Apple’s latest M4-powered MacBook Pro is a very capable laptop. The screen is great, and we gave it a score of 92 in our review. The display is brighter this time around, reaching 1,000 nits for SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) content and 1,600 nits for HDR material. But there’s another aspect of this screen that Apple has remained mysteriously silent on.
As display expert Ross Young pointed out, Apple used quantum dot (QD) film in the display instead of red KSF phosphor film. “Previously, Apple adopted the KSF solution due to improved efficiency and lack of cadmium (Cd), but the latest Cd-free QD films are highly efficient, with an equal or better color gamut and better performance. performance,” Young explained. . That means the latest MacBook Pro’s screen should offer a wider color range than ever before, while also providing smoother movement.
Big Apple display news, they used quantum dots for the first time. The latest MacBook Pro (M4) uses quantum dot (QD) film instead of red KSF phosphor film.
Previously, Apple adopted the KSF solution due to improved efficiency and cadmium (Cd) scarcity, but… pic.twitter.com/5olq9lEHs9
— Ross Young (@DSCCross) November 14, 2024
Rather than being an early adopter themselves, Apple often waits until technology advances to the point where it makes sense to use it in its products. Apple has been considering using quantum dot technology in the iMac’s display since at least 2015. However, as TechRadar points out, cadmium is a toxic element, which conflicts with Apple’s stated commitment to environmental protection, so the company abandoned the idea. But the cadmium-free film makes quantum dot technology even more viable for Apple.
Quantum dots are not entirely new. At this point, other manufacturers have also been using QLED in their QLED TVs and monitors for many years. QD-OLED panels are also becoming more common. Apple still uses MiniLED backlighting in its MacBook Pro, and this could be the case as the company is laying the groundwork for future QD-OLED MacBook Pro variants.
Engadget has reached out to Apple for comment.
