Apple’s OLED MacBook Pro just got its biggest sign of progress yet

Apple’s long-rumoured OLED MacBook Pro models could finally be moving closer to reality, greedily eyeing up our list of the best laptops from the shadows.

• Read more: iPhone 18 Pro Max leak shows a chunkier camera bump – and it might actually be a good thing

According to Korean publication The Elec, Samsung Display – widely expected to manufacture the displays for Apple –  has reportedly achieved production yields above 90 per cent on its Gen 8.6 OLED manufacturing line, with some stages apparently reaching an even more impressive 95 per cent yield level.

If true, it’s positive news. OLED laptop panels are far trickier to manufacture than the smaller OLED screens used in smartphones. Larger displays bring more chances for defects, while laptops also demand higher brightness, longer lifespan, and better power efficiency.

The report says Samsung could begin shipping OLED laptop panels into the supply chain as early as June. Estimated production volumes are said to sit at around two million panels this year, though that figure isn’t specifically tied to Apple MacBook shipments. But these are the displays that are widely expected to be destined for future 14in and 16in MacBook Pro models.

The upgraded screens are expected to use tandem two-stack OLED technology similar to the excellent iPad Pro models Apple launched in 2024. In practice, that should mean brighter highlights, deeper blacks, improved contrast, and better efficiency compared to the current mini-LED MacBook Pro displays.

Previous reports have also suggested that Apple could introduce touchscreen support alongside the OLED transition, though that remains speculative for now. Bloomberg’s often-reliable Mark Gurman has previously also reported that OLED MacBook Pro models are expected to arrive between late 2026 and early 2027.

Nothing’s official for now, of course. But if your ageing laptop can hold out for a little while longer, there’s certainly no harm in waiting to see what Apple reveals in the near future…

• Read more: We now know who will lead Apple into the future – and it’s great news for new products

Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.