Apple Begins Development of OLED iMac, Targets Brighter 24-Inch Display

Apple has reportedly kicked off a project to bring OLED screens to the iMac. The company has sent out requests for information (RFI) to its main display partners, Samsung Display and LG Display, asking them to spec out a panel for the all-in-one desktop.



According to a report from The Elec, Apple is looking for a 24-inch screen with a pixel density of 218 PPI—matching the sharpness of the current model—but wants to bump the brightness up to 600 nits. For comparison, the LCD used in the iMac today tops out at 500 nits.


There is a technical hurdle here, though. The RGB OLED technology found in the iPhone and the new M5 iPad Pro isn't really viable yet for screens this size. As a result, suppliers are expected to pitch technologies usually reserved for TVs and standalone monitors. Samsung is likely to propose its Quantum Dot (QD)-OLED, while LG will probably offer its White (W)-OLED solution. Both manufacturers are reportedly looking at "5-stack" variations to boost brightness levels enough to satisfy Apple.

This tracks with the broader transition happening across Apple's hardware. We are already tracking reports of OLED upgrades for the iPad mini and MacBook Air, alongside a redesigned MacBook Pro slated for late 2026.

Don't expect the OLED iMac on shelves anytime soon, however. The report says Apple aims to finish developing the panels by 2027 or 2028, so a shipping product is still several years out. In the nearer term, leaked code suggests Apple is actively testing a high-end iMac configuration powered by the upcoming M5 Max chip.

The current iMac (M4) (24-inch, 2-ports, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) was released on November 8, 2024 with a retail price of $1,299. It's currently on sale for $1,149 — a 11% discount. Track price history and get price alerts using the iClarified Mac Price Tracker.


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