Is Apple going to release an update to 13" and 15" Macbook Pro in the first half of 2014 with IGZO screen?
I know that there is probably no confirmation to that and no one knows for sure, just rumors for now and speculation... However, I am more interested in what you think, is it plausible? Considering the new Haswell rMBP just started selling? But considering the possible yellow tint and IR problems, that could be the long awaited solution...
MacRumors:
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/07/10/apple-to-adopt-igzo-displays-for-future-ipads-and-macbooks/
In the first half of 2014? No, I don't think so. I mean, unless you call June the first half (I'd call that the middle). It would be unprecedented for them to release a refresh to their MBP line less than 8 months after the previous one. People keep thinking that because there was a refresh this year in Feb that implies it would happen again, but look at Apple's refresh cycle:
-Feb 2011
-Oct 2011 (+ 8 moths)
-June 2012 (+8 months)
-Feb 2013 (+8 months)
-Oct 2013 (+8 months)
So the trends don't suggest an early 2014 refresh, they suggest a June 2014 refresh. Hopefully Broadwell and Maxwell will be ready to go around that time (lots of mixed reports, so it's entirely plausible that at least Broadwell won't be). Personally I do expect to see IGZO at that point; the early examinations of Dell's IGZO panels in their new laptops show them to be just as accurate and 20% brighter.
I see this late 2013 refresh as another early 2013: For most users this was a minor 8-10% spec bump (CPU and GPU) at best. There's the battery life improvement as well, but for many MBP users that's not particularly interesting. This would (IMO) point to the next refresh being a "major" update, which would indeed be the case if Apple can manage Broadwell CPUs, Maxwell dGPUs and IGZO panels in the same refresh.
If there really is an IGZO device coming in the first half of 2014 I'd assume it's the rumored 12" retina Air.
I wouldn't hold my breath for IGZO until Q4 2014. At least.
I'd agree that if Apple does break the 8 month cycle it will be to go the other way (later in 2014). No chance of a refresh in less than 8 months.
That said, based on their clock-like 8 month cycle I'd say that Apple will refresh in June if they can. In other words, if Intel isn't holding things up on Broadwell production.
If you're saying you don't think they'll use IGZO in their next refresh I think that's wrong. The panels are out there and being launched in quantities right now (not the right ratio, but these things come off a huge sheet of panel material and it's not hard to produce different aspect ratios). If Apple sticks to their cycle and waits 2 refreshes it'll be Feb 2015, and I have a hard time believing they'll be comfortable having the dimmest panels in the premium laptop field for 16 months when they started this whole premium display thing.
Apple could use the exact same panels Dell is using (the 3200x1800) cut for 16:10, which would make them 3200x2000. No need to alter the manufacturing process since you don't change the pixel density. You would need to find an extra 0.54" width, which you might be able to take from the bezel (approaching edge to edge display). Not saying they'll necessarily go this route, just pointing out that it's not all that difficult in theory.
