Mike Wuerthele
Recent reports peg Samsung as the supplier of the new MacBook Pro's OLED Touch Bar, while Apple is said to be examining the same display technology for future screens across both Mac notebooks and the iPhone.
According to the South Korean ETnews, the Touch Bar is an OLED panel from the Samsung Display A2 line, specifically selected due to being thinner than a conventional LED counterpart. The control integrated circuit is reportedly supplied from Samsung Electronics' System LSI Business Department.
Confirmation of the supplier of the component will have to wait on a tear-down, but given that Samsung is the primary supplier of the world's OLED displays, the report seems likely.
OLED technology is best suited for mobile devices, given that black pixels draw no power from the system.
The latest in a long chain of rumors
Apple currently only uses OLED screens on the Apple Watch, but rumors have speculated that the company has been examining the technology for the iPhone for some time — but Samsung may not end up being the supplier.
As early as March, rumors started circulating that Apple was looking at the OLED technology for future iPhones, with it possibly limited to the high-end only because of possible supply constraints.
In late September, a report claimed that Sharp was investing more than half a billlion dollars in OLED technology, and was in active talks with Apple to supply OLED displays for a future iPhone.
Most recently, newly appointed CEO Tai Jeng-wu of Japanese display maker Sharp seemingly confirmed widespread rumors claiming Apple plans to incorporate OLED panels in a next-generation iPhone. The executive spoke on Apple's future plans in an address at his alma mater Tatung University, calling the migration an "opportunity" for Apple and Sharp.
For the latest prices and savings on 2016 MacBook Pros with and without a Touch Bar, please visit our Mac Price Guide.
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9 Comments
Not surprising. Samsung has been making OLED displays for a long time and they've continually increased the quality and longevity of OLED displays.PS: What I did find surprising is the teardown of the new MBP using a sideways-attached SSD that uses a controller designed by Apple, not Samsung or Toshiba. Step 11 on iFixit's teardown.
I do find it surprising that Apple keeps Samsung as a supplier for anything. I wouldn't continue to buy things from someone that keeps ripping me off.