September 8, 2024

Samsung Investing $3.1 Billion in Facility That Will Make OLED Panels for 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro

Posted April 4, 2023 at 10:35pm by iClarified · 5664 views
Samsung plans to invest 4.1 trillion won ($3.14 billion) into its Asan, South Korea facility to make advanced organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panels, reports Reuters.

The investment will be made through 2026 and is part of a previously announced plan to increase investments outside of Seoul.

The investment is part of a previously-announced plan by Samsung Electronics and affiliates to invest 60.1 trillion won in the next 10 years in regions outside the capital, Seoul.

Notably, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants says that this fab will produce OLED panels for the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch OLED MacBook Pro.

"This fab is for 14" and 16" OLED MacBook Pro's from 2026. Some technical risk though, with new backplane approach and frontplane approach to lower costs and improve performance."

Young also added that the OLED 13.4" MacBook Air (expected next year) will be produced from an older G6 fab.

When asked why Apple wouldn't upgrade the rumored 15-inch MacBook Air with OLED at the same time or before the 13-inch model, Young responded, "also have to consider cost of manufacturing, likely need to wait till larger G8.7 fabs come to market."

Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more Mac updates.