When will we see a MacBook Pro with OLED panel?

[bootz]

My mid-2012 rMBP (i7 2.3, 16GB RAM, SSD) is still working like a champ in most areas, however I'm seriously thinking about making a switch back to Windoze if the new MacBook Pro doesn't blow me away. The biggest issue I have is connectivity - the highest resolution I can drive at 60hz is 3440x1440 - no 4k/5k options here. Also, both GPUs (integrated and dedicated) have seen better days.

I think the next rMBP will have at least a couple of TB3 ports, which will give me the ability to solve both issues (4k/5k 60hz and eGPU). What about an actual OLED panel? There have been a couple of reviews of the new Alienware 13 laptop with 1440p OLED display, and they both say nothing compares to how the screen looks.

The retina panel is what did most of the work switching me to OS X in 2012 - I was spoiled. I hope Apple doesn't get left behind in features when the 2016 model is released. I want to stay with macOS!

 

[Samuelsan2001]

My mid-2012 rMBP (i7 2.3, 16GB RAM, SSD) is still working like a champ in most areas, however I'm seriously thinking about making a switch back to Windoze if the new MacBook Pro doesn't blow me away. The biggest issue I have is connectivity - the highest resolution I can drive at 60hz is 3440x1440 - no 4k/5k options here. Also, both GPUs (integrated and dedicated) have seen better days.

I think the next rMBP will have at least a couple of TB3 ports, which will give me the ability to solve both issues (4k/5k 60hz and eGPU). What about an actual OLED panel? There have been a couple of reviews of the new Alienware 13 laptop with 1440p OLED display, and they both say nothing compares to how the screen looks.

The retina panel is what did most of the work switching me to OS X in 2012 - I was spoiled. I hope Apple doesn't get left behind in features when the 2016 model is released. I want to stay with macOS!

Hopefully the next one but it may be next year instead.

 

[sakabaro]

Next year?

 

[Trey M]

My mid-2012 rMBP (i7 2.3, 16GB RAM, SSD) is still working like a champ in most areas, however I'm seriously thinking about making a switch back to Windoze if the new MacBook Pro doesn't blow me away. The biggest issue I have is connectivity - the highest resolution I can drive at 60hz is 3440x1440 - no 4k/5k options here. Also, both GPUs (integrated and dedicated) have seen better days.

I think the next rMBP will have at least a couple of TB3 ports, which will give me the ability to solve both issues (4k/5k 60hz and eGPU). What about an actual OLED panel? There have been a couple of reviews of the new Alienware 13 laptop with 1440p OLED display, and they both say nothing compares to how the screen looks.

The retina panel is what did most of the work switching me to OS X in 2012 - I was spoiled. I hope Apple doesn't get left behind in features when the 2016 model is released. I want to stay with macOS!

I think the switch to an OLED panel, or a similar technology, is very likely in the next MBP.

Apple has shown that whatever display it throws on a notebook is the display that notebook will have throughout the model's cycle. Look at the Air and the current MBP-- no updates in the display department since their initial releases. The Air's display in particular shows its age mightily in 2016. I think this all lays the ground for a killer display in the 2016 MBP refresh.

This most likely means it will be much higher-res to address the competition, which equates to increased power consumption. With the assumption that the next MBP will be thinner (it's Jony) this inevitably means the battery is going to have to be a lot more efficient. That's where OLED comes into play. It's considerably more efficient tech in terms of battery life than what the rMBP currently boasts, so I'm definitely expecting to see an OLED screen come into play to support the battery considerations.


As an owner of a 2012 rMBP myself, I'm in total agreement that's it's humming along like a complete champion. Literally there are only 2 areas where this machine shows its age at all-- SSD speeds and the GPU. The GPU is definitely the most glaring issue with the machine currently. However, aside from that it's going along incredibly well. It'll be sad if I have to sell mine to swoop for the new MBP, really have enjoyed the machine more than most.

 

[friedkimchi]

Do you absolutely need a laptop? Have you considered building a desktop?

I'm planning on selling my rmbp 15" to get a 13" rmbp/air? + a cheap Skylake i3 gaming desktop.

Since getting my 24" 1080p external monitor, I rarely use the retina screen. It's still too cramped for xcode.

The current rumors point to Apple releasing the updated Pros after the back to school sale. Some time in September. Could be before or after the iPhone event.

 

[bootz]

This might sound crazy, but I love the layout of a laptop setup, specifically the rMBP. The positioning of keyboard and trackpad is perfect. I can easily reach down to the trackpad and back to the keyboard with little effort, something that can't be said to using a keyboard/mouse or even a keyboard and Magic Trackpad.

 

[jerryk]

eGPU? I don't think this will happen. That makes sense for gaming PCs, but the MacBook Pro is not a gaming PC. That market is too price sensitive (ie. low margin) for Apple. Also it would mean OSX would have to be reved to support drivers for the cards.

