Apple's next generation of OLED displays is expected to show significantly richer and more accurate colors than today's. According to a market research report, the company is aiming for a considerably wider color gamut than the current standard, making color accuracy the next major display focus. The MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iMac are expected to benefit from this upgrade gradually.
Future Apple displays could reproduce a significantly wider color gamut. This is according to a report by market research firm TrendForce, which indicates that Apple plans to use OLED panels that cover approximately 95 percent of the BT.2020 color standard. This standard describes a much broader color spectrum than the currently common DCI-P3, which Apple's displays have adhered to so far. This move aligns with Apple's broader strategy of gradually transitioning several device categories to OLED.
From DCI-P3 to BT.2020
In practice, the change primarily means one thing: deeper and more accurate reds, greens, and blues. While DCI-P3 originates mainly from the world of film and video, BT.2020 covers a significantly larger portion of the colors perceptible to the human eye. Screens that achieve 95 percent of this standard could therefore reproduce color gradients and vibrant tones more realistically – an advantage that would be particularly noticeable in photo and video editing, as well as with color-intensive content.
Why more color shifts the competitive landscape
Achieving such a wide color gamut is not straightforward. It requires significantly more precise control over the light emitted by a display, along with improved energy efficiency. TrendForce therefore anticipates that the next competitive battle in OLED panels will shift: away from familiar metrics like maximum brightness and the thinnest possible design, and towards the question of how well color, power consumption, and overall performance can be balanced. Color accuracy will thus move from a peripheral issue to the central focus of display development.
New chemistry in every single pixel
The key to a wider color gamut lies deep within the panel. According to the report, to meet the demanding BT.2020 specifications, panel manufacturers are modifying the chemistry of the layer that generates light in each pixel. Instead of a relatively simple formula, more sophisticated material combinations are being used that transfer energy more efficiently between the materials involved.
TrendForce points to several approaches being pursued in parallel. One method allows a pixel to emit a purer, more accurate color – a prerequisite for even meeting the more challenging BT.2020 targets. A second approach adds an additional "helper" material that makes the conversion of energy into light more efficient. And a third incorporates further materials so that a panel remains bright for longer without premature wear.
Less dependence on third-party licenses
The transformation has a second dimension that extends beyond mere image quality. For display manufacturers, the new material chemistry also presents an opportunity to break free from technologies they previously had to license from others. According to the report, this shifts the balance of power between the companies that manufacture displays and those that supply the materials they contain. In the future, the companies that will prevail are likely to be those that offer the best combination of low costs, simple manufacturing, and independence from patent licenses.
Which devices should benefit?
OLED isn't new to Apple: the technology first appeared in the iPad Pro in 2024, and the MacBook is expected to switch between 2026 and early 2027. According to the report, the more advanced panels with extended color gamut now described will be gradually introduced into future MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iMac models. The leap would be particularly significant for the iMac, which currently still uses LCD. However, the report doesn't specify a fixed sequence or concrete dates – the transition, as with the previous OLED roadmap, is likely to span several product generations.
Color is becoming the next display battleground
Should the report prove true, Apple's display strategy would shift significantly. Black levels, contrast, and brightness would no longer be the sole focus; instead, the question of how accurately a screen reproduces colors would become paramount. For users who work professionally with images and videos, near-complete coverage of the BT.2020 color space would be a compelling argument. However, it will likely be some time before this translates into market-ready devices – though the first signs of this shift are already visible in the supply chains. (Image: Shutterstock / Cherdchai Chaivimol)
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