Vratislav Holub Displays are an integral part of many Apple devices, which have improved significantly in recent years. However, the company does not intend to stop there, on the contrary. According to various leaks, speculations and experts, the Cupertino company is preparing to make very fundamental changes. In short, many Apple products will soon receive significantly better screens, which the company plans to deploy in the coming years.
As we mentioned above, displays have come a long way in the case of Apple products. That is why today, for example, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch or Macs completely dominate this area and provide their users with a first-class experience. Let's therefore focus on their future, or what awaits us in the coming years. Apparently, we have a lot to look forward to.
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Jiří Filip iPads and OLEDs
First of all, iPads were talked about in connection with the fundamental improvement of the display. At the same time, Apple brought the first experiment. Apple tablets have long relied on "basic" LCD LED displays, while iPhones, for example, have been using more advanced OLED technology since 2017. That first experiment came in April 2021, when the brand new iPad Pro was introduced, which immediately attracted an avalanche of attention. The Cupertino company opted for a display with so-called Mini-LED backlighting and ProMotion technology. They even equipped the device with the M1 chipset from the Apple Silicon family. But it is important to mention that only the 12,9″ model got a better display. The variant with an 11″ screen continues to use the so-called Liquid Retina display (LCD LED with IPS technology).
This is how Apple introduced the iPad Pro (2021)
This also started a series of speculations describing the soon arrival of another improvement - the deployment of an OLED panel. What is not so clear, however, is the specific model that will be the first to boast this improvement. However, the iPad Pro is most often mentioned in connection with the arrival of the OLED display. At the same time, this is also confirmed by the latest information about a quite possible increase in the price of the Pro model, where the display is supposed to be one of the reasons.
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Earlier, however, there was also a lot of talk about the iPad Air. On the other hand, these speculations and reports have completely disappeared, so it can be assumed that the "Pro" will see improvement first. It also makes the most sense conceptually – OLED display technology is significantly better than the aforementioned LCD LED or displays with Mini-LED backlighting, which makes it most likely that it will be the top model from the Apple tablet portfolio. The first such device could be introduced as early as 2024.
MacBooks and OLEDs
Apple soon followed the path of the iPad Pro with its laptops. As such, MacBooks rely on traditional LCD displays with LED backlighting and IPS technology. The first major change came, as in the case of the iPad Pro, in 2021. At the end of the year, Apple introduced a literally breathtaking device in the form of a completely redesigned MacBook Pro, which came in versions with 14″ and 16″ display diagonals. This was an extremely important piece of equipment. It was the first ever professional Mac that used Apple Silicon's own chipsets instead of an Intel processor, namely the M1 Pro and M1 Max models. But let's go back to the display itself. As we already hinted a few lines above, in the case of this generation, Apple opted for a display with Mini-LED backlighting and ProMotion technology, thereby raising the display quality by several levels.
Even in the case of Apple laptops, however, there has been talk of using an OLED panel for a long time. If Apple were to follow the path of its tablets, then it would make the most sense if the aforementioned MacBook Pro saw this change. He could thus replace Mini-LED with OLED. In the case of MacBooks, however, Apple is to take a slightly different route and, instead, go for a completely different device, for which you would probably not expect such a change. Indeed, many sources state that this MacBook Pro is to retain its Mini-LED display for a while longer. On the contrary, the MacBook Air will likely be the first Apple laptop to use an OLED panel. It is the Air that could take advantage of the fundamental advantages of OLED displays, which are thinner and more energy-efficient compared to Mini-LED, which could have a positive effect on the overall durability of the device.
Only iPhones and AW offer OLED at the same time
In addition, even the most respected sources have spoken about the fact that the MacBook Air will be the first to get an OLED display. The information came from, for example, a respected analyst focusing on displays, Ross Young, and one of the most accurate analysts ever, Ming-Chi Kuo. However, this also brings with it a number of other questions. For now, it is not entirely clear whether it will be the Air as we know it today, or whether it will be a new device that will be sold alongside the current models. There is also the possibility that the laptop could have a completely different name, or that the sources confuse it with the 13″ MacBook Pro, which could receive a major improvement years later. We will have to wait for the answer some Friday. The first MacBook with an OLED display is due to arrive in 2024 at the earliest.
Apple Watch & iPhones and Micro LED
Lastly, we'll shine a light on the Apple Watch. Apple smartwatches have been using OLED-type screens since they entered the market, which seem to be the best solution in this particular case. Because they support, for example, the Always-on function (Apple Watch Series 5 and later) on such a small device, they are not even the most expensive. However, Apple is not going to stop with OLED technology, and on the contrary, it is looking for ways to raise the matter a few levels higher. That is why there is talk of using so-called Micro LED displays, which have been called the future in their field for a long time and are slowly becoming a reality. The truth is that for the time being we cannot find many devices with such a screen. Although it is an unrivaled high-quality technology, it is, on the other hand, demanding and expensive.
In this sense, it is quite understandable that the Apple Watch will be the first to see this change, due to its smaller display. It will be easier for Apple to invest in such displays for watches than to put them in, for example, 24″ iMacs, the price of which could literally skyrocket. Due to the complexity and price, only one potential device is offered. The very first piece that will most likely boast the use of a Micro LED display will be the Apple Watch Ultra - the best smart watch from Apple for the most demanding users. Such a watch could come in 2025 at the earliest.
Apple Watch Ultra (2022)
The same improvement began to be talked about in connection with apple phones. However, it is necessary to mention that we are still quite far from this change and we will have to wait for the Micro LED panels on Apple phones for another Friday. But as we mentioned above, Micro LED represents the future of displays. So it is not a question of whether Apple phones will arrive, but rather when.
