Apple is well known to be working in new gen OLED with much less burn-in issues. It is very likely for the iPhone and iPad, but I wouldn't rule out a high-end Pro display, as well. If you want to produce HDR content, you need a screen able to do it at "Apple standards".
Micro-LEDs don't nessarily avoid burn in issues.
"... and promise to make future gadgets slimmer, brighter and less power-hungry ..."
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/03/18/apple-microled-displays/
Primarily what doing is going to smaller LEDs. They'll have their own problems that go along with the smaller size.
The power savings aspects have about zero impact on iMacs and Display docking stations since they will be plugged in all the time. What this is far more likely aimed at is Apple Watch and Touch Bar first. The batteries on Watch are somewhat too small ( if want to have "real" Dick Tracy like fully independent radio solution ). Likewise an additional screen on a MBP is also an additional battery drain. If Apple is going to squeeze even more "thin" into the next MBP pro design they'll need less power consumption (at perhaps a higher price point).
Slimmer also doesn't about nothing to an iMac and Display docking station. Slimmer bezels perhaps but the z-height issue Apple is pushing with the Watch, iPad, and iPhone isn't a real issue for those two plugged in devices. So zero win is there also.
Brighter? Errr, as long as the iMac and Display Docking station are Display HDR1000 bright that is enough. Again there may be some tie-in with incrementally thinner bezels, but not criticial if not a relative cost effective solution.
There is very little pointing to micro-LEDs being more cost effective to make at all. So relatively large panels ( 21.5 - 27" ) will be a very real issue to do with significantly increasing the costs. Probably going to be far easier to get an acceptable defect rate with smaller panels then larger ones for quite a while after the 1st generation volume production solutions roll out. ( e.g., one defective watch sized screen to "eat" the costs on is probably going to be very significantly cheaper than "eating" a defective 27" screen. )
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ok.. so far it seems we have gathered good convergence on:
* 27-30"
There is about zero convergence on 30". There are no 30" iMacs. There probably are not going to be 30" iMacs. So the 30" is very deeply unmotivated.
If want to toss out a range the more likely one is 21.5 - 27" Not over 27".
( drifting toward 30" is probably trying to sneak 8K back in when it isn't motivated other than fantasy wish list. Bigger tech porn. )
Again the 21.5" is closer to getting a 16:10 option.
Of some class. iMacs just lacking the formal certification I think.
* TB3 single cable connection
* USB-C Gen2 Hub
Get a 'free' USB-C gen 2 port with the second TBv3 port. That doesn't
necessarily get you are another USB hub though (since the other TBv3 port is going to be dedicated to the a path back to the Mac. )
Some of that depends upon how much "other stuff" Apple is putting into the system. A gen 2 class hub pushes the lane bandwidth consumption up into the x2 range.
* ultra-thin bezels [\quote]
There is probably no "tail wags dog" thing here. If the mainstream iMac design is bumped to thinner size bezels then maybe. But the display driving thinner bezels by itself ( or seemingly dragging the iMac into something Apple wasn't already committed to) . That is highly doubtful.
cost is an issue. micro-LEDs are a leap. There aren't large (relative to phone) , high volume ( not TV targeted ) OLED panels rumored in the other panel makers roads maps so far. Doubtful Apple is "special" here.
That is really QA in the parts selection than something different. More even panels and a better backlight subsystem could be part of a regular iMac roll out also.
* integrated 1080p webcam/mic [\quote]
Anyone has the rotten fantasy of an eGPU slot on the back of the display?
Hopefully, not as it would probably drive up costs for about zero benfit in the Mac Pro space. The display isn't likely to be primarily driven by the MacBook, MBA, and the Mac Mini. MacBook Pro and far more so the Mac Pro will have decent enough GPUs in them. If the display is based off the iMac chassis then there is no room/door for a iGPU. If Apple won't cut a hole to get to the iMac Pro's RAM why would they cut a hole in a Display case of the same baseline for a iGPU? So not likely at all.
The display docking station allowing the Mac laptops to work in clamshell mode is probably "good enough" for this. So if add somewhat redundant Facetime camera and mics that is probably good enough.
