Abstract:
The latest roadmap released by market research organization Omdia shows that Apple may be planning a new MacBook product line. The agency predicts that Apple is expected to launch a new laptop equipped with a 13.8-inch OLED screen in 2029, opening up a new product positioning range between the existing MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
In Omdia’s updated planning map, this new 13.8-inch model happens to be interspersed between the product change nodes of the Air and Pro series. According to supply chain sources, unlike the high-end MacBook Pro, which is expected to be unveiled later this year or early next year and use a dual-layer tandem OLED (Tandem OLED) architecture, this new model is expected to use a relatively basic single-stack hybrid OLED (Single-stack hybrid OLED) panel.
This product plan is not without clues. As early as June this year, South Korean media ZDNet Korea reported that Apple had contacted Samsung Display, LG Display and BOE to conduct multiple inquiries and research on the supply information of 13.8-inch OLED laptop panels. At that time, it was widely speculated that this specification was likely to be a technical reserve for the first OLED MacBook Air, which was expected to be released as early as 2028.
However, in Omdia's latest research and judgment, the previously rumored OLED MacBook Air did not appear, and was replaced by a 13.8-inch model that was independently classified as a "new" product category. In terms of technical specifications, the device is expected to be equipped with LTPO+ backplane technology, an integrated touch sensing layer, an under-screen camera (UPC), and a color filter (COE) directly integrated inside the packaging layer.
It is still too early to determine the final screen supplier for the device. However, analysts believe that with this unique positioning, this product is expected to become a key force in Apple's mainstream notebook market, accurately cutting into the market gap between the MacBook Air with LCD screen and the MacBook Pro with OLED screen. The roadmap also shows that the MacBook Air product line may continue to use existing LCD screens until 2030.
However, there is still room for adjustment in Apple’s comprehensive advancement of OLED display technology. Omdia specifically emphasized in the report that the roadmap is based on the current industry status and market expectations, and may still be subject to OLED production capacity ramping, supply chain component cost fluctuations, and changes in Apple's overall hardware strategy. Given that this model belongs to a brand-new product series and is still several years away from its expected release, whether it will finally be launched remains to be seen.
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