OLED iPads and MacBooks: Sketchy rumors stir real hopes

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What you need to know

  • Samsung OLED could be coming to the Mac with the 16-inch design refresh.
  • The iPad Pro line could also be updated to include Samsung OLED displays.
  • But... this source doesn't have a proven track record on rumors so, grains of salt.

Apple could be getting ready to expand its OLED rollout from the existing Apple Watch and high-end iPhone X-series devices to include both the next generation iPads Pro and the rumored upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro redesign.

From The Elec, translated by Google:

According to industry sources, Apple is considering adoption of OLED displays in its high-end "pro" models of notebook and tablet PC product lines. The new 16-inch 'MacBook Pro' with OLED display will be added to the notebook lineup and the existing 11-inch 'iPad Pro' display from LCD to OLED.

As MacRumors points out, The Elec "does not have a proven track record in terms of Apple rumors."

Does it make sense? The things holding Apple back previously were uniform/consistent brightness across the larger panels, and cost given the yields. If Samsung has solved for both those things, that'd be great.

Well, except for people who suffer from the pulse-width modulation (PWM) flicker that comes with current OLED displays... They may either have to hope Apple keeps LCD options, or doesn't modulate too aggressively at lower brightness levels.

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.