Apple to switch to IGZO display for future MacBook Pros: DigiTimes

The screen of the 2016 MacBook Pros is one of their best attributes, but it seems Apple isn't resting on its laurels—for displays, anyway. DigiTimes reports that Apple will shift to IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) LCD panels from Sharp and Samsung for its 2017 laptops, which should result in an overall increase in display-quality and battery life.

IGZO displays are not a type (such as OLED or IPS), but refer to the material used for the transistors in the display. IGZO is a material with much higher electron mobility than the silicon typically used for the backplane of LCD screens. Its much-improved (up to 50 times faster than amorphous silicon) electron mobility allows for faster response times, and increased resolution—though in practice, their response times have shown room for improvement.

One reason Apple may be interested in switching to IGZO transistors could be improving the battery life of their MacBooks, which continue to face criticism as many users report poorer-than-expected battery life. IGZO transistors are much thinner than the standard amorphous silicon, which translates to needing less backlighting, therefore lowering power consumption.