It is a slow process, but Apple is transitioning its entire product line to OLED technology. The latest entrants are the company’s 11-inch and 13-inch M4 iPad Pro models, and next up, the new display should be added to the 2026 MacBook Pro range. While that launch is still a couple of years away, a new report states that in the coming years, a shift towards OLED means that demand for these portable computers will skyrocket.
Tandem OLED technology will likely debut on the 2026 MacBook Pro models, delivering the same benefits as the ones present on the M4 iPad Pro range
OLED panels on notebooks will bring several advantages to the table, with Omdia’s Display long-term demand forecast tracker estimating that demand for these screens is projected to grow by 37 percent from 2023 to 2031. The report does not mention if Tandem OLED technology will arrive in non-Apple products, but we firmly believe that the 2026 MacBook Pro will debut with this technology. For those who do not know, Tandem OLED allows brightness levels to increase while improving the overall lifespan of these panels, which is why these are incorporated into the newest iPad Pro family.
The new displays should also allow the 2026 MacBook Pro models to become thinner like the M4 iPad Pro models, as there will no longer be a separate backlit panel required, thanks to OLED sporting its own individual pixels. Omdia’s Senior Principal Analyst of Display research practice, Ricky Part, believes that Apple’s transition to OLED on the MacBook Pro models in 2026 will result in a demand surge within the notebook space.
“Apple is highly likely to incorporate OLED into its MacBook Pro models as early as 2026. This move could spark a significant surge in OLED demand within the notebook market, potentially reaching over 60 million units by 2031.”
As for why Apple is taking its sweet time to bring Tandem OLED to its high-end MacBook Pro models, an earlier report stated that the technology giant’s supply chain has yet to establish the production lines necessary to mass manufacture these panels. Samsung was previously said to have invested $3.1 billion in a new facility, but there is no word on when mass production will start.
Readers should note that Tandem OLED units are expensive to make, so display manufacturers like Samsung need to see some profitability in order to establish a whole plant for just one customer. It likely took both Samsung and LG a ton of convincing from Apple to set up production facilities for the Tandem OLED found in the 11-inch and 13-inch M4 iPad Pro models, so now it needs to compel these two partners to do the same for the 2026 MacBook Pro range.
News Source: Omdia
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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