Apple is evaluating how to manufacture high-mobility oxide (HMO) backplanes for future OLED panels, according to Korean publication The Elec. Display analyst Ross Young has said the technology is already used in the new touchscreen MacBook Pro, and Apple may be looking to expand its use across other products.
Samsung Display and LG Display are both reportedly developing HMO thin-film transistor technology. Apple is said to be considering it as a potential successor to low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO), which is used in current iPhone models and the OLED iPad Pro.
HMO is designed to improve electron mobility in oxide transistor displays. Higher mobility can help drive high-resolution OLED panels while keeping power consumption low. Conventional oxide TFTs have electron mobility of around 10cm²/Vs, while HMO aims to reach 30–50cm²/Vs.
The Elec reports that Samsung and LG are prioritizing a sputtering process, which could be easier to integrate into existing production lines. Both companies are also pursuing atomic layer deposition, a slower method that deposits films one atomic layer at a time and may offer more precise control over the oxide transistor layer. The suppliers are reportedly testing the performance and stability of both approaches.
Future MacBooks and iMacs are among the possible applications cited by The Elec. Apple is also believed to be testing OLED displays for future MacBook Air and iMac models, although those upgrades are not expected soon. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has forecast a MacBook Air refresh in early 2027 but has not given a timeline for either model to switch to OLED.
Sources: MacRumors.