Apple didn’t mention that the M4 MacBook Pro has a ‘quantum dot display’ — but what does that mean?
Apple upgraded the newest MacBook Pro's display without telling anyone.
That's according to prominent display analyst Ross Young, anyway. Young took to X on Thursday to point out that Apple has adopted a "quantum dot" display for the M4 MacBook Pro.
The hardcore technical details are that Apple replaced the red KSF phosphor film it had used on previous MacBook displays with quantum dot film. But Young's post also makes it clear, in layman's terms, what this means for you, the user.
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What is a 'quantum dot' display?
As Young put it, quantum dot technology gives Apple equal — or perhaps even better — color output than the old method, as well as more responsive motion performance.
Young highlighted that the latest quantum dot films are not only highly efficient—they’re also cadmium-free. Apple had previously been wary of going to quantum dot displays because they used cadmium, which is a carcinogen, according to the World Health Organization.
These aren't massive upgrades, but they are noteworthy enough that it's odd that Apple chose not to market this change at all. One way to think about it, perhaps, is that you got even more than what you paid for.
Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at yelix.bsky.social.
