Report: MacBook Air Allegedly Gets OLED Display in 2028

Apple will reportedly equip the MacBook Air with an OLED display in 2028. This is reported by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman in his current "Power On" newsletter. The switch to the self-illuminating display technology is said to be part of a comprehensive OLED conversion that will affect several iPad and Mac product lines.

According to Gurman, Apple will introduce OLED technology gradually across different device classes. The planned order: iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and finally the MacBook Air. Apple has already been using OLED displays for the iPad Pro since 2024. The cheapest iPad model, however, is said to remain with LCD technology.

The OLED variant of the MacBook Air expected for 2028 would likely be equipped with M7 chips under an annual update cycle. Apple is already planning a MacBook Air update with M5 processors for early 2026, according to Gurman, but it will continue to use LCDs. As Apple's CFO recently hinted, no further Mac models are expected for the rest of 2025.

MacBook Pro gets OLED and touchscreen

Significantly earlier than the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro is expected to benefit from OLED technology. Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expect a comprehensive redesign as early as the end of 2026. The MacBook Pro is expected to receive an OLED display and offer touch functionality for the first time – a significant departure from Apple's previous stance against touchscreens on notebooks.

The switch to OLED brings several technical advantages: The self-illuminating pixels enable higher brightness levels with perfect black at the same time, as individual pixels can be completely switched off. This results in significantly higher contrast. Furthermore, OLED displays are more energy-efficient than LCDs with backlighting, which can extend battery life. According to Gurman, Apple has already begun development work on the OLED MacBook Air.

(mki)