 

[bootz]

eGPU? I don't think this will happen. That makes sense for gaming PCs, but the MacBook Pro is not a gaming PC. That market is too price sensitive (ie. low margin) for Apple. Also it would mean OSX would have to be reved to support drivers for the cards.

If it ships with Thunderbolt 3, eGPU will become popular with the rMBP whether Apple wants it to or not.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

eGPU? I don't think this will happen. That makes sense for gaming PCs, but the MacBook Pro is not a gaming PC. That market is too price sensitive (ie. low margin) for Apple. Also it would mean OSX would have to be reved to support drivers for the cards.

However eGPU's will suddenly make Apple laptops great gaming machines, with little to no effort on apples part, this will increase the selling power of its laptops without lowering its margins, so tell me again why Apple will not want eGPU's to work with MacBooks???

 

[maflynn]

I hope Apple doesn't get left behind in features when the 2016 model is released.

I think that's everyone's concern here. With their last reported quarter showing a 40 percent drop in Mac shipments, people are holding off on buying new macs (I would assume for a variety of reasons).

I think the competition has leap frogged apple in design, performance and components. I don't think they can just slap a Skylake (or even kabylake) chipset and roll out a "new" MacBook Pro at this stage.

 

[jerryk]

However eGPU's will suddenly make Apple laptops great gaming machines, with little to no effort on apples part, this will increase the selling power of its laptops without lowering its margins, so tell me again why Apple will not want eGPU's to work with MacBooks???

How is it little or no effort? Looks at the issues the Hackintosh community has to go through to get OSX to run reliably. Even simple things like Bluetooth cards have to be vendor specific. Even eGPUs on Windows systems have issues.

If you want a gaming rig, build a gaming rig with proper cooling and overclock the hell out of it. That is what I do.

 

[bootz]

How is it little or no effort? Looks at the issues the Hackintosh community has to go through to get OSX to run reliably. Even simple things like Bluetooth cards have to be vendor specific. Even eGPUs on Windows systems have issues.

If you want a gaming rig, build a gaming rig with proper cooling and overclock the hell out of it. That is what I do.

TB3 eGPUs are in their infancy, heck there is only 1 retail product available right now (Razer Core), and you already have folks running them on all different types of machines with TB3. I think the market is going to be huge.

 

[jerryk]

TB3 eGPUs are in their infancy, heck there is only 1 retail product available right now (Razer Core), and you already have folks running them on all different types of machines with TB3. I think the market is going to be huge.

Maybe. But $500 for the Razar Core box and then the card on top of that ($300-700) is expensive. Then you have to add $1400-2500 (guess) for a 2016 MacBook Pro. Then add a decent gaming keyboard ($130), mouse ($70) , Ethernet adapter$(40)(low ping times), ... The numbers add pretty quick.

Also, I worry about cooling with Apple's thinness obsession. Thin chassis and good cooling is a tough combination to get right.

 

[Closingracer]

Do you absolutely need a laptop? Have you considered building a desktop?

I'm planning on selling my rmbp 15" to get a 13" rmbp/air? + a cheap Skylake i3 gaming desktop.

Since getting my 24" 1080p external monitor, I rarely use the retina screen. It's still too cramped for xcode.

The current rumors point to Apple releasing the updated Pros after the back to school sale. Some time in September. Could be before or after the iPhone event.

EH I would NOT suggest an i3 gaming desktop..... A lot of games require an i5 or better and TBH I would put in the slightly more cash for an i5 at least ....
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I think that's everyone's concern here. With their last reported quarter showing a 40 percent drop in Mac shipments, people are holding off on buying new macs (I would assume for a variety of reasons).

I think the competition has leap frogged apple in design, performance and components. I don't think they can just slap a Skylake (or even kabylake) chipset and roll out a "new" MacBook Pro at this stage.

Yes they can.... TBH the Apple name can pretty much keep it going for at least another 2-3 years.... PC sales be it MacOS or Windows are declining and Apple already knows this so I can probably guess Apple is planning accordingly to that and not investing much more into the Pro model and the Air and focus on the "Macbook" ?

 

[poorcody]

I think that's everyone's concern here. With their last reported quarter showing a 40 percent drop in Mac shipments, people are holding off on buying new macs (I would assume for a variety of reasons).

I think the competition has leap frogged apple in design, performance and components. I don't think they can just slap a Skylake (or even kabylake) chipset and roll out a "new" MacBook Pro at this stage.

Totally agree with this... also given that Apple has slowed down the release of new Macs over the last few years, it makes me feel like anything new better have more longevity than previous iterations. Otherwise, to me, "investing" in the platform is riskier.

Apple would do itself a favor by actually lowering the price of the existing models. Keeping premium pricing on aged tech is only adding to the problem.