Future MacBook likely to launch with OLED screen

Jun 24, 2019 07:42 GMT  ·  By

Apple is reportedly in talks with Samsung over OLED screens that would be used on a brand-new MacBook model launching later this year or in 2020.

While specifics are missing at this point, a report from Korean site ETNews reveals that Apple and Samsung are currently negotiating such plans after the Cupertino-based tech giant ordered fewer OLED panels for the iPhone than mentioned in the supply agreement.

Samsung is the supplier for OLED screens for iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max.

But because these iPhone models failed to reach the estimated sales figures, Apple ended up ordering fewer panels than originally anticipated, so it should now pay millions of dollars to Samsung in the form of a penalty because the terms of the agreement were breached.

The Cupertino-based tech giant, however, has been looking into several alternatives, and one of them includes pledging to an exclusive OLED supply deal that would have Samsung build such panels for MacBooks and iPads.

In other words, these two devices would soon use OLED screens too, and given the previous reports on Apple’s hardware plans, the Cupertino is now expected to launch a MacBook with a display featuring OLED tech and measuring between 16 inches to 16.5 inches.

Full switch to OLED

By moving the MacBook and iPad lineups to OLED, Apple would get a step closer to a complete transition to this type of display tech. OLED was first used on the Apple Watch and later on the iPhone. Beginning with 2020, all iPhones are expected to use OLED.

At the same time, with a bigger screen and OLED, the MacBook would boost its hardware arsenal when comparing the device with Microsoft’s Surface lineup and other high-end laptops.

While the software giant keeps insisting for touch-capable devices, a capability that Apple is not interested in, Surface models still use LCD screens, with no plans to switch to OLED in the short term.

OLEDs allow manufacturers to make their devices thinner and lighter, and the substrate can be flexible, which itself allows for a series of advantages. An OLED screen is also brighter and does not need back-lighting, thus requiring less power, which in turn means longer battery life.

How Microsoft will improve the Surface lineup is something that remains to be seen, but in the meantime, Apple seems to be very serious about overhauling its MacBook lineup as soon as possible without even using the touch approach that Microsoft has spearheaded.