Apple Reportedly Planning 32- and 42-Inch OLED Displays for 2027 Amid Switch to New Panel Technology

[MacRumors]

Apple will transition almost all of its iPad, MacBook, and external display models to OLED displays by 2027, according to technology research firm Omdia.

Omdia's latest IT OLED display forecasts, seen by OLEDInfo, claim that worldwide OLED shipments will rise rapidly from around 9.7 million units in 2022 to over 70 million in 2028. Most of this growth will be driven by laptops, but the number of OLED tablets will also increase sharply during this period.

The main contributor to this expected increase is said to be Apple's expanded use of OLED displays across its devices. In line with other rumors, Omdia believe that Apple will begin using OLED panels for the iPad starting with new iPad Pro models next year, followed by an OLED MacBook Pro in 2026. Apple will almost entirely phase out LCD and mini-LED displays on mobile devices by 2026. The report also mentions a foldable 20-inch iPad Pro model with an OLED around this time frame.

In 2027, Apple will apparently begin using QD-OLED or WOLED panels for 32-inch and 42-inch displays, likely for future iMac or external display models. The Pro Display XDR is Apple's only existing product with a 32-inch display and there is no currently 42-inch device.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Planning 32- and 42-Inch OLED Displays for 2027 Amid Switch to New Panel Technology

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

Basically, OLED everywhere. OK got it! So if this rumour carries any water we will have a 42 inch XDR display by 2027?

Alot can change in 4 years!

 

[MayaUser]

32" imac i bet a lot of people will buy it

 

[Quu]

I must admit I'm concerned about OLED on my Mac where the screen is left on for 7-8 hours a day while working.

It's acceptable on my iPhone and Watch because I just don't interact with them that much or leave them idle on a static screen. That's not the case with my computers.

I recently purchased an OLED desktop monitor last year and after a full day of work, it brought up a warning dialogue box that it needed to perform some kind of pixel refreshing to maintain the display and stop burn-in. (Asus PG42UQ).

I don't expect Apple to bring up such dialogues, but I do expect the computer to dim when it thinks you're not looking at the screen anymore like with the iPhone and for me I don't think that's acceptable.

I would much prefer they continue with MiniLED-based FALD backlighting since there's no risk of burn-in. They just need to increase the zone count vastly from the current 2,500 zones with 10,000 LED's to maybe 10,000 zones with 40,000 LED's.

 

[bsolar]

OLED displays are great but prone to burn-in, which is especially an issue when used with desktop interfaces which tend to display static elements for extended time.

Hopefully Apple will have the issue sorted out, but it's a concern.

 

[the future]

A 42“ retina display would be 8K …

Or in layman’s terms: 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

 

[macduke]

If I have to wait until 2027 to get a decent Apple external display I’m gonna lose my mind. Also, really? We’re talking about 2027 rumors now?

 

[Onimusha370]

Oh god please don’t make us wait till 2027 for a HDR desktop monitor. I’ve been ready to buy a high end iMac/iMac Pro for 2 years, don’t want to wait another 4!

 

[oniisanbomber]

so the current 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro form factor will last from 2021 (first M1 Pro and M1 Max versions) to 2026, for a total of about 5 years, and then the OLED MacBook Pros will see a redesign

 

[LeeW]

I better keep my kidneys in good shape and hope the price for them is high by the time these come out.

 

[tstafford]

We’re talking about 2027 rumors now?

Exactly. The rumor people can't even figure out what's likely to happen in June let alone 2027. This is absurd.

 

[singularity0993]

How will OLED be superior than the current Mini-LED? I thought they were more prone to burn-in and PWM eye damage?

 

[MayaUser]

I must admit I'm concerned about OLED on my Mac where the screen is left on for 7-8 hours a day while working.

It's acceptable on my iPhone and Watch because I just don't interact with them that much or leave them idle on a static screen. That's not the case with my computers.

I recently purchased an OLED desktop monitor last year and after a full day of work, it brought up a warning dialogue box that it needed to perform some kind of pixel refreshing to maintain the display and stop burn-in. (Asus PG42UQ).

I don't expect Apple to bring up such dialogues, but I do expect the computer to dim when it thinks you're not looking at the screen anymore like with the iPhone and for me I don't think that's acceptable.

I would much prefer they continue with MiniLED-based FALD backlighting since there's no risk of burn-in. They just need to increase the zone count vastly from the current 2,500 zones with 10,000 LED's to maybe 10,000 zones with 40,000 LED's.

its just a rumour...microLed is the goat...until then miniLed is the way to go for professional work

 

[Kulfon]

We get these news every 3 years that it will be in 3 years

 

[bsolar]

I recently purchased an OLED desktop monitor last year and after a full day of work, it brought up a warning dialogue box that it needed to perform some kind of pixel refreshing to maintain the display and stop burn-in. (Asus PG42UQ).

That's normal for an OLED, it's called compensation cycle and it's part of the normal maintenance of the display. It typically kicks in when the OLED is in stand-by after many hours of activity.

