After the success of the iPad Pro M4, Apple is planning to expand OLED screen technology to mainstream iPad lines.
According to 9to5Mac, OLED displays will be introduced to the iPad lineup for the first time this year, following the success of the iPad Pro M4. Some reports suggest that OLED displays will also be available on the iPad Air and iPad mini, with an expected release date of 2026.
According to TheElec's source citing analyst Lee Ki-jong, Apple is planning to launch OLED versions for both the iPad Air and iPad mini, with Samsung likely to be the panel supplier.
Both new OLED models are expected to launch in the same year, which is expected to be 2026. This confirms previous reports that the iPad mini will have an OLED display.
While the report doesn't provide such details, the chances of the iPad Air and iPad mini both featuring the same type of OLED display are slim.
The higher-priced Pro models could get higher-end panels. The iPad Air and mini serve different purposes in Apple's lineup, and keeping prices low is a more important goal for these devices.
However, it's common for some of the technology from Apple's Pro devices to make its way into the rest of the lineup over time, though there are often some cutbacks in features.
For example, iPhone has limited OLED panels to the Pro models for a while now, with the base iPhone having an LCD display, even though the Pro and Pro Max use OLED.
Starting with the iPhone 12, the standard model added an OLED display. However, Apple's ProMotion technology is still limited to OLED displays on Apple's Pro models. This specification has remained unchanged for years.
It’s likely we’ll see something similar with the new iPad Air and iPad mini, which will have OLED displays, but they won’t be as advanced as the parallel OLED displays found in the high-end iPad Pro line.
With OLED displays, the iPad Air and iPad mini will be more appealing than ever. Users can expect a tablet with beautiful images, vivid colors, and impressive battery life. In addition, the use of OLED can also open up more screen customization possibilities, such as Always-On Display mode.
Apple’s decision to launch an OLED version of the iPad Air and iPad mini in 2026 may be due to the company needing time to perfect the technology and optimize production costs. On the other hand, Apple also wants to create a clear distinction between its product lines, ensuring that the iPad Pro is always the most powerful and premium iPad.
Apple just released a new iPad Air in the past few months, and a new iPad mini is expected later this year, so 2026 could be the next time we see an update to these devices.
