Apple's next OLED MacBook Pro development appears to be proceeding as planned in the supply chain despite expectations of a possible launch delay. As Samsung Display is said to have begun preparations for mass production of OLED panels for Apple, attention is again turning to the possibility of a major hardware overhaul for the next MacBook Pro.

Samsung has stepped up preparations to produce OLED panels for Apple's next MacBook Pro, IT outlet 9to5Mac reported on May 21 local time.

The new MacBook Pro is being discussed as a product expected to bring a major design change for the first time in years, beyond a simple performance upgrade. A key change cited is the adoption of an OLED display.

The market initially leaned toward the possibility that Apple would unveil an OLED MacBook Pro late this year, but more recently there has also been a view that the launch could be pushed back to early next year. Still, some analysis says development itself is continuing as planned, given that the supply chain is moving into actual parts production.

Supply-chain information says Samsung is nearing a stage where it can stably produce laptop-sized OLED panels to Apple's required level. The industry sees Samsung as having begun to reliably meet the required quality standards. This has also raised the prospect that the panels could be shipped to Apple's assembly partners within about 2 months.

A shift to OLED also carries significance for the MacBook Pro's product strategy. The MacBook Pro currently uses a mini LED backlight-based IPS LCD display. While that structure improves contrast expression and screen control compared with conventional LCDs, applying OLED would extend to the Mac lineup the display technology path first introduced in the iPhone and iPad.

The scale of the design change is also expected to be significant. The industry is discussing the possibility that the new MacBook Pro could feature a thinner and lighter body design along with an OLED screen, a touchscreen, and the use of a Dynamic Island instead of a notch. There is also speculation that cellular connectivity could be added. These specifications, however, have not been officially confirmed.

The market points to OLED panel yields as the biggest variable. Large OLED panels for laptops are harder to produce than smartphone panels, making it difficult to manage initial defect rates. Samsung is targeting a defect rate of about 5 percent at the final production stage, but current actual yields are said to be in the 5 to 10 percent range. That indicates production of large OLED panels has not yet fully stabilised.

The industry sees that even if parts shipments begin, the timing of an actual product unveiling could vary depending on the pace of yield improvements and the final assembly schedule. As a result, supply-chain moves and the pace of production stabilisation are expected to remain key variables in whether Apple's OLED MacBook Pro appears within this year or slips to early next year.