Apple's iMac may receive a significant display enhancement, but it won't happen in the near future.
With Samsung and LG competing to present prototype OLED panels, Apple's long-speculated display enhancement for the iMac is transitioning from mere aspiration to active development, paving the way for a remarkable desktop overhaul by the end of the decade.
If you've been considering an upgrade to your iMac, you may want to prepare for a wait, as one of the most significant enhancements won't be available for some time.
A recent report from ZDNet Korea indicates that Apple is collaborating with display suppliers to incorporate OLED panels into the iMac. When this upgrade becomes available, it may feature the largest OLED display the company has ever included in a device.
What is Apple looking for?
Reports suggest that Apple has initiated discussions with Samsung Display, LG Display, and several other panel manufacturers. The goal is to obtain 24-inch OLED samples with a peak brightness target of 600 nits and a resolution of around 218 PPI, which would theoretically enhance the current iMac's LCD display.
Among the suppliers, Samsung is expected to take the lead as it seeks to secure a substantial order from Apple. The South Korean manufacturer plans to create 220 PPI samples utilizing its larger-format Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) production lines.
For context, this anticipated resolution is significantly higher than Samsung’s 160 PPI QD-OLED external monitor panels. Sample shipments might reach Apple’s headquarters by the second half of 2026.
Meanwhile, LG Display is also in the mix, despite its samples potentially lagging in brightness due to a different design approach. Nevertheless, the company is reportedly working on an advanced five-stack design, along with a next-gen technology known as eLEAP that could help bridge this gap.
When can we expect OLED iMacs to launch?
Here's the less exciting news: Apple is reportedly aiming for a 2029 or 2030 launch for its OLED iMac, which is approximately three-and-a-half to four years away, and a couple of years following the anticipated release of the touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro.
For now, the existing 24-inch model is scheduled for a more modest refresh with the M5 chip. So yes, an upgrade to Apple’s desktop machine is on the horizon, but it won’t arrive for a few years.
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Apple's iMac may receive a significant display enhancement, but it won't happen in the near future.
Apple has discreetly begun laying the foundation for its most visually striking iMac to date, enlisting leading display manufacturers to create 24-inch OLED panels that promise a significant improvement in screen quality compared to the existing LCD model.