Apple OLED Roadmap Update
Apple Reportedly Cancels Two MacBooks While Reshuffling OLED Display Roadmap
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The 14.3-inch and 16.3-inch OLED MacBook Pro variants (often called the MacBook Ultra) are described by NotebookCheck as delivering about 95% of the BT.2020 color space, indicating a notably wider color gamut for the OLED Pro lineup than previous MacBook displays.
2
Omdia’s discussion of the OLED MacBook Ultra reportedly includes using Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, rather than a future M6 or an M5 Ultra variant.
3
In addition to new OLED lines, a 13.8-inch OLED MacBook is described as sitting between the LCD MacBook Air and OLED Pro, with a stated emphasis on advanced display tech such as color-filter-on-encapsulation.
Apple has scrapped plans for two major MacBook models, reshaping its laptop lineup for the next several years. Omdia reports that a foldable 16-inch MacBook and a separate 14.4–16.1 inch OLED model have been cancelled, while the company pivots toward a new mid-tier 13.8-inch OLED MacBook positioned between the Air and Pro lines.
The shift reflects Apple's refined strategy for OLED deployment across Macs. MacRumors and Trusted Reviews confirm the cancellations, noting that the company will instead focus on fall OLED MacBook Pro and Ultra models while keeping LCD MacBook Air models in production through 2030.
Apple Kills Its Foldable MacBook Dream
The foldable MacBook, once considered a priority project under CEO John Ternus, will not move forward. Analytics Insight reports the device was expected to unfold to 16–18 inches and blend iPad and MacBook features. Cancelling it signals Apple's pullback from experimental form factors in the near term.
Alongside the foldable, Apple cancelled a separate large OLED MacBook that would have expanded the Pro lineup upward. O'Grady's PowerPage notes this second cancellation removes a tier that would have sat above the current MacBook Pro, streamlining the product hierarchy instead.
A New Mid-Tier OLED MacBook Fills the Gap
In place of the cancelled models, Omdia reveals Apple is developing a 13.8-inch OLED MacBook to sit between the LCD MacBook Air and the OLED MacBook Pro. The device will feature advanced display technology, including color-filter-on-encapsulation and a possible under-panel camera, giving it a distinct identity within the lineup.
Trusted Reviews reports this mid-tier MacBook targets customers wanting OLED quality without paying full Pro prices. It represents a narrower gap between Air and Pro tiers, potentially cannibalizing some higher-end Air sales while offering a premium alternative.
MacBook Pro OLED Launch Moves Forward
Apple's fall 2024 MacBook Pro refresh will introduce OLED variants for the first time. Omdia indicates the 14-inch and 16-inch Pro models will feature OLED screens, with mini-LED variants continuing through 2028. A possible 13.6-inch OLED MacBook Air may arrive in 2029.
The Pro and Ultra variants expected in late 2026 and 2027 will deliver exceptional color accuracy, with NotebookCheck reporting they achieve approximately 95% of the BT.2020 color space—significantly wider than previous MacBook displays. Omdia notes these models will use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than a future M5 Ultra variant.
LCD MacBook Air Stays Through 2030
Despite the shift toward OLED, Omdia projects the current LCD MacBook Air will remain on sale through 2030. This extended timeline gives Apple a low-cost entry point while OLED variants roll out gradually across the lineup, protecting revenue in the budget segment.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
19
Articles
9
Reach
28
A
AnonymousAuthor
