Apple’s expected move to OLED displays may not spell the immediate end of the current MacBook Pro, with a new report suggesting mini-LED models could remain on sale alongside their more advanced replacements for years.
Research firm Omdia now expects Apple to continue offering 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models using mini-LED backlighting until at least 2028. That would create a period where customers could choose between different display technologies within Apple’s high-end notebook range.
The change appears to be driven largely by cost. OLED panels suitable for premium laptops remain expensive, while higher memory and component prices have added further pressure to computer manufacturing costs. Keeping mini-LED models available could allow Apple to introduce OLED at the top of the range without making the newer display technology the only option.
As MacRumors notes, Omdia had previously expected Apple to phase out its existing display technology sooner after the arrival of OLED MacBook Pro models. Its revised roadmap instead shows both versions being sold simultaneously.
Apple’s first high-end OLED MacBooks are expected to arrive either later in 2026 or in early 2027. Rumors have pointed to redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch machines with touch-capable OLED displays, potentially forming an even more premium tier above the conventional MacBook Pro.
That strategy could also explain persistent reports surrounding the MacBook Ultra name. Rather than simply replacing today’s MacBook Pro, Apple could use OLED, touch support and other upgrades to justify a separate flagship notebook while continuing to sell more familiar mini-LED models below it.
The wider Mac lineup is already expected to become more complicated over the next few years. The Apple Post previously reported that Apple is preparing updates spanning almost every Mac it sells, with OLED technology gradually spreading through the range.
If Omdia’s forecast proves accurate, the transition will be gradual rather than immediate.