Report: Apple Developing 24-Inch OLED iMac With 600 Nits Brightness

[MacRumors]

Apple is working on a 24-inch iMac featuring an OLED display, with the aim of completing development as early as 2027, claims a new report out of Korea.

According to The Elec, Apple has sent requests for information to Samsung Display and LG Display regarding development of a 24-inch OLED panel for the iMac. Current 24-inch iMacs use a 4.5K Retina display, which is an LCD panel with LED backlighting.

The specs apparently being discussed include 600 nits of brightness and a pixel density of 218 PPI. If accurate, that would match the current 24-inch iMac's resolution but deliver a 20% brightness boost over the existing 4.5K Retina display's 500-nit maximum, making it equivalent to the brightness of Apple's Studio Display – though that also uses an inferior LCD panel.

OLED display technology benefits from several other advantages beyond brighter screens, such as deeper blacks with higher contrast, improved power efficiency, and other enhancements.

This is the first report we've seen suggesting Apple plans to bring OLED technology to its all-in-one desktop lineup. The company has already committed to OLED displays for future MacBook Pro models, with 14-inch and 16-inch versions expected to enter production next year using Samsung Display's 8th-generation IT OLED manufacturing line. OLED versions of its MacBook Air models are expected to follow.

For the iMac display, both Samsung and LG Display are expected to propose their respective large-format OLED technologies rather than the RGB OLED method Apple traditionally prefers. Samsung would likely pitch its quantum dot (QD-OLED) panels, while LG Display would offer its white (W-OLED) solution. QD-OLED produces color by passing blue light through a QD color conversion layer, while W-OLED produces color by passing white light through RGBW color filters. Both manufacturers are reportedly developing 5-stack configurations that add an extra green layer to improve brightness compared to current 4-stack designs.

The report suggests Apple prefers RGB OLED, where light and color generate at the subpixel level, but this technology apparently hasn't yet scaled reliably to the 20-30 inch range needed for desktop displays. Both panel makers are said to be exploring RGB OLED as a longer-term option.

Apple aims to complete iMac OLED panel development by 2027 or 2028, but the finished product could launch after that timeline. A recent but separate report has claimed Apple is developing a high-end iMac featuring the M5 Max chip, but there is currently no indication that OLED is destined for this rumored model. Apple could refresh the 24-inch iMac with an updated M5 chip at some point next year.

Article Link: Report: Apple Developing 24-Inch OLED iMac With 600 Nits Brightness

 

[HouseLannister]

Why is Apple so stuck on screen sizes from 2010? Give us 27" and 32" or don't bother.

 

[roronl]

When this is realistic in '27 or '28, then we all sure accept a 27"> size right?

 

[Kylo83]

600nits is to low, should be tantrum Oled 1000nits

 

[Aleco]

This a great news and all but 3 years from now is a major fumble. OLED Mac’s and Displays should’ve been out by now… We just entered 5 generations of Mini-LED MBPs with the same design. The OLED MBP was rumored back in 2023.

All this wait so the Mac’s get OLED but the Studio Display is getting Mini-LED?

Just feels like they have no urgency over this product line up and they’re taking their sweet time.

 

[tomtad]

Why is Apple so stuck on screen sizes from 2010? Give us 27" and 32" or don't bother.

Nothing wrong with 24". I work on a small desk and anything larger would simply be too large.

27" should however be offered as an option I agree.

Then have the Studio Display at 27" and 32".

 

[MacsRgr8]

Nothing wrong with 24". I work on a small desk and anything larger would simply be too large.

27" should however be offered as an option I agree.

Then have the Studio Display at 27" and 32".

Nothing wrong with it, but simply less appealing.

Apple used to offer 27” iMacs when they also offered the 27” LED Cinema display, more than 10 years ago.
I had the M1 24” iMac, coming from a 27” 2017 model, and to me that screensize was a huge step backwards.

I have now the Mac Studio with 27” Studio Display, which is great, but much, much more epxensive.

