I’ve been thinking recently about how the Mac line is the most compelling in a while, and one reason is that Apple introduced some cool features in addition to the chip upgrade to the M4. For the M4 MacBook Pro, there is an additional feature that Apple hasn’t mentioned at all.
According to display expert Ross Young, Apple is now using quantum dot film in the MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR display. This QD film replaces a KSF phosphor film (also known as narrow band red phosphor) placed between the backlight and the display. The result is that the MacBook Pro’s display creates a more consistent color gamut and “better motion performance.” There are also environmental benefits, as Young points out:
Big Apple posts news, they adopted quantum dots for the first time. The latest MacBook Pro (M4) uses quantum dot (QD) film rather than KSF red phosphor film.
In the past, Apple has gone with the KSF solution due to better efficiency and lack of cadmium (Cd), but the latest Cd-free QD films are very efficient, offer as good or better color gamut and better movement performance.
Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) via X, November 14, 2024
QD films are often used in high-end televisions and displays. So why this change now? Apple hasn’t talked about it, so it’s just speculation, but based on Young’s post, it seems like Apple wasn’t happy with the QD Film’s previous performance. Why didn’t Apple mention this change? Most likely because it’s the kind of change under the hood that won’t influence the purchasing decision much. But it’s a notable change that shows how Apple continues to improve its high-end devices without increasing costs.
It will be interesting to see if Apple adopts QD film for the MacBook Air M4, which uses an LED display, instead of the MacBook Pro’s mini-LED display. Reports indicate that the new Air will be revealed in spring 2025 and it should only be a chip upgrade.
