Forget The MacBook Pro, Apple Has Bigger Plans

With Apple’s refresh of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro expected in the next month or two, many macOS fans will be getting ready to spend a lot of money on a lot of laptop. But those chasing for the best new technology may be better off waiting, especially if they are hoping for an improved display to match the Windows powered competition.

Details on a potential display with a faster refresh rate of 90 Hz reported by Apple Insider:

“Along with ASUS, Samsung Display has been providing OLED panels to Lenovo, Dell, HP and Samsung Electronics. Apple is not mentioned as a customer, but rumors suggest the tech giant will tap Samsung’s “Gen 8.5″ OLED line for MacBook Pro panels in 2022. Whispers of an OLED-equipped 16-inch MacBook Pro circulated in March, but word of a 14-inch variant has yet to surface.”

Anyone looking to buy a new macOS laptop should take careful stock of the situation right now, because much of it is in flux.

With Apple’s recent confirmation that the design of the M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro displays can contribute to a cracked display due to the quest for thinness, it should be clear why many will stop and consider if buying an expensive M1 MacBook is the way forward – and that’s before the consideration of the upcoming refresh of the Apple Silicon with the presumptively-named M1X chip and the associated redesign of the laptop expected next month.

Not only will the design of the MacBook Pro be changed, but the technology in the screen is also going to move with the times. By switching to miniLED, Apple’s macOS laptops will be able to offer more vivid colors, deeper blacks, and improved energy efficiency. Yet these will be Apple’s first-generation of miniLED screens in a laptop form fact, and with a quiet nod towards the embarrassing design changes in the M1 MacBooks, many will be wary of investing in the initial iteration.

Finally, there’s the fact that Apple’s upcoming laptop displays will still fall short compared to Windows 10 laptops. A look round the world of gaming laptops and you’ll find displays with high refresh rates to enhance the experience, with 240 Hz screens readily available (here’s Dell’s Alienware m15 r2 for example). Even with its very high end laptops, Apple has resolutely stuck with 60 Hz displays. That is not expected to change with the new design for 2021.

The display is the key output device of any laptop, and getting it right is key to creating a welcoming and productive experience. With the rise of miniLED throughout the laptop production chain, Apple is joining a growing group of manufacturers using the technology.

Apple’s tentative steps will be seen later this year, but for those of you looking for a revolutionary upgrade to your view on the digital world, you might want to wait until the new display panels arrive in 2022.

Come 2022, Apple might finally, get around to including a touch screen as well as the faster refresh rate.

Now read the latest headlines from the iPhone launch in this week’s Apple Loop…