 

[Herbit]

I want a USB-C PD power supply. Would be way easier to take to different places. And no bulky power supply brick.

 

[Dark-Signature]

600nits is to low, should be tantrum Oled 1000nits

Why?

 

[ZipZilla]

I would buy a 32" iMac

 

[anthorumor]

27 inch seems to be the sweet spot. Why not go for this size?

 

[Kulfon]

Why? Seriously surprised

 

[Scott6666]

I’ve moved on to a Mac Mini and a Samsung screen. I figure Apples lost over $1.5k in revenue from me by not offering a 27 in iMac.

 

[EugW]

27 inch seems to be the sweet spot. Why not go for this size?

I find 27” too small these days. You may be right for the general public but for me the sweet spot is now 32-34”.

 

[Geekett]

Rather than OLED, that has its disadvantages (cost, burning, eye strain etc) I would prefer a higher refresh rate, an increase of storage (256 Go is a joke) and an adjustable stand…
For what it is, I never had a problem of brightness with my current iMac

 

[aajeevlin]

I find 27” too small these days. You may be right for the general public but for me the sweet spot is now 32-34”.

I have been rather happy with 2k at 27inch, although at times I do feel I could probably use one with higher resolution. Do you find that when you go to 32 or 34 you need at least 4k?

I definitely prefer 27inch or larger with at least 2k, given that I typically split left and right. I wonder if that would work even better with 32/34 at 4k? Also any recommendation on one that works well with Mac?

 

[Ctrlos]

Whilst they're there can they half the thickness to that of the iPad Pro?

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Hot take: no 24" iMac should exist coming into 2026. Standard iMac should be 27" (16:9 and thin bezels) with iMac Studio (lamp design with some front facing ports and a floating display) at 32".

 

[Dadcelo]

Bring back the 27" 5K, cowards!

 

[bradman83]

Nothing wrong with 24". I work on a small desk and anything larger would simply be too large.

27" should however be offered as an option I agree.

Then have the Studio Display at 27" and 32".

My office desk has two 24" monitors and it's more than enough space (I can add in my laptop's built in screen if I need even more). I have two 27" monitors in my home office and it almost gets to be too much room and i find myself leaving entire sections of the screen unused

 

[Asthmatic Kitty]

Strange that they'd go to OLED but not offer HDR … unless the 600 nits mentioned is just the SDR maximum.

I find this rumour a bit hard to believe, though, at least in the 2027 timeframe. The iMac is a consumer machine, so I can't see it having superior display tech to the 2nd gen. Studio Display. We'll see.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Why is Apple so stuck on screen sizes from 2010? Give us 27" and 32" or don't bother.

What makes a screen size ‘dated’? 24” is a great size for general use cases, particularly for offices, receptions, homes, pretty much anywhere where the user isn’t reliant on viewing large sums of media.

Choice is also good.

 

[TSE]

This is Apple understanding that the iMac NEEDS to be its flagship product.

Move over iPhone. The iMac is iBACK!

 

[Warped9]

The other day I was doing a data transfer for a customer from a 2013 21.5 iMac to a new M4 iMac. Everything went smooth using data migration. But what really struck me, and reminded me of my old 2011 21.5 iMac, is that Apple has always had very nice displays on their AIO desktops. The current iMac may not be OLED, but its 4.5K display is gorgeous. And the old iMac displays had nothing to apologize for.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Strange that they'd go to OLED but not offer HDR … unless the 600 nits mentioned is just the SDR maximum.

I find this rumour a bit hard to believe, though, at least in the 2027 timeframe. The iMac is a consumer machine, so I can't see it having superior display tech to the 2nd gen. Studio Display. We'll see.

I was going to say something similar -- I believe the 600nits rating would be SDR as current OLED panels in monitors available are 400-500 nits in SDR. If they're adding an extra layer or two to brighten even more, that 600 nits should be the SDR spec. 600 nits HDR would be pretty lame. Also, iPhones capture HDR in pics and video, right? I would imagine people are going to want to see their pics and videos in HDR.