OLED iMac and MacBook Air: What Gurman Says Apple Is Testing

Apple is testing prototype computers with OLED screens, and an OLED iMac is among them. That is the report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, relayed on 25 October 2026 by IT Home from his Power On newsletter. The catch is that the next iMac and the next MacBook Air are both expected to keep their current screens.

So the OLED iMac is real enough to be on a test bench, but it is not close to shipping. Here is what is known, what is not, and why the timeline keeps moving.

Key takeaways

• Gurman says Apple is testing OLED prototypes of an iMac and a MacBook. No launch date was given.
• An updated iMac is expected within days of the report, without OLED.
• A new MacBook Air is expected in early 2027, also without OLED.
• Earlier supply-chain and analyst reports point to 2029 for OLED in the iMac and the MacBook Air.

What did Gurman actually report about the OLED iMac?

According to IT Home’s summary, Gurman says Apple has prototype iMac and MacBook machines with OLED panels in testing. He reads that as a sign Apple wants OLED in its more mainstream computers, not just in top-end models.

One caution. IT Home’s text refers to both a MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air as the OLED prototype, while its headline says MacBook Air. I could not open the Bloomberg original, so treat the exact MacBook model as unconfirmed.

Why won’t the next iMac or MacBook Air use OLED?

Gurman says the next iMac arrives within days of his newsletter and the next MacBook Air in early 2027. Neither uses OLED, which is a display that lights each pixel individually, giving deeper blacks than a backlit LCD.

The likely reason is cost and product positioning. OLED panels are pricier to make than LCDs, and analysts have argued Apple wants a clear gap between Pro and Air models. AppleInsider covered that reasoning in March 2026. That is analyst opinion, not an Apple statement.

When could OLED reach the iMac and MacBook Air?

Rumors disagree, and they have drifted later over time. This table compares the claims reported so far.

The iMac has its own hurdle. 9to5Mac reported in March 2026 that an OLED iMac was in the works but not expected until 2029 or 2030. Reports say Apple wants a sharper panel than some current OLED suppliers can offer at that size.

Does a prototype mean a product is coming?

Not by itself. Apple builds and shelves many prototypes, and testing a screen says little about price, supply or timing. Think of it as a chef trialling a dish, not printing the menu.

My opinion: the test is a good sign that OLED is a question of when, not if. But the 2029 chatter suggests Apple is waiting for panels it can build in volume at a price that fits an Air or an iMac.

Should you wait for OLED before buying a Mac?

If you need a Mac now, waiting for an OLED Air or iMac could mean years. The early 2027 MacBook Air should still be LCD, and the OLED models reported for the line are not expected before 2028 at the earliest.

If you only want the current Air at a lower price, see our note on the M5 MacBook Air 1TB deal.

What happens next

Gurman expects an updated iMac, without OLED, within days of his 25 October 2026 newsletter. If it lands, it will show whether Apple is changing the iMac’s panel at all. A new MacBook Air follows in early 2027.

Watch for supplier news from Samsung Display and LG Display. Panel readiness has driven these dates more than anything Apple has said, and Apple has not confirmed any OLED plans for either product.

FAQ

Is an OLED iMac confirmed?

No. Apple has not announced it. The claim comes from Gurman’s reporting on prototypes under test.

Will the next MacBook Air have an OLED screen?

No. Gurman expects the early 2027 MacBook Air to use a non-OLED panel.

When is the OLED iMac expected?

Reports range from 2027 (December 2025) to 2029 or 2030 (March 2026 and later). No date is firm.

Next step: bookmark this page and compare any new Mac launch against the table above. This article is a news summary, not buying advice.