MacBook Ultra OLED Touch Panel to Be Exclusively Supplied by Samsung

[MacRumors]

Apple will exclusively rely on Samsung Display for the production of OLED touch panels for its redesigned upcoming MacBook Pro models, according to a new report from Korea-based The Elec.

Citing industry sources, the publication says that the 14-inch and 16-inch panels will be produced at Samsung's 8.6-generation OLED line at Asan, in Korea's South Chungcheong Province. The estimated initial supply is said to be 250,000 panels, and mass production is expected to begin around August.

Apple reportedly didn't consider LG Display or China's BOE Technology Group for panel development due to yield issues, making Samsung the sole supplier.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has repeatedly claimed that 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen are pegged to launch in late 2026 to early 2027. However, his most recent update on the matter said that early 2027 is now more likely because of the global chip shortage.

An OLED panel with touch-screen support is just one aspect of a major refresh planned for the high-end MacBook Pro models, with other rumored features including M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a Dynamic Island (i.e., no notch) and a thinner design. The laptops could have "MacBook Ultra" branding, and macOS 27 will include a touch-friendly interface ready for the laptops.

Article Link: MacBook Ultra OLED Touch Panel to Be Exclusively Supplied by Samsung

 

[MrTransistor]

Future Mac — touch screen with the integrated microphone.

 

[phill85]

Sounds all good until you realize it’ll cost an incredible amount… no thanks will stick with my MacBook Pro 16 that I already have!

 

[bingeciren]

Touch screen! Perfect for people with cleanliness OCD.

 

[skir]

Intel already had Ultrabook in 2012:

 

[one more]

Touch screen! Perfect for people with cleanliness OCD.

Tell it to all the iPad owners. 😉

 

[one more]

This makes total sense, as there are only two companies in the world that can make excellent quality OLED screens at scale - LG and Samsung.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Have to wonder how the M5 Max will perform in an even smaller chassis. My 14” Max is already a leg-burner if I run it at full blast (or game).

 

[andiwm2003]

I was thinking about this in the fast few month actually and tried to figure out if I would need or want a touchscreen on my Macbook. In my use cases I did not see many times where i was tempted to touch the screen. Also, the way I'm sitting at my notebook it would be cumbersome or strenuous to lift my arm and do some fine precise movements on the screen that also flexes back when you touch it. i usually have my notebook on a table or desk far back because i have a paper notebook in front of it. I also like to rest my arms fully on the desk when I type, hence the notebook is usually far back on the table and it's a weird reach to touch the screen. I'm much faster and more precise when i use the touchpad. And many times I have a larger external monitor plugged in, in that case the touchscreen becomes obsolete. I would like to hear from people how and why they would use touchscreen. Is it general use or only very specific tasks?

 

[cforbesdesign]

Apple will exclusively rely on Samsung Display for the production of OLED touch panels for its redesigned upcoming MacBook Pro models, according to a new report from Korea-based The Elec.

Citing industry sources, the publication says that the 14-inch and 16-inch panels will be produced at Samsung's 8.6-generation OLED line at Asan, in Korea's South Chungcheong Province. The estimated initial supply is said to be 250,000 panels, and mass production is expected to begin around August.

Apple reportedly didn't consider LG Display or China's BOE Technology Group for panel development due to yield issues, making Samsung the sole supplier.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has repeatedly claimed that 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen are pegged to launch in late 2026 to early 2027. However, his most recent update on the matter said that early 2027 is now more likely because of the global chip shortage.

An OLED panel with touch-screen support is just one aspect of a major refresh planned for the high-end MacBook Pro models, with other rumored features including M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a Dynamic Island (i.e., no notch) and a thinner design. The laptops could have "MacBook Ultra" branding, and macOS 27 will include a touch-friendly interface ready for the laptops.

Article Link: MacBook Ultra OLED Touch Panel to Be Exclusively Supplied by Samsung

With procreate coming to the Mac I wonder if this will have pencil support. I know that would require a form factor change to be be usable though. And of course you’d have to sell a kidney to afford it.

 

[macaron35]

the touchscreen will only increase the price not improve the experience

at work i have a touchscreen Dell laptop, it's just getting on my nerves when someone is clicking by touching my screen and leaving fingerprints. I disabled it

An iPad is an ipad and a Macbook is a Macbook

even the touchbar on my previous MBP was a disaster and a waste of money on the price paid

 

[wonderings]

So if they come out with a touchscreen for a laptop what is the excuse Apple will use to say why we can't run a full MacOS on an iPad?