According to ZDNET Korea, Apple has requested OLED display panels intended for upcoming iPad mini models from its suppliers.
Samsung Display has reportedly begun developing sample 8-inch OLED panels for a future iPad mini, aiming for mass production at its Cheonan facility in the second half of 2025. This move is also evident in Samsung’s Korean supply chain. Currently, Samsung supplies Apple with OLED panels for the new iPad Pro, featuring a tandem design for enhanced brightness and power efficiency.
According to reports, Apple plans to introduce OLED panels to the iPad Air alongside the iPad mini in 2026. While research firm Omdia predicts the iPad Air will adopt OLED in 2026, with the iPad mini following in 2027, Korea’s ET News aligns with ZDNET, suggesting both models will transition to OLED simultaneously in 2026. There’s a possibility that Apple may delay bringing OLED to the 13-inch iPad Air until 2027.
Regarding specifications, the OLED iPad Air is expected to retain its 11-inch display size, while the iPad mini’s screen may grow from 8.3 to 8.7 inches.
Unlike the latest iPad Pro models featuring two-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels, the iPad mini and iPad Air may utilize single-stack low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panels. This could result in potentially dimmer displays without ProMotion technology.