Apple prepares OLED upgrade for iPad Mini, iPad Air and MacBook Air; launches begin 2025

Apple Inc. is set to introduce OLED screens to its MacBook Air, iPad Mini, and iPad Air series, representing a significant advancement in display technology
| Photo Credit:
BIJOY GHOSH

Apple Inc. is embarking on significant updates to its MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPad Air lines, intending to provide these popular devices with advanced displays.

The technology company is evaluating new versions of each device featuring OLED screens, as reported by sources familiar with the situation. OLED, or organic light-emitting diode technology, offers superior color fidelity and enhanced contrast compared to existing LCD displays.

According to insiders, the iPad mini is expected to be the first device to receive this upgrade, with a model featuring OLED potentially launching next year.

This transition is part of a larger movement towards OLED technology, providing consumers with a compelling reason to renew their devices. Although sales for the Mac and iPad line are forecast to increase this year, they are still under the levels observed in 2021 and 2022, a period that saw heightened demand due to the pandemic.

Higher price points are also anticipated with this shift. The upcoming iPad mini, code-named J510, might have a price increase of up to $100 due to the more expensive display technology. Additionally, Apple has been exploring a redesign for the iPad mini that includes water resistance, similar to features found on the latest iPhones.

As part of these enhancements, Apple is investigating a new speaker system that employs vibration technology. This advancement allows for the elimination of speaker openings, reducing potential water intrusion, differing from the iPhone’s water-resistant design that still maintains openings supported by gaskets and adhesives.

The last update to the iPad mini occurred at the close of 2024, which included a faster processor and compatibility with the Apple Intelligence platform.

However, these upgrade plans have yet to be finalized and may be altered or delayed, a common occurrence during product development. For instance, news reports recently indicated that Apple’s release of an 18-inch foldable iPad is now postponed until 2029.

An Apple spokesperson from Cupertino, California, declined to comment on these developments.

Meanwhile, the next-generation iPad Air, set to launch in spring, will still utilize LCD technology; however, plans are in place for a future transition to OLED in subsequent editions. The iPad Pro, refreshed with the M5 chip last week, adopted OLED technology in May 2024.

The iPad Air will be the last tablet within Apple’s lineup to transition to OLED technology—for now. Currently, Apple has no immediate plans to upgrade its base model iPad to OLED.

Gradual rollout timeline

Looking ahead, the MacBook Pro is on track to become the first Mac with an OLED display in its next redesign. Work has also commenced on a MacBook Air that will feature OLED technology; however, this upgrade is not anticipated before 2028, with the existing design set to receive the M5 chip (while retaining an LCD display) in spring 2026.

The industry’s shift to OLED remains in its nascent stages. Most tablets and laptops continue to rely on LCD technology, with only premium models—such as the iPad Pro and Samsung Galaxy Tab S11—employing OLED.

Apple first integrated OLED technology into the Apple Watch back in 2015, subsequently bringing it to smartphones with the iPhone X in 2017.

This year, Apple concluded the sale of its last non-OLED iPhone, replacing the iPhone SE with the iPhone 16e. The Vision Pro headset also incorporates a variant of OLED, known as micro-OLED, for its display technology.

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Published on October 29, 2025