iPad Air & Mini to Receive OLED Upgrade in the Future, According to Report

According to a recent supply chain report, Apple is considering introducing OLED displays to the iPad Air and iPad Mini. However, this potential update is not expected to occur until 2026.

According to The Elec, Apple plans to include OLED displays in the upcoming iPad Air and iPad Mini. These displays are likely to be provided by Samsung, and both models are expected to be released in the same year, currently set for 2026.

According to a machine-translated report, Samsung Display is expected to be chosen as the primary provider of OLED displays for Apple’s iPad Air because of its large production capacity. It has been reported that Apple intends to launch an iPad Air with OLED technology as soon as 2026.

Based on Apple’s past patterns, it appears that they are continuing with a two-year pattern for releasing new tablets. Therefore, The Elec’s projected timeline for the launch of the iPad Air and Mini seems to be correct. For instance, the iPad Air M1 was revealed in 2022, and the iPad Air M2 was recently introduced in May 2024, just a few months ago.

The iPad Pro, which was unveiled at the Let Loose event in May, marked the introduction of Apple’s first tablet with an OLED display. The company also introduced its “tandem OLED display”technology, which utilizes the combination of two OLED panels to produce an enhanced display. Apple proudly labeled this as “the world’s most advanced display.”

It is improbable that Apple will incorporate the OLED panel from the iPad Pro into the iPad Air and Mini. This would likely result in increased costs, leading the company to potentially choose a simplified version of the display.

One possible explanation for the company’s decision not to use the same OLEDs is to maintain differentiation. Apple has a tendency to establish clear differences between its Pro and non-Pro products.

As an illustration, the iPad Pro boasts an M4 chip, while the iPad Air is equipped with an M2. Additionally, the former includes an OLED display, as mentioned earlier, while the latter continues to utilize an LCD.