The iPhone 8 may not be the only Apple product that gets an OLED upgrade next year.
Apple is reportedly testing new displays for next year’s MacBook Pro and is exploring the use of OLED, which offers lower battery consumption, brighter colors and sharper contrasts.
“Apple is currently looking into ways of using OLED panels for MacBooks and testing their performance,” reports Korean news site ET News.
OLED everywhere
The new MacBook Pro unveiled last week uses an OLED screen for the innovative new Touch Bar. One of the many benefits of using OLEDs are the darker blacks they produce. This allows the Touch Bar to blend in with the rest of the MacBook Pro keyboard, so it looks like just another key.
It’s been rumored for over a year that Apple plans to use OLED in the 2017 iPhone. Sharp President Tai Jeng Wu recently confirmed that Apple intends to transition to OLED displays next year. Other MacBook Pro rumors have claimed next year’s laptop will get a price drop and 32GB of RAM.
By switching to OLEDs on the MacBook Pro, Apple will be able to make the display even thinner while also upgrading performance. It’s unclear when Apple will make a MacBook Pro with an OLED display. The reports makes it sound like the switch is still in the consideration phase, so the technology may not be ready for the masses for two years.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
7 responses to “New MacBook Pro may get an OLED upgrade”
Making me feel bad that I pre-ordered one when next year it could be 32gb , OLED , and cheaper?
I know the feeling. Currently using a 2011 13” MBA, and still undecided about making the upgrade. The last gen Retina MBPs are looking pretty good: lower price, normal ports, and deeper keyboard.
Speaking as an owner of a 2013″ rMBP 15″, go for the last-gen. They’re amazing, they work with all of your peripherals, and let’s be real, they’re thin and light enough for anyone to use.
Products always upgrade in successive iterations. So even if you wait and upgrade next spring based on rumors, then they will upgrade again after that in about another year, even if it’s just a spec bump. I’m running an 8 year old MBP so I pre-ordered the new MBP with touch bar, can’t wait for it to deliver!
I’m happy to see these posts, only because I upgrade my MacBook Pro mid-way through a design cycle, every four years. 2010…2014… the 2018 model is looking better every day.
This article gives me pause. I was on the verge of ordering the new MBP, but now I’m on literal pause until I have more solid evidence of a next-year’s OLED upgrade.
in your dreams. If we’re only just about to enter a new 3-4 year cycle then what have we got.
Price Raise
Old Processors
No 4K screen
Same 256gb SSD
So In a 3-4 year cycle I’m guessing you’ll see the New processors end of 2017, spec bump, perhaps, same screen for duration of build. (doubt they’ll tool up for new screen in 1 iteration of the MB pro.) I see all this in a 2020 release not 2017, apple are more slow drip instead of dumping everything in one hit.
It’s not in Apples interest or long term succession planning (think 20-30 years) to offer massive SSD’s in their machines, they want to push you into the cloud. OK, 4K and onwards will drive up the minimum SSD they put in to say 512GB / 1TB but they want you on $10 a month for the rest of your lives and thats just the Data, not the movies or music streaming services. And that’s just you, not your family. For me and my family I would be looking at a family data plan which included music, TV, films etc. That’s they way this has to go. My 4 years old use iPads in school so what apple wants to secure the future of the company past the lifetimes of Ive, Cook etc is them on the hook for a monthly fee for 50-60 years.
Going back to the original point a 2015-16 refurb looks particularly appealing for anyone looking to upgrade their machines, especially those who use external monitors. You’re basically getting the same internals, all the external port benefits and benefit in price.
In 4 years the market will of adjusted to cater for USB C and all the peripherals, the spec will of been bumped, & the price will of dropped. For me this is the end of one cycle and the beginning of another so I’ll let the market adjust before I dongle my brain stupid.