OLED MacBook Air May be Delayed Until After 2027

Apple is now expected to release its OLED MacBook Air sometime beyond the previously expected 2027 window. A recent report claims the company faces significant setbacks in the early stages of development.

According to The Elec, sources claim that Apple is tackling pricing and supply chain concerns regarding the rumoured MacBook Air with an OLED display. Higher manufacturing costs are expected to impact the development and manufacturing of OLED, so Apple is now having to reassess its production. Having an OLED display featured on a future MacBook Air will undoubtedly raise the laptop’s price. Thus, Apple is reportedly worried about wide adoption.

Apple introduced OLED technology for its iPad Pro, which may be playing a key role in further adoption. In the latter portion of 2023, Apple expected to ship around 10 million OLED iPad Pro units by the end of 2024. However, those estimates quickly dropped to around 8.5 million and then even further as predictions swung down to 6 or 7 million over 2024. In Canada, the OLED iPad Pro starts at $1,399. The 11-inch model supports an Ultra Retina XDR OLED display and storage options of 256GB up to 2TB.

Apple is said to be banking on multiple suppliers being able to provide OLED displays, which would then lead to lower prices. However, as of now, only Samsung and LG are providing Apple its OLED screens. The former delivers OLED displays for both the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro. LG, on the other hand, only supplies its OLED screens for iPad Pro.

It’s also reported that Apple may be using a single-stack OLED configuration. As opposed to the dual-stack design for MacBook Pro, the single-stack technology allows for a more streamlined manufacturing process. However, in both cases, Apple is expected to include hybrid OLED tech, combining glass substrates with thin-film encapsulation.