Now that we have 13” iPads with Pro-Motion and OLED, the question is when will it come to the MBA which uses a similar sized screen?
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So…when will there be a 13” ProMotion/OLED MBA?
- Thread starter GooseInTheCaboose
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That’s an interesting question since, according to Apple, the M4 was used in the iPad Pro because they needed a new display engine to support tandem OLED. Would Apple use an M4 in a MacBook Air but not use the new features of the display engine?
I think it will probably come down to cost. Exactly how expensive is the new OLED? Maybe Apple will bring back the concept of BTO display options.
I would probably buy this immediately. I really am tired of them being so stingy on displays for everything but the pros. Pros should only be differentiated by the chips/power. It’s a way they push people to buy more than they need.
Would be nice, I would totally pay extra to configure a MBA with a pro display
That is actually exactly what I want!
Yup exactly for a while now I have been buying pro devices when I am really doubtful I need the power but I just get them for the nicer displays
This is the $64,000 question. At some point they will be forced to because the competition is already doing it. Some of the notebooks in the MacBook Air's class, like the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED, have 120Hz OLED displays.
That’s the thing, they know the display is a huge part of why people will opt for the more expensive pro devices.
According to Ross Young it will debut in 2026 for the Pros and eventually will roll out to the Air in 2027. However Apple is working with Samsung as their supplier for the MacBook Air.
It’s still quite early to see when this will happen honestly. Remember that the Air is a value proposition product in their lineup so most likely it will be the last getting it.
I do hope we get it, because I bought the 14” Pro for the display + 16GB ram base model
It’s still quite early to see when this will happen honestly. Remember that the Air is a value proposition product in their lineup so most likely it will be the last getting it.
I do hope we get it, because I bought the 14” Pro for the display + 16GB ram base model
In the very distant future when every other PC laptop has it. Once Ebeneezer Cook is satisfied with the margins, and has enough NAND chips and parts to remove to compensate for it, we will see it. Apple was the company that wowed us with the iPhone 4 Retina display, then followed up with the 15” Retina MacBook Pro. Those were under Steve. Industry leading and redefining stuff. There was a time making the best products that they would be proud of using themselves was the goal. Now it is about the best margins and upsells, and no shame in gimping products with 8GB RAM or missing NAND chips. No shame in selling faulty keyboards for years until they got called out at the Oscars no less. Then things changed. Just look at the iPhone 12-16 line and it says it all right there. If saving 1 penny per unit sold is possible, it will be done at the expense of user experience. But, we love macOS/iOS and depend on it in our own ways. Thus we ante up when we need to or have to.
I am in this situation right now. I am ready to buy a new Mac laptop, and I absolutely love the display on the MBP, it’s gorgeous.
The cost to jump isn’t horrible until you get to M3 Pro chips, but it’s still a jump when you weee really looking at a 13” M3 Air 16gb/512gb.
The size of the Air is certainly an amazing factor too. I am really conflicted, but the my mind goes to ‘well in less than 6 months the M4 Pros will be out so I’ll just wait til Autumn’ which is ridiculous, but that’s how my mind is right now.
I just want a 120hz HDR Air..
The cost to jump isn’t horrible until you get to M3 Pro chips, but it’s still a jump when you weee really looking at a 13” M3 Air 16gb/512gb.
The size of the Air is certainly an amazing factor too. I am really conflicted, but the my mind goes to ‘well in less than 6 months the M4 Pros will be out so I’ll just wait til Autumn’ which is ridiculous, but that’s how my mind is right now.
I just want a 120hz HDR Air..
Given what we're seeing on the other side, Apple should accelerate its plans.
Not before it's come to the pro's for at least a full year first, I could see the pros getting tandem and air's getting regular oled.
I'd expect it to be a MBP-only feature until the costs come down significantly. I can't even see it as being an option on the Air as its not positioned as that sort of laptop and I suspect the number of people who would spec it would be too low to justify it being a BTO config.
What is it on the new Surface, $500 to go OLED?
What is it on the new Surface, $500 to go OLED?
oled and high refresh rate panels aren't really that expensive anymore lol. my TV is 4 years old and has OLED 120hz. You can find a load of Android phones with OLED 120+hz displays. There are other laptops/Monitors with OLED. I've been looking at an OLED monitor with 240Hz.
also there isn't a reason apple couldn't have put a high refresh rate IPS/LCD panel in the air...they done it on iPad a few years ago.
i know the Air is their budget model so you're always going to have to wait for features to trickle down but it's also because apple wants to bleed us all dry for all we're worth. MBP has had "ProMotion" for years and it should have trickled down to Air (and standard iPhones too) by now.
OLED is a great screen technology (arguably the best out right now) but this whole tandem thing is them trying to make people think they are doing something amazing. There's no real need for it. It's just an excuse for them to be like "ohh we're not doing HRR IPS we're doing HRR OLED so you either wait even longer now or give us more money!"