Apple’s OLED MacBook Pro appears to be one step closer to launch. According to a Korean blog post, production of OLED panels for the alleged MacBook models has already begun, from none other than Samsung.
What’s even more interesting is that the display manufacturing process is reportedly running ahead of schedule (originally scheduled for the second quarter of this year). If that’s true, Apple has already finalized the display technology, size and other specifications, in time for the rumored launch in 2026.
The manufacturing breakthrough behind Apple’s OLED Macs
The blog post mentions that Samsung’s display division has started “mass production of the 8.6th generation OLED panels” at the modern production line in Asan, South Korea. The assembly line uses larger glass substrates (compared to those used for smartphone OLEDs), allowing Samsung to cut multiple laptop-sized panels from a single sheet.
This would help the company improve manufacturing efficiency and production yield and reduce overall costs, all crucial factors for a company that makes OLED laptop panels. Using the new manufacturing technology, the assembly line will produce advanced tandem OLED laptop panels (with support for touch input).
We’ve already seen the technology on Apple’s latest generation iPad Pro models. It features two layers of OLED panels stacked on top of each other, resulting in higher peak brightness (especially compared to single-layer OLED panels) and lower power consumption. In addition, using two panels instead of one also increases the lifespan of the screen.
The tipster also mentions that “the first shipment in this series will be for the new Apple MacBook Pro,” implying that Apple has been negotiating with Samsung to ship panel units for its OLED MacBooks first. However, this also means the panels could appear on other laptops (likely after the company fulfills its initial commitment to Apple).
If you’ve been waiting for an OLED MacBook Pro, you should be able to get your hands on one by the end of this year. Since the company is rumored to launch the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models by the end of January, the next OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro is likely to be based on an M6 chip.
