Apple’s first desktop Mac with an OLED screen is in early development, according to a report coming out of the company’s supply chain in Asia. That would give the all-in-one desktop a truly beautiful display.
At this point, OLED screens typically go into Apple’s premium models. It’s not clear if that’ll hold true for the iMac, however.
A new high-end iMac with OLED?
The shift to OLED would mark a significant upgrade for the iMac, replacing the current LCD-based panels with displays capable of deeper blacks, higher contrast ratios and improved color accuracy. Those benefits are especially noticeable in creative workflows, where precise color representation and dynamic range are critical, as well as in everyday use cases like watching video or working in darker environments.
And OLED is coming to iMac, according to a report published Monday by ZDNet Korea. Samsung Display and LG Display are allegedly up for consideration for supplying the component.
The problem is, larger OLED panels, like those needed for an iMac, cost significantly more than traditional LCDs. And that would drive up the price for the all-in-one desktop.
That might be a problem for one group of iMac buyers: home users who want something simple and attractive. Many families buying a computer to share typically don’t have large budgets.
But there’s another group of iMac buyers who might see the appeal of OLED display: companies and individuals doing creative work. They would take full advantage of a high-quality display with color accuracy, along with macOS and Apple’s creative software ecosystem.
So it’s quite possible Apple is considering two tiers of its all-in-one desktop, a cheaper version with a traditional LCD, and a second, higher-priced option with an OLED screen.
On the other hand, Apple might hold off on the product until the cost of OLED panels drops considerably.
Apple seems in no hurry
There’ll apparently be plenty of time to decide whether an OLED iMac is worth the cost. The ZDNet Korea report indicates that Apple is in no rush to give up the traditional LCD in its all-in-one desktop. The potential launch window is 2029 or 2030.
The company is said to be prioritizing the change in other devices. The first MacBook Pro with an OLED display is widely expected in the fall, or possibly early next year.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
