An upcoming iMac upgrade might not be about speed, it could be all about the screen. And it’s an upgrade we can very much get on board with.
A new report suggests Apple is exploring a 24-inch OLED display for a future iMac. This would mark a major shift from the LCD panels it’s used for years.
According to suppliers, Apple has already asked display makers like Samsung Display and LG Display to produce sample OLED panels. The target specs are pretty specific: 600 nits of brightness and around 218 pixels per inch. This would match the current iMac’s sharpness but noticeably improve brightness and contrast.
For context, the current Apple iMac 24-inch (M4, 2024) uses a 24-inch LCD panel with 500 nits of brightness. Moving to OLED – the same tech used by the iPhone and iPad Pro – would bring deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colours. This is the kind of upgrade that’s immediately visible, not just on a spec sheet.
Moreover, there is also a bit of behind-the-scenes competition happening. Samsung is reportedly preparing higher-density QD-OLED samples, while LG is working on a new 5-stack OLED design to boost brightness. Both are aiming to meet Apple’s requirements, though Samsung may be first to deliver working panels sometime in 2026.
Sadly, we might be in for a wait
That said, do not expect this iMac anytime soon. The OLED model is reportedly pencilled in for 2029 or 2030, making it a longer-term play rather than an imminent refresh.
In the shorter term, Apple’s next iMac update is more likely to focus on performance. An upgrade to its upcoming M5 chip is expected before any major display overhaul lands.
Still, if Apple does make the jump to OLED, it could be one of the most noticeable iMac upgrades in years. It would be the kind that changes how the device looks and feels every time you sit down to use it.
