Apple MacBook Pro OLED Upgrade Targets BT.2020 Color Standard

Apple is preparing a major advancement in display technology that could significantly improve the visual experience across its premium devices. A new report from TrendForce says the company is working toward next-generation OLED panels capable of supporting the BT.2020 color standard, a much wider color gamut than the DCI-P3 displays used in current Apple products. The technology is expected to arrive in future iPad Pro, MacBook Pro and iMac models between 2026 and early 2027.

The report states that BT.2020 is capable of representing approximately 75.8% of the colors visible to the human eye, compared with about 54% for DCI-P3 and roughly 36% for the long-standing sRGB standard introduced in 1996. Apple is reportedly aiming to achieve around 95% BT.2020 coverage, a level currently seen only in certain high-end laser projectors and specialized prototype displays. Such an improvement would allow professional creators to work with far more accurate colors directly on Apple hardware without relying on expensive external reference monitors.

According to TrendForce, the expanded color range would enable Apple devices to reproduce shades that remain beyond the capabilities of most current displays, including highly saturated natural colors. It would also better match the color information contained in modern video productions. While Apple’s existing premium displays already deliver strong HDR performance and high brightness, the company is said to be focusing on expanding color reproduction as its next major display upgrade.

The report notes that BT.2020 places far greater demands on color purity, spectral control, power efficiency and luminous performance than today’s DCI-P3 displays. Achieving these targets will require significant advances in OLED materials and manufacturing processes. Technologies such as MR-TADF, PSF, pTSF and blue PHOLED are viewed as promising solutions, although their commercial development has become increasingly complicated by patent disputes, including a recent settlement involving Samsung and BOE before the ITC.

TrendForce expects the technology to remain exclusive to OLED-based products as Apple expands OLED panels beyond mobile devices into larger computers. The report also highlights that BOE demonstrated a tandem OLED prototype exceeding 95% BT.2020 coverage in 2024, although it has not yet reached commercial production. Meanwhile, TCL CSOT has showcased a four-color LCD panel claiming more than 131% BT.2020 coverage, but its unconventional red, green, blue and cyan pixel arrangement makes it unsuitable for current consumer computing devices.

If Apple successfully delivers displays approaching 95% BT.2020 coverage, the company would gain a measurable advantage over competitors whose displays generally remain near 80% of the standard. The enhanced color accuracy would also strengthen Apple’s ability to differentiate its premium Pro devices with benefits that directly appeal to creative professionals and users seeking more lifelike image reproduction.