Here’s When to Expect Apple’s First OLED MacBook
OLED is a fantastic display technology . Unlike LCD displays, which use a single backlight for all pixels, all the pixels on an OLED display can be individually backlit or turned off completely. This means dark areas of the screen are pitch black, while brighter areas can be selectively illuminated. It looks absolutely stunning, and I always try to choose it whenever possible.
OLED technology isn’t new, yet Apple has been slow to implement it in its products, especially compared to some of its competitors. The company’s first device with OLED displays was the Apple Watch in 2015, followed by the iPhone X in 2017, while all Samsung Galaxy models have featured AMOLED displays since the line’s introduction in 2010. For a long time, the iPhone remained the only product line with OLED displays until the iPad Pro M4.
Beyond these products, Apple typically chooses alternative display types for its devices. The company still uses LCD displays in some products, such as the iMac, MacBook Air, and most iPads. More premium devices, such as the MacBook Pro, use mini-LED with multiple backlight zones. This gives these devices higher contrast than the single-backlight LCDs, but not as high as OLED. For example, I prefer watching TV shows and movies on an iPad with mini-LED than on an iMac’s LCD display, but I always prefer an OLED TV.
Apple’s OLED Roadmap
As it turns out, Apple may introduce new OLED displays in the future. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman , Apple is working on implementing OLED displays in more of its devices. Gurman says the company is currently testing the technology on the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPad Air, which now ship with LCD displays. Additionally, the company is reportedly working on an OLED MacBook Pro , which may also feature a touchscreen.
Before you get too excited about the OLED MacBook, it’s worth noting that Apple will likely begin rolling out OLED displays with iPads, specifically the iPad mini. Gurman’s sources say the OLED mini will launch next year, marking the first update to the series since 2024. While I’d love to buy a Mac with an OLED display, this could be a great excuse to upgrade to the iPad mini, which I’ve long considered Apple’s most exciting device.
Gurman isn’t sure when Apple will add an OLED display to the iPad Air, but it won’t be in the next update. The next-generation iPad Air will likely launch this spring and feature an LCD display. The same goes for the MacBook Air M5 . While Apple is testing an OLED display for the Air, the next model will launch this spring with the same display technology as the M4. A MacBook Air with an OLED display likely won’t hit stores until 2028 .
If you buy any Mac Apple sells with an OLED display, you’ll likely buy a Pro. This OLED MacBook Pro might even feature a touchscreen , a first for Apple’s Mac lineup. This computer could launch as early as 2026, but Apple could push the release date to 2027.
However, adding OLED displays to products won’t come cheap. Gurman speculates that Apple could raise the price of the iPad mini by $100, which would lower the starting price from $499 to $599. When MacBook Pros with OLED displays are released, they will likely be even more expensive than the current Pro models, by at least several hundred dollars. Prices for these devices start at $1,999 (14-inch model) and $2,499 (16-inch model), so their OLED touchscreen counterparts could cost more.
You probably shouldn’t wait for these devices to arrive if you need to upgrade.
If you’re holding off on buying new Apple devices until the company updates them with OLED displays, you’ll have to wait a while—at least for anything other than the iPad mini. I’d recommend waiting for that device, but you might have to wait for the others. If you really need an upgrade, Apple’s current iPad Pros come with OLED displays, and the mini-LED technology in the MacBook Pro is also excellent. But even the LCD displays on Apple devices look pretty good. If you don’t mind backlighting for dark elements on the screen, the iPad Air or MacBook Air are perfectly fine.