Apple may add a completely new 13.8-inch OLED MacBook to its lineup in 2029, creating another option between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro as the company expands OLED displays across more products.
Omdia says the new model appears in its latest Apple display roadmap as a separate MacBook category rather than part of the Air or Pro lineup. The machine is expected to use a single-stack Hybrid OLED panel, which should cost less than the more advanced tandem OLED technology planned for future MacBook Pro models.
The same roadmap suggests Apple plans to keep the MacBook Air on LCD displays through at least 2030, which makes the new 13.8-inch model more interesting. Earlier reports had suggested Apple was exploring a 13.8-inch OLED panel for a future MacBook Air, but the latest forecast now lists that display under a separate product line.
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New MacBook Could Sit Between Air and Pro
The 13.8-inch MacBook is expected to use several newer display technologies, including an LTPO+ backplane, integrated touch sensing, an under-panel camera and a color filter built into the OLED encapsulation layer. These changes should help Apple reduce display thickness while improving efficiency and screen quality.
Omdia also expects this MacBook to become an important mainstream product over time, which suggests Apple could position it above the MacBook Air while keeping it below the more expensive MacBook Pro models.
The panel supplier remains unclear because the product is still around three years away. Samsung Display, LG Display and BOE are all possible suppliers, especially if Apple needs multiple manufacturers to support larger production volumes.
Apple is also expected to introduce OLED MacBook Pro models before this new machine arrives, while keeping some Mini LED MacBook Pro versions on sale for several years. The roadmap can still change depending on OLED production capacity, component prices and Apple’s wider Mac strategy, so the 13.8-inch model remains an early forecast rather than a confirmed product.
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