MacBook Ultra’s Adoption To Suffer Due To Insane OLED Premium And DRAM Prices, Leaving Apple To Stick With Just One Supplier For Now

Omar Sohail
MacBook Ultra to only have one OLED supplier
There's apparently not enough volume to justify adding a second supplier / Image made using Gemini

Apple’s first MacBook redesign in years could possibly arrive in the fourth quarter of 2026, with reports calling it the MacBook Ultra. However, its OLED touchscreen and other changes could mean that the portable Mac is stamped with a price tag only the most affluent can afford, which is why a new report says that Apple won’t require more than one display supplier.

Samsung once more said to be Apple’s exclusive MacBook Ultra OLED supplier, with 2.5 million units said to be mass produced

The 14-inch and 16-inch OLEDs are said to be designed and manufactured by Samsung, a name that hasn’t changed from the exclusivity list back when we reported about this development months ago. According to The Elec, LG and BOE haven’t been considered, probably because the initial volume is fairly low. At 2.5 million units, the MacBook Ultra isn’t going to push the ultra-premium notebook category to new heights, especially when its high price will probably discourage a large customer base.

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The OLED, touchscreen, removal of the notch, thinner chassis, and redesigned hinges are all welcome changes, but only if that dollar amount doesn’t exceed a certain threshold. What’s even more scratching is that Apple intends to stick to the M5 Pro and M5 Max for the MacBook Ultra, despite being used in the current mini-LED models, giving little incentive for customers to upgrade. This is because the Cupertino giant has reportedly canceled the M6 Pro and M6 Max, instead a skipping a generation and plans to unveil the M7 Pro and M7 Max.

Reusing the same internals while charging a substantially higher sum for an external makeover, paired with rising DRAM and storage prices, probably means that the MacBook Ultra isn’t going to get the same traction as we’d hope, which is why involving another display supplier other than Samsung isn’t fruitful at this point. It’s possible that just like how Apple pressured its Korean display supply chain to reduce iPhone 18 Pro Max panel prices by 20 percent, Samsung could have offered Apple a similar deal.

Omar Sohail Photo

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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