Apple may bring OLED screen to iPad mini, iPad Air, and MacBook Air

Apple is preparing to launch a redesigned iPad mini with OLED display technology and water-resistant construction as early as 2026, marking the beginning of a multi-year transition that will eventually bring premium screens to the iPad Air and MacBook Air lines, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iPad mini may get an OLED screen and iPhone’s water resistant

The upgraded iPad mini, codenamed J510, will feature not only an OLED screen but also a water-resistant design similar to the iPhone. However, Apple is taking a different engineering approach by developing a new speaker system using vibration-based technology that eliminates speaker holes where water could enter, Bloomberg reports. This differs from the iPhone's water-resistant design, which retains speaker holes but uses gaskets and adhesives for protection.The OLED upgrade comes with a significant cost increase. The iPad mini, currently priced at $499, could see a price jump of up to $100 for the new model, bringing it to $599. Apple last updated the iPad mini in October 2024 with the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support.For the iPad Air, the next generation arriving in spring 2026 will continue using LCD displays, but Apple is preparing to switch to OLED in a subsequent generation, likely in 2027, according to Gurman's report.

The iPad Pro received OLED screens in May 2024.Apple's entry-level iPad has no active plans for OLED adoption, keeping it as the company's most affordable tablet option.

MacBook Air’s OLED upgrade years away

The MacBook Air will have to wait even longer for OLED technology. While the MacBook Pro is set to become the first Mac with an OLED screen in its next redesign, the MacBook Air won't receive the upgrade before 2028, Bloomberg reports. The current MacBook Air design will receive the M5 chip update in spring 2026 while retaining its LCD screen.