OLED MacBook Air Reportedly Now in Development as Apple Plans to Bring New Display Technology to Multiple Product Lines

Samsung Display is developing a 13.3-inch OLED panel for a future MacBook Air model amid plans to switch several of Apple's product lines to the display technology, The Elec reports.

macbook air spacegray purple
LG Display is apparently developing OLED displays for both of the next-generation iPad Pro models in 11- and 13-inch sizes, and lacks sufficient production capacity for the ‌MacBook Air‌, leading Apple to choose Samsung for the device instead. Samsung Display is also purportedly developing an 11-inch OLED panel for a future iPad model planned for launch next year, suggesting that it could take a share of the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ orders from LG.

Apple apparently plans to sequentially introduce new ‌iPad Pro‌, MacBook Pro, and ‌MacBook Air‌ models with OLED displays. The Elec is unsure when the OLED ‌MacBook Air‌ will be released, but suggests it could be around two years away due to Apple's product development timescales. Display analyst Ross Young has previously said that he expects a ‌MacBook Air‌ with an OLED panel to launch as soon as 2024.

It is believed that Apple originally wanted Samsung Display to supply a 10.86-inch OLED panel for a future iPad Air model, which would have been its first OLED ‌iPad‌, before the project was scrapped due to the single stack panel's price and quantity issues, as well as concerns around the need to differentiate the iPad Air from the ‌iPad Pro‌. Apple is now said to have moved to a more reliable two-stack OLED panel that is expected to debut on the ‌iPad Pro‌ next year.

The Elec also claims that the project to develop an 13.3-inch OLED panel for a ‌MacBook Air‌ is also effectively a test for mass production of OLED panels for future ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Battery Capacity and Weight Allegedly Revealed

Monday May 19, 2025 2:22 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the camera's overall design and thinness, we haven't heard any details about the device's weight and battery capacity until now. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air has a weight ...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
WWDC 2025 Banner

Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a more detailed schedule for its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 9 through June 13. The schedule confirms that Apple's keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16,...
Apple Intelligence General Feature

Report: Apple's Next-Gen Version of Siri Is 'On Par' With ChatGPT

Monday May 19, 2025 9:00 am PDT by
Apple has big plans to improve Siri over the next few years, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett report. Some Apple executives are now reportedly pushing to turn Siri into a true ChatGPT competitor. A next-generation, chatbot version of Siri has reportedly made significant progress during testing over the past six months; some executives allegedly now see it as "on par" with recent...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Apple Will Reportedly Be More Cautious About Announcing New Features Well in Advance

Sunday May 18, 2025 2:50 pm PDT by
Apple plans to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett. The pair of reporters revealed this noteworthy tidbit towards the bottom of a lengthy report about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings today. This alleged change in strategy comes after Apple was forced to delay its more...

Top Rated Comments

Joelj Avatar
28 months ago
Please keep a non OLED range for users it gives headaches, otherwise I'm stuck on M2 Air and iPhone 11 for the foreseeable future.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
krspkbl Avatar
28 months ago
yes!!

a 15" OLED Air is the perfect device. i know this is just saying 13.3" but if the 15" rumors are true it will come to that too at some point.


Please keep a non OLED range for users it gives headaches, otherwise I'm stuck on M2 Air and iPhone 11 for the foreseeable future.
you'll be stuck buying cheap/entry level Apple products. OLED is going to be on iPads and Macs soon enough. you must be in the minority because OLED is everywhere. it's quite difficult to buy any modern phone without OLED lol.

OLED is the best display tech out. You'll be waiting a LONG time for MicroLED iPhones.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Leon Ze Professional Avatar
28 months ago
H'mmm never once did they allude to a 15 inch OLED Macbook Air? ?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MayaUser Avatar
28 months ago

Mini LED ain't accurate lol.


It's Apple...

Any excuse to bump up the price. They 100% will increase price for OLED.
compared to micro Led, of course not..but compared to the standard lcd and oled...are far more accurate for professional use...
In our use for Maya 3d modelling Oled are a joke
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vagos Avatar
28 months ago

go ask your dad or mom
Who cares about other people? I care about what I can have! And I care about oled!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Barron Avatar
28 months ago
I am ready for a new 15" MBA. Bring it! :)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)