Report: iPad Mini OLED Panel Mass Production Has Begun

[MacRumors]

OLED panel mass production has reportedly begun for several upcoming Apple products, including the long-rumored OLED iPad mini and OLED MacBook Pro.

According to a Korean-language ETNews report, Samsung Display started mass production of OLED panels for Apple's first OLED iPad mini this month. The report adds that production of OLED panels for the MacBook Pro is scheduled to begin in July, coinciding with the startup of Samsung's new 8.6-generation OLED production line.

The OLED iPad mini has been rumored for several years now as Apple gradually expands OLED technology beyond the iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple brought OLED to the iPad Pro in 2024, and display industry analysts have long expected the iPad mini to follow before the technology eventually reaches the iPad Air.

OLED will replace the current LCD technology used in the iPad mini 7, offering higher contrast, deeper blacks, and improved power efficiency. There are no rumors suggesting exactly when the next ‌iPad mini‌ will be released, but a late 2026 launch is widely expected.

• OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

The rumored upcoming MacBook Pro redesign – possibly marketed with a higher-tier "MacBook Ultra" moniker – is believed to be next in line in Apple's product lineup to adopt OLED, replacing the current mini-LED technology. Multiple supply chain reports have indicated Samsung Display's dedicated Gen 8.6 OLED production line is key to Apple's Mac transition.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the OLED MacBook Pro will also be the first Mac to adopt touchscreen technology. The machine is expected to be released towards the end of the year or early 2027, depending on how well Apple contends with industry-wide memory chip shortages.

ETNews says Samsung Display and LG Display are supplying all of Apple's OLED panels for products launching in the second half of the year. Samsung and LG are reportedly sharing production of OLED panels for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, while LG Display is said to be the sole supplier for the Apple Watch Series 12. Meanwhile, Samsung will reportedly be the exclusive supplier for the foldable iPhone, OLED iPad mini, and OLED MacBook Pro displays.

• MacBook Ultra: 5 Features That Could Justify the Name

The report also claims Chinese display maker BOE is not participating in the iPhone 18 supply chain after quality issues reportedly delayed shipments for iPhone 17 Pro displays.

Article Link: Report: iPad Mini OLED Panel Mass Production Has Begun

 

[dmr727]

Very nice! I'm excited about a new mini later this year - hopefully the OLED display will slim it down a little like the Pro.

 

[svish]

This could be announced in October. Think with OLED display, the starting price could be $599. Also waiting to see the new MacBook Pro/Ultra.

 

[Taq'aix]

This is great news. Definitely going to pre-order this one. A great complement to my iPad Pro.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Think with OLED display, the starting price could be $599.

I wouldn't hold my breath. I think they're going to use the new models to roll out higher pricing, due to increased memory and flash costs.

 

[yuvaldv1]

I am officially aroused.

 

[Leobreaker]

In a spot where an iPad would be very helpful for my day-to-day life and work, but this seems like a bad time to buy an iPad in terms of refreshes coming next year...but the current pricing is steep for a secondary "helpful" device. Frustrating catch 22 situation!

 

[VanityFilled]

If I had to guess, pricing will start at $799 for this.

 

[Nyx1]

Give us slim bezel and change aspec ratio from 4:3 to 3:2 or 16:10

 

[uacd]

I always wonder why everyone is so excited about OLED. Despite some advantages it offers many more disadvantages, such as PWM (often) and longevity. It is not just about burn-in but also that panels can sometimes develop bring pink or green lines out of nowhere, as well as those are very fragile. LCD is much more future-proof and safe. However whole industry moved to OLED as if it was a huge deal

 

[dmr727]

I always wonder why everyone is so excited about OLED. Despite some advantages it offers many more disadvantages, such as PWM (often) and longevity. It is not just about burn-in but also that panels can sometimes develop bring pink or green lines out of nowhere, as well as those are very fragile.

I dunno, it doesn't seem like people are complaining about the longevity of the iPad Pro. If OLED saves weight and/or increases battery life, it'll be a win for me.

 

[rensuchan]

If I had to guess, pricing will start at $799 for this.

I'm gonna lock in at $749. I'll hope for lower but given today's price increases that's probably the lowest number we can hope for at all.

This is my most wanted device upgrade right now anyway so Apple is getting my money regardless lol.

 

[Saturn1217]

This could be announced in October. Think with OLED display, the starting price could be $599. Also waiting to see the new MacBook Pro/Ultra.

The starting price for the iPad mini 128gb is $599 after today’s price hike. Hopefully since we are going to have to pay more anyway Apple takes this opportunity to give us an iPad mini pro. It would take the sting out of the price increase that is inevitably coming (IMO).

 

[turbineseaplane]

Love it!

I need to get my kidney removal scheduled so I can afford the iPad Mini OLED!