Apple Supplier Unveils 'Industry First' Tandem OLED Laptop Panel

[MacRumors]

OLED iPad Pro panel maker LG Display has begun mass producing the industry's first 13-inch tandem OLED panel designed for laptops, the Korean company announced this week.

LG Display supplies the majority of OLED panels for Apple's latest M4 iPad Pro models, which use a similar tandem structure. Tandem OLED panels combine two stacks of red, green, and blue (RGB) organic light emitting layers, which together offer better durability and performance compared to single-layer OLED panels such as the one used in Apple's iPhones.

LG has been developing the panels for the automotive industry since 2019, and says that efficiency gains mean they reduce power consumption by up to 40%, and enable up to three times the brightness. By designing the components and enhancing the structure of the 13-inch tandem OLED panel, LG Display says it has also been able to make it around 40% thinner and 28% lighter than existing OLED laptop screens, allowing for a sleek design and greater portability.

From LG Display's press release:

The new panel combines convenience and performance with high definition. It boasts a WQXGA+ (2880×1800) high resolution and accurate color expression that meets 100% of the DCI-P3 standard color area established by the Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI), allowing high-definition content to be presented with increased clarity.

With OLED's characteristic self-emissive pixels and infinite contrast ratio, it has also been certified as Display HDR (High Dynamic Range) True Black 500 by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). This confirms its ability to show both bright and dark images so well that it enhances their three-dimensionality and produces a display quality that is as close as possible to what the human eye naturally sees.

There are currently no Macs with OLED displays. However, according to a November 2023 report by analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Technology Research, Apple is actively developing an OLED screen for the ‌MacBook Air‌, although the release of an OLED MacBook Pro is expected to come first.

An earlier report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed that a new MacBook Pro with an OLED display could be the first touchscreen Mac in 2025. Notably LG Display says that it has also embedded a touch sensor inside its latest tandem OLED panels to improve touch performance.

Article Link: Apple Supplier Unveils 'Industry First' Tandem OLED Laptop Panel

 

[usersince86]

Reduced power consumption and increased brightness are both good, obviously. But new tech (and double some components?) probably means increased cost, too... though it would hopefully come down over time.

 

[pcd213]

The 2026 MacBook Pro, now starting at $2499

 

[kerplunknet]

If it uses PWM (pulse-width modulation, aka flickering) then I won’t be buying it. Apple needs to stop using PWM in their products because it gives many of their customers eyestrain, headaches, and nausea.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Apple is actively developing an OLED screen for the ‌MacBook Air‌, although the release of an OLED MacBook Pro is expected to come first

At last, now I can see MacRumors comments in silky-smooth OLED... what a bright future.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

The 2026 MacBook Pro, now starting at $2499

It doesn't need to (an abundance of OLED Windows laptops in the sub-$1000 range) but of course we know Apple will use OLED as a reason to jack up the price of everything it's in.

 

[ghostface147]

If it uses PWM (pulse-width modulation, aka flickering) then I won’t be buying it. Apple needs to stop using PWM in their products because it gives many of their customers eyestrain, headaches, and nausea.

Many or some?

 

[FloridaScrubJay]

Really liking the tandem OLED display on my M4 iPad Pro!

 

[locovaca]

Hopefully they have the overly warm hue and grainy appearance ironed out soon. I’d love a new iPad Pro but some of those threads with the side by side photos are really bad.

 

[EugW]

Hopefully the ones in the 2026 MacBook Pros have less of the grain effect.

 

[Biro]

If it uses PWM (pulse-width modulation, aka flickering) then I won’t be buying it. Apple needs to stop using PWM in their products because it gives many of their customers eyestrain, headaches, and nausea.

From what I’ve been able to read on the subject, the double OLED layers cut down on the PWM effect. I don’t know if it would solve the issue entirely but it is supposed to help.

 

[The Game 161]

2026 MacBook Pro then

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

At last, now I can see MacRumors comments in silky-smooth OLED... what a bright future.

All joking aside, MR's does look really nice in dark mode on my Windows OLED 3K display.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Many or some?

Maybe many people in the world, but a small fraction of people using the products.

 

[kiranmk2]

Strange how Apple want to be the first to new process nodes, but will take years rolling out new display technologies

 

[Fuzzball84]

This will be awesome

Been looking at reviews of such tech online and the displays look superb. Puts my old LCD display to shame.

Oh, I just realized. I’m looking at reviews on the old LCD display. Maybe it’s not bad after all 🙄

 

[usmaak]

The new M4 iPad is the first screen that I haven't been able to use since screens began, and I've been staring at screens since the 80s. There was just something about it that my eyes didn't like. It made my eyes burn and they got really tired after only staring at it for 15 minutes. I ended up returning it and going back to the M2. I was really looking forward to the M4 and the colors were so sharp on it but I couldn't justify spending the $$$ and hoping that my eyes would somehow adapt.

I hope that they keep some screens LCD. I ended up getting an M3 MBA and I've had no problems with it. I'm hoping that there's some new screen tech in the future that doesn't cause me eye issues. My work laptop is an M1 MBP and I can stare at it for hours with no eye issues.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Strange how Apple want to be the first to new process nodes, but will take years rolling out new display technologies

Apple typically only incorporate technologies when they are satisfied they reached a certain maturity in order to deliver quality and reliability. Indeed since Apple transitioned to IPS LED LCD displays and OLED panels… they are amongst the best in the market.

Process nodes for the AS is an entirely different thing.

 

[sziehr]

I am going to be the weird one here, I hope they do not use this for the pro line for all units. I had to return the m4 iPad Pro cause the text was fringed and blurry and gave me headaches. The screen looked amazing for video but I, yes I me only me went to read text it was not great. I have not had any issues with any of the amazing LCD lineup. I want them to figure out how to increase the density to over come this sticking point for me and the very few others like me.

 

[shadowboi]

Nice! More eyestrain less eyesight!
Future gonna be lit, everyone wearing AVP with prescription lenses at -12.

 

[mystery hill]

The Dell XPS (Intel and ARM versions) use this display panel.

It’s 60Hz, 400 nits.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

LG has been developing the panels for the automative industry since 2019

Automotive? If not, what is the automotive industry?

 

[Jeo_cz]

With a completely redesigned and bigger notch. Now will be your stylish device recognizable throughout the whole café hall.

 

[tobybrut]

There are currently two devices that have tandem OLED panels. All of us know about the iPad Pros, but not as many know about the Dell XPS 13 2024 with Snapdragon X Elite. There is something rather curious about that tandem OLED panel, though. It is still incredibly dim, reaching only 478 nits of brightness. That’s odd to me since regular OLED can get that bright. What is Dell doing with that tandem OLED if not exploiting it for similar brightness iPads can attain?

From stories I’ve read, there are no other laptops on the horizon currently that will have these panels.

 

[aloyouis]

Many or some?

A tiny few, but please don't interrupt the required whining...