Apple may land a third display supplier for future OLED MacBooks

After it switched its iPhones to OLED displays completely, Apple may be planning to apply the technology to its devices with larger screens, such as MacBooks, iPads, or monitors. Both LG and Samsung are reportedly working on displays for the first OLED iPads that are rumored to be launched in 2024, based on the current 6-Gen OLED panel production method.

LG is slightly ahead in the OLED MacBook panels' development as it has more experience with larger OLED screens and is a pioneer of the frugal dual-stack OLED technology that Apple allegedly prefers. LG and Samsung, however, will indeed use the current 6-Gen display technology for Apple's first OLED iPads, reports Korean media today, while they are hard at work on developing 8.5-Gen OLEDs for larger laptop screens like those on Apple's MacBooks.

The 8.5-Gen substrate sheets are larger and more economical to cut screens with display diagonals larger than 10 inches from. Samsung has started the development of its two-track 8.5-Gen OLED technology last year, and LG has apparently followed with a half-cut horizontal deposition tryout in December, with the aim to win Apple's approval and wiggle into the future OLED MacBooks supply chain. There is, however, a third option that Apple may pursue now, larger 8.5-Gen OLED panels made by BOE.

The screen maker has reportedly approached the Japanese from Canon Tokki for the development of the evaporator technique needed, and plans to start mass production of 8.5-Gen OLED displays on its B16 line in Chengdu by the end of 2024. Thus, starting in 2025, Apple may be able to choose from three 8.5-Gen screen suppliers - LG, Samsung, and BOE - for its future MacBooks, iPads, or maybe even monitors with OLED display technology.

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