Report: iPad Air to Gain OLED Display Next Year

Source: MacRumors

Overview

Apple will bring OLED displays to its iPad Air models next year, according to a report from Korea’s ET News.

Production Timeline

Citing industry sources, the outlet says Samsung Display will begin mass production of OLED panels around the end of 2026 or January 2027, with a view to supplying panels for Apple’s next iPad Air, expected to be released in early 2027. Apple last updated the iPad Air in March 2026 with an M4 chip.

Display Technology Comparison

Current iPad Air

Apple’s iPad Air models currently use LCD displays that Apple calls Liquid Retina. These displays do not support 120 Hz ProMotion technology and are limited to 60 Hz refresh rates.

Upcoming OLED iPad Air

OLED panels individually control each pixel, resulting in more precise color reproduction and deeper blacks compared to LCD. They also provide:

• Superior contrast
• Faster response times
• Better viewing angles
• Greater design flexibility

However, unlike the iPad Pro models, which feature two‑stack low‑temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels, the iPad Air is expected to use single‑stack low‑temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panels, meaning they may be dimmer and continue to lack ProMotion.

Related Rumors

The iPad mini 8 is also widely rumored to adopt OLED later this year, albeit using the same cheaper single‑stack LTPS panel.