Apple is said to be planning to incorporate display technology privacy-focused into future MacBooks . This is expected to happen within the next three years, according to a report from market research firm Omdia .
The technology, which Apple plans to adopt, limits off-axis viewing angles so that only the person sitting directly in front of the screen can see its content. Anyone sitting to the side will see a dark or blurry image. It's a concept that's similar to Samsung's privacy display feature , which is set to debut on the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra .
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Samsung: Privacy-focused display
Samsung says it took over five years to develop this feature, which works at the pixel level, combining Flex Magic Pixel OLED hardware with software controls. Instead of applying a general filter, users can customize when privacy mode – for specific apps, entering passwords or pop-up notifications – and adjust the intensity of the viewing angle restriction.
It can also be turned off completely. Samsung describes the privacy display feature as an extension of its security platform Knox, talking about “privacy you can see and security you can feel.”
See also: New MacBook Pros may be released in March
Apple: New MacBooks with privacy screen
Based on patents, Apple has already explored a similar idea — in 2023, the company filed two patents aimed at preventing “over-the-shoulder surveillance.” One describes a “privacy film” for displays like iPhonesthat limits light emission to the front, while the other describes adjustable-angle viewing technology for flat-panel displays like those on Macs, using louvers or liquid crystal elements to limit side visibility.
Omdia's report suggests that MacBooks will adopt similar technology by 2029, a timeline that is in line with broader expectations that Apple will gradually transition to OLED panels. The MacBook Pro is expected to adopt OLED displays later this year or in early 2027, while the MacBook Air is believed to be next to follow.
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Omdia's predictions are based on analytical forecasts rather than inside information, and Apple's patents are no guarantee of a product being released. However, Samsung is set to unveil the technology this year, so it remains to be seen if and when Apple will follow suit.
