The touch-enabled MacBook Pro will get its OLED screens only from Samsung Display, as Apple seemingly freezes out other suppliers for the inbound model.
The OLED MacBook Pro is currently expected to arrive either in late 2026 or early 2027. While the release timing is up for debate, it is claimed that there is only going to be one supplier of the key component itself.
According to sources of TheElec on Monday, Apple's working on OLED and touch-enabled displays for the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Samsung Display will be the sole supplier of the panels for the model.
Samsung Display is expected to supply approximately 2.5 million units of the display to Apple for the model. The shipment timings of late in 2026 and early 2027 lines up with the rumored schedule for the model.
Just Samsung
The news is unusual, as Apple tends to include multiple suppliers in its display pipeline. However, it is not considering using LG Display nor BOE at all this time.
While LG Display has been linked to the development of OLED displays for potential use in a MacBook Pro in the past, the report claims it's not that way at all. Samsung Display was apparently the only company involved in developing this panel, the report claims.
Instead of a separate exclusive supply contract, Samsung Display got Apple to agree to an exclusive supply structure instead. This was due to Samsung dealing with panel specifications and mass production conditions from the development stage.
LG Display was involved at one point, when Apple asked the two suppliers about mass production using large-area substrates. LG Display wanted to use its sixth-generation line, while Samsung Display proposed using its 8.6-gen version.
It appeared that LG Display's proposal was possible, but lower substrate efficiency and productivity were concerns.
Since the order was for 2.5 million units, it was considered to be enough for just one supplier to deal with, rather than the two needed for an iPhone.
The story isn't over for LG Display, though, as it continues to be a supplier of LCD-based displays for the MacBook Pro, and OLED panels for the iPad Pro.
An industry official added that LG Display's entry into the OLED pipeline for the MacBook Pro won't happen until 2029 at the earliest.
For Samsung Display, the exclusivity will be a big benefit, and one that will last for a few years at least.
