Apple is developing a 24-inch iMac with an OLED display, targeting 600 nits and 218 ppi. Samsung and LG panels are in play; launch expected around 2027-2028.
© A. Krivonosov
Apple is developing a 24-inch iMac with an OLED display that could arrive in the next few years. The Korean outlet The Elec reports that the company has already approached Samsung Display and LG Display with requests to design an OLED panel for a future all-in-one.
According to the report, the screen under discussion targets up to 600 nits of brightness and a pixel density of 218 ppi. At those specs, the resolution would match the current 24-inch iMac with a 4.5K Retina display, while peak brightness would climb by roughly 20% over today’s 500 nits. That would put the panel on a similar level to the Studio Display, which still relies on LCD technology.
Moving to OLED promises more than just a higher peak: deeper blacks, stronger contrast, and better power efficiency are part of the package. Notably, this is the first time Apple’s plans to bring OLED to its desktop all-in-ones have surfaced, even as its laptop line is already moving in that direction. The shift feels like a natural evolution for the iMac’s screen.
For the iMac, the source indicates that Samsung and LG will offer large-format OLED solutions. Samsung is likely to back QD-OLED, while LG Display is expected to propose W-OLED. Both firms are working on enhanced five-stack panels aimed at higher brightness compared to current four-stack designs. Apple still prefers RGB OLED, but that approach has not yet been scaled for 20–30-inch displays, so exploring alternatives seems like a pragmatic interim step.
Development of the iMac’s OLED panel could be completed sometime in 2027–2028, though the finished device might debut later. In the nearer term, the next 24-inch iMac refresh is rumored to focus on an M5-series chip without a move to OLED. In short, the upgrade path looks promising, but patience will be required.