Apple‘s MacBook Air is getting a display upgrade, but it’s not quite the one you might have been expecting. According to a report by The Elec, Apple is developing a new MacBook Air with an oxide thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) for a 2027 release.
If this materializes, it will be the first time Apple will be incorporating oxide TFT LCD technology into its mainstream MacBook Air lineup. Okay, but what does oxide TFT LCD mean?
Apple oxide TFT LCD technology
TFT refers to the type of transistor used in the display, and oxide refers to the material used in those transistors. Compared to the amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFT LCD currently used in MacBook Airs, oxide TFT offers faster electron mobility. This results in smoother visuals and improved performance.
Apple already introduced oxide TFT LCDs in its higher-end MacBook Pro models released in 2022. So, it seems like the trickle-down effect is finally reaching the more affordable MacBook Air.
Apple’s adoption of oxide TFT LCD appears to be a response to a bigger plan gone awry. The report claims Apple originally intended to release an OLED MacBook Air around 2027.
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays are known for their superior contrast and deeper blacks compared to LCDs. However, due to sluggish sales of the recently launched OLED iPad Pro, Apple has reportedly delayed its OLED MacBook plans. The lackluster iPad Pro sales are likely due to the significant price bump associated with OLED technology.
So, the oxide TFT LCD seems to be a stopgap measure to bridge the gap until Apple can refine its OLED technology and bring down the production costs. The Elec report that the OLED MacBook Air might not see the light of day until around 2029.
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