Apple Explores Cheaper Way to Make New MacBook Pro's OLED Tech

Apple is currently examining methods to more efficiently produce high-mobility oxide (HMO) backplanes for upcoming OLED panels, as reported by Korean news outlet The Elec. This technology is already employed in the new touchscreen MacBook Pro, according to display analyst Ross Young. Apple may be aiming to boost production for potential use in other products.

Both Samsung Display and LG Display are also developing HMO thin-film transistor technology for OLED panels. HMO is intended to enhance conventional oxide TFT displays by increasing electron mobility, which refers to how easily electrons move through the transistor material when an electric field is applied. Increased electron mobility allows for driving high-resolution OLED panels while maintaining low power consumption.

Existing oxide TFTs exhibit electron mobility of approximately 10cm²/Vs, whereas HMO aims to raise this to the range of 30–50cm²/Vs. Samsung and LG are reportedly utilizing a sputtering process, which could potentially integrate the technology more seamlessly into existing production lines. Additionally, both suppliers are exploring atomic layer deposition (ALD), a slower process that involves depositing extremely thin films one atomic layer at a time.

ALD aims to create a more precisely controlled oxide transistor layer compared to HMO. Both companies are validating the performance and stability of each deposition method, with a preference for the sputtering approach. The Elec suggests potential applications in future MacBooks and iMacs, and Apple is reportedly testing OLED displays for future MacBook Air and iMac models.

However, both upgrades are still some distance away. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman predicts a MacBook Air refresh in early 2027, but he has not specified a timeframe for either model's transition to OLED.