November 27, 2025, 1:17 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
In 2024, the iPad Pro was the first model to receive an OLED screen. Since then, not much has changed—the rest of the lineup still features LCD panels. That might soon change. The next device in line to get the OLED treatment is the iPad mini.
First mini, then Air
As TECHBOOK has already reported, Apple is working on a genuine OLED offensive. Not only iPads but also the first Macs are expected to be equipped with new panels in the next two years. According to Bloomberg, the iPad mini is set to receive the upgrade in 2026, followed by the iPad Air in 2027.
This forecast is now confirmed by the well-known leaker “Instag Digital” in a post on the Chinese blog platform Weibo. According to them, the iPad mini will be the first to receive an OLED display. In contrast, there has been “no movement” with the iPad Air. This information aligns with Bloomberg’s analysis, which suggests the Air won’t be expected until 2027 at the earliest.
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New Design Planned for iPad Mini 2026
The switch to OLED alone is already a significant upgrade. The display technology with individually controllable pixels offers advantages such as deeper blacks, faster response times, and greater design flexibility. But as with the iPad Pro, which received a new, extremely thin casing alongside the tandem OLED display, the mini is also expected to undergo extensive changes.
Apparently, Apple is planning for the first time in iPad history a waterproof casing—possibly even with an IP rating like the iPhone. According to Bloomberg, the company is also working on vibration speakers that use the entire casing as a sound body. This would eliminate the need for openings to let sound waves through, making a sealing membrane unnecessary.
As “MacRumors” reports, the iPad mini 2026 could feature the A19 Pro chip, which is also used in the iPhone Air. The chip is based on an optimized 3-nanometer N3P process, enabling higher constant performance with more efficient energy use.
Mini iPad, Bigger Price
All these improvements are likely to lead to Apple raising the price. So far, the iPad mini is the cheapest tablet model after the standard iPad, priced at 549 euros. With the new screen and waterproof casing, the company could justify a price increase of up to 100 U.S. dollars, according to Bloomberg.
However, it will still be a while before then, as the iPad mini with OLED is not expected to hit the market until late 2026. The launch is set for the third quarter, possibly alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold. Apple last released the iPad mini (6th generation) alongside the iPhone 13. The 7th generation, however, was released in October 2024.