The OLED technology inside Apple’s new touchscreen MacBook Pro could eventually make its way to the MacBook Air and iMac, potentially bringing sharper displays with lower power consumption.
Apple is exploring wider use of high-mobility oxide (HMO) display technology, a type of transistor technology already used in the redesigned MacBook Pro introduced October 28.
The company is reportedly working with Samsung Display and LG Display to improve manufacturing efficiency before expanding the technology to other products.
How HMO Could Improve Future Mac Displays
HMO is used in the backplane, a layer of circuitry behind an OLED screen that controls individual pixels.
Its main advantage is improved electron mobility, which allows electrical charges to move more efficiently through the transistors.
Conventional oxide transistors typically achieve mobility of around 10 cm²/Vs, while HMO targets 30 to 50 cm²/Vs.
That improvement could help displays support higher resolutions while consuming less power, particularly valuable for battery-powered devices like the MacBook Air.
Apple currently uses low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) technology in products such as the iPhone and OLED iPad Pro. HMO could eventually replace existing transistor technology across more of its display lineup.
Samsung and LG Are Working on Manufacturing Improvements
Both display suppliers are reportedly testing two approaches to producing HMO panels.
The first, sputtering, deposits thin layers of material using equipment that can more easily integrate into existing manufacturing lines.
The second, atomic layer deposition, builds material one atomic layer at a time, offering greater precision but requiring a more complex production process.
Samsung and LG are currently prioritizing sputtering while evaluating the performance and reliability of both methods.
Finding a manufacturing process that scales efficiently could make HMO displays more practical for less expensive Macs.
When Could MacBook Air and iMac Get OLED?
Apple is reportedly considering HMO for future MacBook and iMac models, although neither has a confirmed OLED release date.
The MacBook Air has been linked to an OLED upgrade, but it’s unclear when Apple will introduce the display technology or whether HMO will be included in its first OLED version.
An OLED iMac is also reportedly under consideration, with no firm launch timeline.
For now, the redesigned MacBook Pro remains Apple’s first OLED-equipped Mac, starting at $2,899. Its display technology could eventually help bring similar improvements to more affordable models.
