Apple may finally be bringing OLED to the iMac, but before you get too excited, there are a couple of important catches worth knowing upfront.
A new report from The Elec suggests Apple has started early work on an OLED iMac, marking the next step in its long transition away from LCD and miniLED displays. However, this is very much a long-term project, and it may not deliver what many iMac fans have been waiting for.
Apple’s Slow but Steady Display Roadmap
Apple’s display strategy has always been methodical. The company began with standard IPS LCD panels, moved to improved backlighting, then introduced miniLED for more precise contrast control. OLED is the next major milestone, with microLED positioned as the eventual endgame.
So far, OLED has already made its way to the Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. The MacBook Pro is widely expected to be next, likely arriving with a major redesign. Until now, the iMac had been noticeably absent from OLED rumors.
That may finally be changing.
What the Report Says About an OLED iMac
According to The Elec, Apple has sent a Request for Information to Samsung Display and LG Display regarding an OLED iMac. This step comes before any formal pricing discussions and indicates that Apple is still gathering technical details rather than locking in production plans.
The report claims Apple is targeting the following specifications for an OLED iMac:
- 24-inch display size
- 600 nits of brightness
- 218 pixels per inch
If those numbers sound familiar, that is because they closely match the current 24-inch iMac. The key difference would be brightness, with OLED offering roughly a 20 percent improvement over the existing model.
In other words, this would be an OLED upgrade without a major resolution or size jump.
Catch One: The Timeline Is Long
The first and biggest downside is timing.
This OLED iMac appears to be in very early development. At this stage, Apple is simply evaluating whether its display partners can meet its requirements. Based on that, the report suggests development would not wrap up before 2027 or even 2028.
A commercial launch would likely come after that.
If you were hoping for an OLED iMac anytime soon, this report is not encouraging. Apple seems focused on bringing OLED to laptops first, where panel sizes are smaller and production challenges are easier to manage.
Catch Two: No Large iMac Yet
The second catch may sting even more for longtime iMac fans.
Apple is reportedly interested in using RGB OLED technology, which delivers better color accuracy and brightness. The problem is that this technology does not yet scale reliably to larger panels in the 30-inch range.
That means the long-rumored 30-inch or 32-inch iMac is still out of reach, at least for OLED. For now, Apple appears to be sticking with the familiar 24-inch form factor.
This limitation also explains why OLED is expected to debut on the MacBook Pro first. Smaller displays are simply easier to manufacture at scale with current OLED tech.
What This Means for iMac Buyers
If you are shopping for an iMac today, this report should not change your plans. An OLED iMac is clearly not imminent, and when it does arrive, it may look very similar to the current model.
That said, the fact that Apple is even exploring OLED for the iMac is significant. It confirms that the desktop is still part of Apple’s long-term display strategy, even if upgrades arrive slowly.
For now, miniLED and LCD iMacs remain the practical choice. OLED is coming, but patience will be required, and expectations should be kept in check.
Apple rarely rushes display transitions, and this one appears no different.
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