Apple could have backtracked on its plans to launch a MacBook Air with OLED display before 2027, according to the latest reports. Although this new model was expected to revolutionize the market, due to major problems in the supply chain and the high manufacturing cost, its arrival is being held back, causing enormous disappointment among fans of the brand.
Will we see the new MacBook Air with an OLED screen before 2027? Everything seems to indicate no. We tell you all the information we have today.
A MacBook Air that is too expensive
The MacBook Air has traditionally been one of Apple’s most affordable and popular laptops, offering a perfect balance between performance, lightness and price. However, integrating an OLED screen into this model could significantly increase its retail price. Industry sources assure that the high production costs of these OLED panels could cause the final price of the device to skyrocket, which would put at risk its attractiveness for the average user looking for an economical option within the Apple ecosystem.
According to the rumor, Apple is trying reduce prices of OLED panels, especially so as not to distort the MacBook Air, which remains one of its best-selling products in the laptop range.
According to Canalys, Apple’s market share in the United States grew by 22% in the first quarter of 2024, probably due to the introduction of the new MacBook Air models with the M3 chip. Keeping the price in an attractive range is key to not losing the growth momentum that the company has experienced.
Do people want OLED screens?
The lack of enthusiasm due to OLED screens has been evident in the sales of this year’s iPad Pro, which includes this technology in its panels, and the figures have been lower than Apple’s expectations. Initially, around 10 million iPad Pro units were expected to ship in 2024. However, the figure was revised downwards to 8.5 million at the beginning of the year and has currently fallen to between 6 and 7 million of units.
The high prices of these devices, starting from €1,199 for the 11-inch model and €1,549 for the 13-inch model, have shown that the change from LCD to OLED, by itself, is not enough to justify the price increase.
This weak market response raises doubts on whether the MacBook Air’s target audience, generally users looking for a cheaper and lighter option, would be willing to pay more just for the visual improvement offered by an OLED screen.
Apple faces difficulties in the supply chain of OLED panels for the MacBook Air, with Samsung as a potential supplier. Although the MacBook Pro is expected to use dual-layer OLED to improve quality, the Air could opt for a single layer to reduce costs, which would limit its visual performance. Apple seeks to balance the price with benefits such as greater brightness, contrast and battery life, without losing the difference with the Pro model.
The entry The MacBook Air with OLED screen is delayed: reasons and new release date was published first in La Manzana Mordida.
