Apple will also install OLED panels in its MacBooks in the future. That's good news, but you'll have to wait until at least 2026 before the high-contrast screens make it into the MacBook Pro.
The manufacturer is taking a little longer with the cheaper MacBook Air; the display technology is not expected to be introduced before 2028.
After all, the topic of OLED is also gaining momentum at Apple. In my articleOLED panels were at the top of my wish list.
High prices are to blame for the delay
According to Korean magazineThe Elec
are probably themhigh pricesthe reason for the delay. Apparently only Samsung and LG can currently deliver panels in the number and quality desired by Apple, which should have a corresponding impact on purchase prices.
Since Apple says it sees the MacBook Air as a cheap basic model that should be offered at competitive prices, the cost of high-quality displays is of course a sticking point. Supposedly the MacBook Air will eventually have a simple OLED panel, while the high-priced MacBook Pros will have oneTandem-OLEDshould have.
Two OLED displays are placed on top of each other, which of course significantly increases the costs. Apple also expects this technology to make the panel last longerpositive effects that affect the retention of content.
What are the special features of an OLED display?
The abbreviation OLED stands fororganic light emitting diode
, probably the biggest difference to all other panel types is thisLack of backlight. With an OLED screen, each pixel lights up itself, while with an IPS display, for example, the pixels have to be illuminated so that you can see something.
What are the advantages of the technology?
TheLack of backlightsaves a lot of electricity. Pixels that are not used are completely switched off and of course do not consume any energy. This results in a deep black when displaying images, games or videos.
Panels with backlighting simply reduce the brightness as much as possible when displaying black areas. Black looks more like a dark gray, especially on cheaper screens.
The contrast and image sharpness of an OLED display are almost perfect. In addition, there is top-class color reproduction with really beautiful, bright colors if desired.
And the disadvantages?
Prices and durability: A good OLED display still costs more than an LC display. The durability of an OLED panel is also a problem, at least in theory. The individual pixels are subject to an aging process; the longer and the brighter an OLED pixel shines, the faster this process progresses.
The brightness decreases with age. However, manufacturers are continually working on this problem, so it's not the case that your screen will remain dark after two or three years.
Is allergic to oxygen:Another, more theoretical disadvantage is the sensitivity of an OLED to oxygen and moisture. If the pixels come into contact with it, oxidation is the result. If your OLED pixels are actually exposed to oxygen, the display will probably already be defective.
Burn-In:The higher the brightness, the greater the likelihood that displayed content will burn into the panel. In plain language, this means that a previously displayed image remains faintly visible, even if the display changes. It therefore makes sense to use a screen saver for an OLED panel.
Write in the comments what panel type your notebook has and whether you are considering OLED for your next computer.
