The new M4 MacBook Pro lineup has retained the same marketing material as the previous-generation models, where Apple says that the mini-LED technology it employs is one of the best in the industry while stamping the ‘Pro Display XDR’ name. However, in true Apple fashion, the company did not mention that the latest portable Macs utilize Quantum Dot technology, leaving others to discover this hidden internal specification. One display analyst has stated that this change delivers equal or better color gamut and efficiency than what was present on the previous-generation models.
The use of Quantum Dot technology for future MacBook Pro models was considered, but Apple did not opt for it due to being forced to use cadmium, a toxic element
On X, Display Supply Chain Consultants founder and CEO Ross Young said that regardless if customers purchase the version with the standard or nano-texture display, Quantum Dot technology exists on all M4 MacBook Pro models. Previously, he stated that Apple used red KSF phosphor film because it was less expensive and did not contain cadmium, which is toxic for humans. In the past, MacRumors reports that the technology giant’s executives explored the use of Quantum Dot technology but had to drop the idea due to the inclusion of cadmium.
Thankfully, there are now cadmium-free Quantum Dot displays that Apple can freely use in the M4 MacBook Pro models, and is considered better because it produces a better image quality, improved color accuracy and a wider color gamut. This major change might be the reason why the new machines boast a max SDR brightness of 1,000nits, up from 600nits in the previous models, but Apple has not specified this.
Big Apple display news, they have adopted quantum dots for the first time. The latest MacBook Pro’s (M4) use a quantum dot (QD) film rather than a red KSF phosphor film.
In the past, Apple went with the KSF solution due to better efficiency and lack of cadmium (Cd), but the… pic.twitter.com/5olq9lEHs9
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) November 14, 2024
With Quantum Dot displays debuting on the M4 MacBook Pro models, it remains to be seen if this technology will branch out to the less expensive M4 MacBook Air family, but we will keep you in the loop. For now, if you have yet to experience what these new displays are all about, you can grab yourself a base M4 MacBook Pro with 16GB unified RAM and 512GB of storage for just $1,474 on Amazon, with the online retailer introducing a $125 discount to make this option significantly more attractive.
News Source: Ross Young