OLED iPad mini Under Development With A Slightly Bigger 8.7-Inch Display, Featuring A Single-Stack LTPS Panel Without ProMotion

The M4 iPad Pro is surprisingly thin, but it is not one of the most highly anticipated features that we were looking forward to. The devices finally adopted the OLED technology, which can now better compete against the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S9 Ultra. As great as the Tandem OLED is, we would surely like Apple to incorporate it into the rest of the iPad lineup. With that said, it appears that the iPad mini will be the next candidate for the OLED display, but it will take a few years to hit the shelves.

Apple's OLED iPad mini is in the works for a 2026 launch with a slightly bigger display

The frenzy surrounding the iPad Pro's OLED display has not landed yet, and we suspect it will take another couple of months for the device to settle. Despite major upgrades, the demand for the OLED iPad Pro is speculated to be less than last year, possibly due to iPadOS along with the lack of innovation and exclusives it brings to the 'Pro' models. We are waiting for the WWDC event to see the changes Apple will introduce in iPadOS 18 and if it could act as a ladder for the 'Pro' models.

Apple's iPadOS platform for the iPad is perfect for the 'Air' and the 'mini' lineup, but the 'Pro' models are waiting for an upgrade that will utilize its true potential. The iPad mini would be the perfect tablet if it houses an OLED panel, and there are numerous reasons for it. Thanks to its size and performance capabilities, the iPad mini 6 is a favorite to many. However, the company could further improve it by integrating an M-series chip and replacing the LCD with an OLED panel.

Apple has possibly listened to our demands and ordered OLED panels specifically designed for the iPad mini lineup, according to ZDNET Korea. It was previously reported that Samsung had already begun working on the samples for an 8-inch OLED display for future iPad minis last month, and mass production is expected to begin in 2H25. Samsung is familiar with Apple's requirements and quality standards as it is already supplying tandem OLED panels for the M4 iPad Pro models.

Apple could announce the OLED iPad mini alongside the OLED iPad Air models but reports from Omdia state that the smaller iPad will take an extra year to jump to the new display technology. With these rough estimates at hand, we can presume that the OLED iPad mini will launch in 2027, a year after the iPad Air. However, ZDNet believes that the 'mini' would see the transition in 2026. It is also stated in the report that the OLED iPad mini display could increase from 8.3 inches to 8.7 inches. This could be achieved with smaller bezels on the device, and if Apple had such plans, the iPad mini would be the perfect iPad for many users.

Note that the iPad mini is a budget model in the lineup, and Apple would not increase the price of the device significantly. This would mean that there will be certain compromises set in place. We are hearing that the device will not come with a dual-stacked LTPO OLED panel. Instead, the company would use a single-stack LTPS panel, which could have an impact on the device's brightness levels. Additionally, the device could also lack ProMotion capabilities, but it remains to be seen if the company has something else planned for the future. It would be a win for the company and the end user if the device could jump to a 90Hz refresh rate if not 120Hz, but the final word rests with Apple.

For now, we are glad that an OLED iPad mini is in the works. We believe the device will feature Apple silicon based on TSMC's 2nm architecture for better performance and efficiency. We will share additional details on the product as soon as the story builds up. Would you buy the OLED iPad mini instead of the 'Pro' models?

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