Blog
The OLED iMac has a release date update – and we’re in for a long wait
Apple could still be a few years away from bringing an OLED display to the iMac. A new report suggests the long-awaited upgrade may arrive in 2029.
LG Display is developing a new five-stack OLED panel that could eventually be used in a future 24-inch iMac. The technology is designed to improve brightness and image quality. However, the cost and complexity of producing such a large OLED panel could still make an OLED iMac an expensive proposition.
According to The Elec, LG Display is working on five-stack OLED panels after beginning production of four-stack OLED TV panels in 2025. The report claims Apple has shown interest in a 24-inch panel, perfect for the desktop.
That’s slightly more optimistic than previous rumblings, as a report earlier this year suggested Apple could wait until 2030 before introducing an OLED iMac. Therefore, 2029 is the latest indication that the all-in-one desktop could finally make the jump.
Apple’s interest in multi-stack OLED technology is reportedly linked to the challenges of using OLED on larger displays for long periods.
Two-stack OLED panels can offer better longevity than traditional single-stack OLED, but they can still suffer from burn-in. That’s potentially a bigger concern on an iMac as people would spend considerably more time looking at static elements such as menus and windows than on an iPhone.
Five-stack OLED could also help address brightness limitations as the technology uses three layers of blue LEDs rather than two. As a result, it could potentially allow the panel to deliver higher brightness while improving its longevity.
The problem is that the technology remains expensive and complicated to manufacture at this size. LG Display already produces four-stack OLED panels for TVs. However, an iMac’s viewing distance and desktop use could demand a higher level of panel quality.
For now, then, 2029 is far from a confirmed launch date. But with Apple reportedly continuing to investigate advanced OLED technology, it looks increasingly likely that an OLED iMac is a question of when, rather than if.
