The transition from mini-LED to OLED technology from Apple’s side is expected to take place in 2024 for both the company’s iPad and MacBook families. According to the latest report, the technology giant was in talks with LG Display to incorporate the use of equipment from a third-party vendor, likely to speed up the production of the next-generation displays at an acceptable price.

LG is said to be working with Sunic Systems for OLED evaporator equipment to develop display technology for future iPad and MacBook models

A report from The Elec states that Apple favored Canon Tokki OLED evaporators thanks to their reliability. For those that do not know, an OLED evaporator deposits an organic light-emitting layer on the panel and is used to heat up organic materials in order for them to get vaporized and then get deposited on the panel’s substrate. The problem here is not with the evaporator but with the company Canon Tokki, as its equipment’s pricing is not considered economical.

This is one reason why Apple has been in talks with LG Display; to secure OLED equipment from Sunic Systems for the 2024 iPad and MacBook models, as it is significantly cheaper to procure. In fact, LG’s investment is said to be reduced by around 40 percent if it switches from Canon Tokki to Sunic Systems, meaning that each OLED panel for future Apple devices will see a massive cost reduction, allowing the California-based technology behemoth to maintain a healthy profit.

The first OLED MacBook is expected to be the 13.3-inch MacBook Air, but it will likely miss out on ‘pro’ features

LG and Sunic Systems are reportedly attempting to agree to develop an 8th-generation OLED evaporator. The lowered manufacturing costs should also mean that other companies can use this technology in their products, allowing OLED panels to be widely adopted by consumers as this display variant penetrates different market segments. Previously, we reported that Apple’s upcoming OLED iPad Pro family would be 80 percent more expensive than current models, resulting in the 11-inch version being priced at a whopping $1,500.

The upcoming 13.3-inch OLED MacBook Air could be priced similarly, and one of the contributing factors may have been Apple’s propensity to stick with Canon Tokki’s evaporators, which might change soon, based on the report. Assuming LG Display and Sunic Systems are unable to reach an agreement, potential buyers will have to reach deep into their pockets and find a reason to justify those expensive purchases.

News Source: The Elec