- Apple could launch an iPad mini with an OLED display in 2026, report says
- OLED could also come to the iPad Air and MacBook Air
- The new screen could, however, lead to higher prices
Apple’s iPad mini has proven to be one of the best tablets on the market in recent years, with its combination of compact size and impressive performance making it an ideal choice for many people. And if rumors are to be believed, it could soon get a significant upgrade that could give it a huge edge over the competition.
In an article published on the Bloomberg website, journalist Mark Gurman claimed that Apple plans to bring an OLED screen to the iPad mini as early as next year. This follows a similar rumor from earlier this year and would mark the start of a marked improvement over the device’s current LCD screen, bringing better contrast and richer colors to the content displayed on the device.
If that happens, it could help make the iPad mini a surprise hit in 2026. The pint-sized tablet already has a loyal following of users put off by the iPad Air’s size and the iPad Pro’s price, but the iPad mini has often lacked the features of its more expensive siblings. However, with the introduction of an OLED display, Apple’s smallest tablet would get a major visual upgrade to help it compete with competing products.
Added to this is the idea that Apple wants to make the future iPad mini fully waterproof by redesigning its case and adding “a new speaker system that uses vibration-related technology” instead of traditional speaker holes, Gurman explains. The reporter points out that this is a different approach to the waterproofing used in all the best iPhones, but it could add another positive to the iPad mini’s feature list.
OLED is coming elsewhere
It’s not all good news, as Gurman’s report suggests Apple could raise prices in light of the iPad mini’s improved display. A $100 increase wouldn’t be out of the question, Gurman says, which could result in a starting price of $599 (around £450 / AU$900).
The iPad mini isn’t the only Apple device in line for an OLED upgrade, Gurman believes – Apple is also apparently considering bringing this display technology to the iPad Air and MacBook Air.
The MacBook Air is unlikely to get the upgrade before 2028, Gurman says, with the iPad Air making the jump at an unspecified future date (but later in the generation following its planned spring 2026 refresh). In theory, that’s when we could also see the new iPad mini.
OLED displays have already proven to be a success on the iPad Pro and iPhone and have been an integral part of the Apple Watch since its launch. If the iPad mini joins these popular devices by adding OLED quality next year, Apple could indeed make many iPad customers very happy.
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