OLED MacBook Pros are almost here, and the display could be worth the wait

I recently wrote an article on why I am excited about the upcoming MacBook Pro. One of the reasons mentioned there was the expected display upgrades, which will include the move to an OLED panel and quite possibly the addition of a touch screen. 

It seems that the OLED rumor is almost confirmed. According to TheElec, the OLED panels for MacBook Pro have already entered the mass production phase. Samsung Display has crossed a major manufacturing milestone, achieving a yield of over 90% for its 8.6th-generation OLED panels. 

What does yield even mean?

In simple terms, yield refers to the percentage of panels that come out of production without defects. The display industry considers anything around 90% to be the sweet spot for mass production. Samsung has not only hit that number but pushed some individual processes to 95%, which the company calls a “golden yield.”

The process had only a 80% yield last month, so getting here in just over a month is impressive. Higher yields mean lower production costs, which can eventually translate into more affordable products for consumers. Although if Apple’s past record is anything to go by, the cost benefit will not be passed on to its users. 

Samsung Display is currently running one production line at half its total capacity, producing 7,500 sheets per month. The panels are headed straight for Apple’s 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, with shipments expected to begin as early as next month and a supply volume of around 2 million units estimated for this year.

Why is making laptop OLEDs so hard?

Laptop OLED displays are significantly harder to manufacture than smartphone panels. They are larger, stay on for longer periods, and require higher brightness, better lifespan, and brightness uniformity across a larger surface area. 

Samsung’s panel uses a two-stack tandem structure that layers two light-emitting layers on top of each other, which is one of the reasons securing high yield has been such a challenge. It’s the same tandem-OLED technology that Apple uses in its iPad Pro lineup, which packs some of the best OLED displays on the market. 

If sales of OLED MacBook Pros go well, Samsung is ready to activate its second production line, which would double output almost immediately. MacBook Neo has already become a runaway success for Apple, and Apple might be looking for a repeat. 

However, the upcoming MacBook Pros are also rumored to receive a significant price hike, which might curtail some enthusiasm.