OLED MacBook Pro Could Replace Notch With Dynamic Island Design

Apple's highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro could ditch the notch for a display cutout potentially similar to the iPhone's Dynamic Island, according to a recent Omdia report (via DigiTimes).

The research firm claims Apple will switch to OLED displays for MacBooks in 2026, with Samsung Display supplying the panels. The report does not name MacBook Pro per se, but Apple's high-end MacBook models are widely expected to receive OLED before the MacBook Air.

The OLED tech is set to come off one of Samsung's brand new production lines, and the transition from mini-LED could potentially allow Apple to switch out the current notch design for a more pill-shaped display camera cutout – or so Omdia claims.

Such a move would mirror Apple's iPhone evolution, since the iPhone's notch became the current Dynamic Island starting with the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022. It's unclear whether the MacBook Pro would include Dynamic Island functionality or simply adopt the visual design, but the change would at least address long-standing user complaints about the notch, which physically ingresses into the macOS menu bar.

Samsung's heavy investment in 8.6-generation OLED production lines means it's likely to meet all of Apple's OLED laptop display requirements next year, assuming the OLED MacBook Pro is not delayed until 2027. The larger glass substrates used in these production lines are better suited for laptop panels while maintaining cost efficiency.

The OLED transition promises several benefits including brighter displays, deeper blacks, improved power efficiency, and potentially thinner designs. Apple has reportedly been working toward this display upgrade as part of the MacBook Pro's first major redesign since 2021.