Apple is planning to move beyond DCI-P3 colors and embrace BT.2020 colors in future MacBook, iPad and Mac products, according to TrendForce.
- "TrendForce's latest AMOLED technology and market report reveals that Apple plans to gradually adopt OLED panels capable of achieving 95% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut across future MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iMac product lines," said the market analyst firm.
95% BT.2020 coverage is virtually indistinguishable from 100% BT.2020, according to some industry studies, as it fully encompasses Pointer's Gamut, which represents every naturally occurring color reflected off real-world objects. BT.2020 is the color space foundation underpinning modern HDR video standards including Dolby Vision 2 and HDR10+ Advanced.
Purer, more lifelike colors
In other words, colors as pure and accurate as in the real world, which would be a significant leap compared to the DCI-P3 color standard currently used in most HDR-capable TVs and monitors, studio reference monitors, mobile OLED panels, cinema projectors and cinema LED displays.
Also read: Sony sets its sights on 4000 nits as HDR's next frontier
For context, the DCI-P3 color space covers roughly 73% of BT.2020 while the older sRGB (Rec.709) covers only roughly 53%. Most displays today still conform to sRGB.
MacBook Ultra or later?
Apple first introduced OLED in iPad Pro in 2024. MacBooks still use LCD panels but are expected to gain OLED in late 2026 or early 2027, starting with a 'MacBook Ultra'. It is unclear whether TrendForce's report refers to that model or a later upgrade.
TrendForce highlighted Samsung Display and Chinese display panel makers as possible suppliers, and noted that Samsung Display continues to research EL-QD (NanoLED) as a potential next step after OLED.
Apple TV 4K can already deliver HDR video signals in BT.2020 color so the TV panel is the limitation. However, note that most HDR movies, series and games are still mastered in DCI-P3.
