Apple Reportedly Planning to Bring OLED to iPad Mini and iPad Air

[MacRumors]

Apple plans to bring OLED displays to the iPad mini and iPad Air, according to a post on the Korean social media site Naver from a user with a track record for posting Apple rumors.

The post cites supply chain sources and claims that Apple has now begun negotiations with Chinese suppliers, as well as Samsung and LG, related to OLED displays for future iPad mini and iPad Air models. Apple reportedly seeks for the components to be mass produced from the end of 2025, suggesting that launch could follow in early 2026.

The information lines up with a report from technology research firm Omdia that was published earlier this week, which forecasted Apple's iPad display panel purchase plans. The potential transition to OLED on Apple's two mid-range tablets is said to be part of its OLED strategy from 2026 onwards.

Apple has apparently not yet fully committed to bringing the more advanced display technology to its mid-range tablets, and may be planning to review how the market responds to the first iPad Pro models that feature OLED displays, which are expected to launch next year, before locking in new panels for the 2026 iPad mini and iPad Air.

The report also corroborated details about the rumored iPad Pro models with OLED displays that are widely anticipated to launch next year, with the panels due to be supplied by LG and Samsung. Apple was said to be seeking more suppliers for OLED displays designed for the iPad, which aligns with the Naver post's mention of additional Chinese suppliers.

Reports suggest that the seventh-generation iPad mini and sixth-generation iPad Air, which are expected to launch relatively soon, will be minor specification upgrades that focus on newer processors, rather than major updates like more advanced display technology.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Planning to Bring OLED to iPad Mini and iPad Air

 

[AppleTO]

This has to be one of the oldest rumours at this point… and most regurgitated. (By that I mean iPads with OLED in general)

 

[klasma]

This has to be one of the oldest rumours at this point… and most regurgitated. (By that I mean iPads with OLED in general)

OLED iPads in general is not what these new rumors are about, though. It’s the new particulars that are interesting. It’s pretty solidified by now that we’ll get OLED iPad Pros next year, and now we see that Apple is planning to expand OLED to the mid-range in 2026.

 

[erikkfi]

OLED in 2026.

ProMotion in 2055.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Me on hearing the OLED display is coming to the iPad mini…

 

[Greenmeenie]

But not until 2026…

 

[klasma]

ProMotion in 2055.

Obviously, the non-Pro iPads will only get regular Motion. Duh. (Or possibly JellyMotion.)

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

OLED is beautiful. OLED burn-in is real. Yes, there have been some improvements to try to avoid burn-in but nothing is foolproof (except NOT turning on the screens or using them for only brief periods of time with any bright static elements in place).

And I thought micro-LED (without OLED burn-in issues) was the next big (screen) thing?

 

[swiftapplefan]

I can swear I’ve already seen this article yesterday

 

[akro]

OLED is great BUT FOR burn in. 5 month old Sony TV has severe burn in for CNN chiron/logo. Sony will not warranty cover.

 

[infinitejest]

How many times have I read this headline?

 

[StuBeck]

This has to be one of the oldest rumours at this point… and most regurgitated. (By that I mean iPads with OLED in general)

The bar is pretty low when "posted on social media site with a history of posting rumors" is all you need, I'll take this with a bucket of salt.

 

[klasma]

And I thought micro-LED (without OLED burn-in issues) was the next big (screen) thing?

It’s the next thing, if they can get manufacturing sorted. With the Watch getting it in 2025 at the earliest, and after that first on iPhones before iPads, we surely won’t see it on mid-range iPads anytime soon. See how it is taking at least nine years now from the first OLED iPhone to mid-range OLED iPads. And I think there’s still a big caveat whether micro-LED can be manufactured economically at those sizes and DPI.

 

[Populus]

Well, maybe getting an iPad mini BEFORE 2026 is a good way to get the last LCD iPad mini for us, the people who can’t stand looking at an OLED screen.

However, as an 11” iPad Pro user, I think the 8.3” of the mini would become far too small. I guess I’ll stay with my awesome M2 iPad Pro, unless Apple releases an LCD M3 iPad Air, but I guess that will be later than the 2026 mark…

The only thing I’m not convinced about the M2 iPad Pro is its power efficiency. I know this is off-topic, but the M2 when used properly -even to just play a movie on an external TV via HDMI- takes too much power and depletes 40% of the battery in one hour. That’s why I’d love an M3 LCD iPad [Air]. For its power efficiency and the AV1 decoder.

 

[CharlesShaw]

We need iPad mini bingo cards for these articles. ”No FaceID, check. Hmm, I only need one more mention of jelly scroll to get a bingo.”

 

[icemantx]

Wake me up when we have info of something new coming in the next 6 months as opposed to 2+ years away...

 

[jo-1]

OLED is great BUT FOR burn in. 5 month old Sony TV has severe burn in for CNN chiron/logo. Sony will not warranty cover.

sorry to hear that - my seven year old and surely in excess of 10,000 hour running LG has not a single pixel defekt of burn in defekt - regularly every year tested and in case visitors claim that burn in is a an inherent problem of OLED.

 

[arobert3434]

People are raising the concern about burn-in, but how is that addressed with the iPhone, especially with its fixed UI elements in the top row? Is there reason to believe iPads would be more susceptible based on usage patterns?

 

[Gengar]

Will they make the bezels thinner on the iPads and increase the screen sizes, then?

 

[Mr_Ed]

People are raising the concern about burn-in, but how is that addressed with the iPhone, especially with its fixed UI elements in the top row? Is there reason to believe iPads would be more susceptible based on usage patterns?

Has it been addressed, though? I was looking through r/iPhone yesterday and saw multiple threads of people complaining of burn-in on iPhone 15 models already even though they’ve only been around a few weeks. Didn’t look much at the details but it may be related to a specific display manufacturer (I guess Apple uses LG and Samsung?). Not saying it’s a widespread issue but seeing the posted images was a bit concerning.

 

[contacos]

so basically a "it will come at some point in the distant future" forecast haha

 

[AppleTO]

It’s pretty solidified by now that we’ll get OLED iPad Pros next year, and now we see that Apple is planning to expand OLED to the mid-range in 2026.

Except we’ve had these same rumours every year since since the iPhone X. It just ends up “pushed” every year. IMO they should have done it with the 2018 Pros. That would have made the most sense, especially with the more premium at the time (compared to the 8) iPhone X.

 

[psac]

I can swear I’ve already seen this article yesterday

Yesterday was no OLED for the mini, today is OLED in 2026. Nuanced difference, but still a little different.

So if they do come out with a spec bump version this year, do you get that or wait until 2026? I'm already one version back, so I would probably get the spec bump version if they release it.

 

[antiprotest]

so basically a "it will come at some point in the distant future" forecast haha

iPad will come with improvements. If not, it will come later with improvements.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I’m likely not to upgrade until 2025 or 2026. As long as the device keeps working, it’s harder to justify upgrades. iPads are very appliance like.