Apple OLED MacBook Pro on Track for 2026, OLED MacBook Air Launch Delayed [Report]

Apple's OLED MacBook Pro panels are on schedule for a 2026 debut, but the OLED MacBook Air will likely be delayed until after 2029, according to a new report from The Elec.

Samsung Display is advancing its 8th-generation IT OLED line (A6) with two key deposition machines. The first machine, already installed and producing IT OLED samples, is purportedly dedicated to manufacturing OLED panels for Apple's upcoming MacBook Pro. Industry estimates indicate that annual shipments of these panels could reach 3 to 5 million units, enough for Apple's premium notebook lineup.

In contrast, the second deposition machine is earmarked for IT OLED panels destined for other clients. Its installation is scheduled for the first half of this year. This production setup adjustment allegedly follows Apple's decision to postpone its OLED MacBook Air launch, originally slated for 2027, to a date after 2029. Instead, Apple is now expected to introduce an LCD MacBook Air in 2027 that will utilize a next-generation oxide thin-film transistor (TFT) technology, which offers higher electron mobility compared to the previous amorphous silicon (a-Si) approach.


Additional background details reveal that equipment logistics for Samsung Display's line have experienced adjustments. For example, display equipment supplier ICD has extended its contract timeline with Canon Tokki—whose deposition machine components include a crucial chamber for the second machine—by five months. Although these scheduling changes affect the broader production timeline, they do not appear to impact the preparation of the MacBook Pro panels.

As Samsung Display moves toward a production capacity of 10 million 14.3-inch OLED panels annually, securing additional customers remains essential to fully utilize the line. For Apple, the immediate focus is on the MacBook Pro, with OLED technology set to enhance display performance in its high-end models starting in 2026.

Notably, Apple is widely rumored to have a new M4 MacBook Air in the pipeline which could be released as early as this spring. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more Mac updates!