Apple's Current MacBook Air
6 Facebook x.com Reddit Rumor Score 🤯 Likely
New Shipment Report Claims Apple Delayed Adding an OLED screen to the MacBook Air, which was rumored to arrive in 2027.
Apple has been expected to add an OLED screen to the MacBook Air for some time, with 2027 sometimes predicted. However, The Elec reports that this has now changed, and the OLED MacBook Air won’t arrive until 2028.
Citing unspecified sources in the component industry, the report says suppliers believe the OLED MacBook Air has been delayed – for two reasons. One that should be expected is the cost of OLED screens, and how that necessarily increases the price of devices.
But the other is that the industry believes the OLED in the latest iPad Pro hasn’t proven to be as compelling as expected. In late 2023, OLED iPad Pro shipments were reportedly expected to reach 10 million by the end of 2024.
Apple then reportedly lowered its estimate to around 8.5 million in early 2023. More recently, it further lowered its forecast to 6-7 million for all of 2024.
This is because while the OLED iPad Pro was said to have sold well in the second quarter of 2024 when it was released, sales have since dropped noticeably.
Apple is reportedly hoping to see multiple companies compete to supply OLED displays, which would drive down prices. But currently, only Samsung is expected to supply OLED screens for the MacBook Pro, with the iPad Pro display made by Samsung and LG.
An unspecified supply chain official said Apple would accept a lower-quality OLED screen. “We need to find a point where Apple’s MacBook Air OLED display performance gets closer to the pro [MacBook Pro] level,” the official said (as translated).
“If the [MacBook Air] OLED display performance is close to the top-end model,” the official continued, “we can increase overall sales.”
Separately, Apple was also reported to have delayed the MacBook Pro OLED display. However, it is now expected to launch in 2026.
Note that The Elec has proven to be a decent source of information about Apple’s supply chain. However, it tends to be much less accurate in the predictions it makes based on that information.
Rumor Score
🤯
Likely
Follow AppleInsider on Google News
