will help drive the trend of OLED laptops in the industry. The company is also reportedly planning to start developing its own displays for iPhone and Apple Watch, with the latter expected to begin the move to MicroLED next year.