I don't expect Apple to bring up such dialogues, but I do expect the computer to dim when it thinks you're not looking at the screen anymore like with the iPhone and for me I don't think that's acceptable.

OLEDs typically need countermeasures to avoid burn-in of bright, static elements. Typically they employ image shifting (the image is shifted by some distance in a direction which changes periodically), global dimming and localized dimming around static bright elements (which might be TV logos, videogame HUD elements, GUI static elements...).

Using an OLED as desktop monitor might require Apple to revise their interface to avoid static, bright elements as much as possible.

 

[Kulfon]

If I have to wait until 2027 to get a decent Apple external display I’m gonna lose my mind. Also, really? We’re talking about 2027 rumors now?

Get Eizo

 

[vmachiel]

Why even report this? It‘s so for out, a lot can and will change with their planning based on things beyond their control.

But he, then you can write an article saying the “cancelled it”

 

[Quu]

That's normal for an OLED, it's called compensation cycle and it's part of the normal maintenance of the display. It typically kicks in when the OLED is in stand-by after many hours of activity.

OLEDs typically need countermeasures to avoid burn-in of bright, static elements. Typically they employ image shifting (the image is shifted by some distance in a direction which changes periodically), global dimming and localized dimming around static bright elements (which might be TV logos, videogame HUD elements, GUI static elements...).

Using an OLED as desktop monitor might require Apple to revise their interface to avoid static, bright elements as much as possible.

Yeah the PG42UQ I had did all of that, I'm fully aware of all the mitigation strategies.

The most annoying thing about it was probably the brightness limiter. If you opened for example a Finder window the entire display would suddenly dim to compensate for the power consumption generated by such a large white window opening. Very annoying.

I returned what should have been the god of monitors for a whole host of reasons but the brightness thing, the daily popups telling me the display needed to do a 15-minute pixel cleaning cycle and all that stuff. It felt like I'd acquired a responsibility instead of just something you plug in and use.

Bring on the MicroLED baby!

 

[one more]

How will OLED be superior than the current Mini-LED? I thought they were more prone to burn-in and PWM eye damage?

Mini-LED was Apple’s trial and error, as blooming on their high-end iPads using the tech first did not go well with the customers.

I hope that Apple can avoid or mitigate any burn-in risks to make their displays last for about five years, at which point most people will swap their devices anyway.

PWM can hopefully be further tweaked from Apple’s end, as high-end Samsungs (whose displays Apple use) do not seem to have this problem.

 

[one more]

Bring on the MicroLED baby!

The tech is still way too expensive for Apple’s liking, else they would be investing more into micro-LED instead of modern OLED panels.

 

[klasma]

I’m predicting Apple will do some dynamically animating menu shіt to mitigate burn-in.

 

[Spidder]

I recently purchased an OLED desktop monitor

Were not talking about recent OLED tech here, but 2027 tech. Larger OLED displays matured drastically in the last couple of years. From 300 nits burn-in prone „prototypes you can buy“ to 1000+ nits mature products without any significant burn in issues (as long as you take a little bit of care). In another couple of years, burn-in might be a non-issue even when displaying static desktop elements for hours.

 

[Quu]

Were not talking about recent OLED tech here, but 2027 tech. Larger OLED displays matured drastically in the last couple of years. From 300 nits burn-in prone „prototypes you can buy“ to 1000+ nits mature products without any significant burn in issues (as long as you take a little bit of care). In another couple of years, burn-in might be a non-issue even when displaying static desktop elements for hours.

Actually, recent OLED's are more prone to burn-in than the earlier models according to recent testing from rtings.com just last month where they tested the latest LG WOLED and Samsung QD-OLED technology.

Does QD-OLED have a burn-in problem? | Digital Trends

Samsung has thrown a lot of shade at LG's OLED TVs over the years over potential burn-in problems. Have the tables finally turned?

www.digitaltrends.com

This could be due to the panel makers driving them harder with better peak and sustained brightness. I personally think OLED isn't the way forward and they should instead concentrate on making MicroLED production ready.

 

[Powerbooky]

How will OLED be superior than the current Mini-LED? I thought they were more prone to burn-in and PWM eye damage?

PWM doesn't damage the eyes. Flickering light can cause eye fatigue or headache though. Some LCD screens have flickering light too, depending on the used display technique. What can damage the eye is extreme brightness (both OLED and LED backlit LCD).

The problem with mini-LED still is that the screen is still a backlit LCD display and still has black level and viewing angle limits (problems) common with LCD. There are many LCD types, but none of them don't look as good as OLED does.

Burn-in with OLED is indeed an issue, but just like with CRT displays it can be reduced significantly if you set the brightness to the medium level and not the defaults set by the manufacturer. Especially TV sets have really bad defaults.

Besides... every screen, LCD too, does deteriorate over time. Burn-in, image-retention, less brightness from the backlights (including damaged zones) or washed out colours of LCD panels, it all happens. Milage varies per model/brand.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Hopefully, the OLED is not going to be overly expensive and the prices will remain the same.