According to a recent source, the latest iPad Pro models’ poor sales have had a major impact on Apple’s ambitions to switch to OLED displays for its product lineup. According to reports, the business has postponed the release of the eagerly awaited OLED MacBook Air, which was initially planned for 2027, until 2029.
The company’s initial sales goals for the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models, which were among the first Apple products to use OLED technology, were not met, which led to this setback.
Effect on the Release of the OLED MacBook Air
An OLED MacBook Air was once scheduled for release by 2027 by Apple. However, with the poor sales of the iPad Pro, the company has pushed back the launch to 2029.
Apple’s decision to delay is likely influenced by the high costs of OLED panel production, which would require a substantial investment in new manufacturing facilities and panel orders.
Given the iPad Pro’s slower-than-expected sales, Apple may have decided it is not prudent to risk a similar outcome with a MacBook Air that incorporates this expensive new technology.
The OLED MacBook Pro is still scheduled for release in 2026.
In a more positive note for OLED enthusiasts, Apple is still on track to release an OLED MacBook Pro by 2026.
However, it remains unclear whether the iPad Pro’s underwhelming sales will also lead to delays for this higher-end product
iPad Pro OLED Sales Are Not Up to Par
With the debut of the new M4 chipset and a considerable redesign, it was anticipated that the 11-inch and 13-inch M4 iPad Pro versions with OLED panels would attract a lot of interest.
Apple only managed to ship 6 million units instead of the expected 10 million, indicating that sales have fallen short of expectations.
Due to its poor performance, the business has been forced to postpone the release of the OLED MacBook Air because it cannot afford to invest in mass production of OLED screens in the absence of improved sales figures.
Mac Book OLED
MacBook Lineup Transition to OLED and Mini-LED
While Apple has ambitious plans to shift its entire product range to OLED displays, the delay of the MacBook Air has led to some changes in their strategy.
The company had previously switched its MacBook Pro lineup to mini-LED displays, offering better color accuracy and contrast compared to traditional IPS LCD screens.
However, Apple has reportedly no plans to make the same shift to mini-LED for the MacBook Air, meaning the next iteration will still feature standard IPS LCD displays.
Despite this, Apple’s current MacBook Air models—including the 13-inch and 15-inch M3 models—remain well-liked because of their reasonable prices and remarkable features, which start at $899.
Even without the OLED upgrade, these models—which come with the M3 chipset and 16GB of unified RAM—should continue to sell well.
Display Technology from the MacBook Pro Will Be Featured in the Next-Generation MacBook Air
A recent rumour by The Elec claims that Apple’s forthcoming MacBook Air, which is scheduled for delivery in 2025, will use display technology taken from its MacBook Pro series.
Contrary to earlier rumors suggesting an OLED upgrade, the next-generation MacBook Air will use an oxide TFT LCD panel.
Here’s what we know about the upcoming changes and why Apple made this decision.
The Price Problem with the iPad Pro OLED
Apple’s price issues with the most recent iPad Pro devices are partially to blame for this change in approach.
With their OLED panels, the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models are expensive. Although OLED technology provides amazing visual quality, it is expensive to produce, and it seems that Apple has decided that adding OLED to the MacBook Air is not yet practical.
Mac Book OLED
Oxide TFT LCD Panels Provide Superior Efficiency
The oxide TFT LCD panels that will be used in the forthcoming MacBook Air are still an improvement above conventional LCD screens, even though OLED technology may not be used.
Because of these displays’ enhanced performance and greater colour accuracy, the MacBook Air is a fantastic choice for those seeking a mix between price and functionality.
Updates to the iPhone 17 Series’ Cooling and Display
According to related Apple news, vapour chamber cooling, which was previously exclusively anticipated for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, would reportedly be included in the next iPhone 17 series for both Pro and non-Pro versions.
High-refresh-rate screens may also be included in the non-Pro iPhone 17 variants, however it’s unclear if they will be 90Hz or 120Hz.
The MacBook Air does not have OLED. However,
Even though a lot of people wanted the MacBook Air to have an OLED screen, this expensive technology will not be included in the upcoming edition. Since oxide TFT LCD panels perform better than conventional amorphous silicon TFTs,
Apple will instead keep utilising them. The decision to opt for this technology was primarily driven by cost concerns.
OLED displays are expensive, and given the MacBook Air’s position as a more affordable laptop, the costs associated with OLED could make the device less competitive in the market
Future Models of MacBook Air
Apple will keep using LCD technology for the MacBook Air in the interim. Oxide TFT LCD technology, which offers a number of advantages over conventional LCDs, including greater colour accuracy, a higher contrast ratio, more consistent brightness, and longer battery life, will replace LCDs in the MacBook Air starting in 2027.
Even while the MacBook Air won’t have OLED screens anytime soon, customers can anticipate better images thanks to these advancements.
The launch of the MacBook Pro OLED is still scheduled.
The MacBook Pro models are still anticipated to get OLED screens in 2026, a year before the MacBook Air OLED, despite the Air’s postponement.
In the near future, Apple is getting ready to release new MacBook Air models using the M4 chip, which should happen in the upcoming months.
Causes of the Delay
According to the source, the poor iPad Pro sales are the reason behind Apple’s decision to postpone OLED for the MacBook Air.
According to reports, Apple is cautious to add OLED screens to the MacBook Air portfolio at a time when they might not offer a substantial enough benefit to warrant the higher price because they are more costly to make.
In conclusion
Apple’s choice to postpone the sale of the OLED MacBook Air until 2029 demonstrates the difficulties the business will encounter when switching all of its products to OLED technology.
The iPad Pro’s sales setback raises concerns about how soon Apple can fully adopt OLED panels across its products, even though the forthcoming OLED MacBook Pro is still scheduled for 2026.
Despite this, consumers still find the latest MacBook Air models to be very affordable and have good performance, which is probably why many choose them.
Mac Book OLED
Sales of Apple’s future OLED MacBook Pro and other gadgets will be closely watched as the business progresses in order to determine how quickly it can adjust to changing consumer tastes.
