Apple's iPad Air & iPad Mini to finally get OLED displays

Apple is reportedly preparing a big display overhaul for its mid-range and portable devices, planning to bring high-contrast OLED screen technology to the MacBook Air, iPad Air, and iPad Mini lineups. Additionally, the company could even make the iPad Mini water-resistant.

Starting with the OLED upgrade, this tech delivers richer, more vivid colors and deeper black levels compared to the older LCD screens currently used in these devices. The high-end iPad Pro already made the switch in 2024. So, this reported push will bring the premium display experience to a much wider audience.

iPad Mini to get first the OLED upgrade, with "Air" model following

According to Bloomberg, the smallest tablet is set to be the first recipient of this screen technology. An OLED-equipped iPad Mini is rumored to arrive as early as next year.

Beyond the display, the brand is also exploring changes to the physical design of this upcoming “affordable” tablet (codenamed J510). Apple is reportedly testing a water-resistant casing for the iPad Mini, aligning its durability with the recent iPhone models. To achieve this, engineers are exploring a new speaker system that uses vibration-related technology, which allows the firm to remove water-vulnerable speaker holes.

The OLED display rollout won't be immediate across the entire lineup:

• iPad Air: The next tablet, expected this spring, will stick with LCD, but the subsequent generation is planned for the OLED transition.
• MacBook Air: The switch to OLED for Apple's best-selling laptop is further out, with early work suggesting the upgrade won't arrive until around 2028. The current Air design will receive internal chip upgrades in the meantime, but the screen will remain LCD.

The trade-off: Higher prices

While customers will enjoy better visuals, the display switch will likely come with a higher price tag. The more expensive OLED panels could add as much as $100 to the device cost, suggests the source.

More and more Android tablets are including OLED displays, even in the mid-range segment. So, bringing this technology to the iPad Air and iPad Mini, and even the MacBook Air, seems like a smart move by Apple to maintain its leadership in the market.