Apple will equip all its tablets with OLED screens, eventually, though the wait for an OLED iPad Air could be a bit longer than anticipated.
Over time, all iPads will adopt OLED technology because it’s superior to LCD. Apple is preparing to launch its first OLED-based tablet, an M3-based iPad Pro, which will be released within a few weeks.
However, according to a forecast from Omdia, the wait for the first iPad Airs with OLED screens could be longer than we thought.
When will Apple release an OLED-based iPad Air?
Omdia earlier predicted that Apple could bring OLED panels to the iPad Air and iPad mini in 2026, but in an update shared today the research firm says it’s now expecting the first OLED-based iPad Airs around 2028.
“In 2028, we expect the iPad Air to go OLED as well, with the iPad Air using single-stack and the iPad Pro using two-stack tandem OLEDs,” Omdia researcher Kang Min-soo said at the 2024 Korea Display Conference in Seoul, according to The Elec.
If Omdia is correct, we might get a foldable iPad before an OLED iPad Air! The next Airs are believed to be launching soon alongside OLED iPad Pros. In addition to the M3 chip, Apple should bring a new 12.9-inch model to the iPad Air family.
What about the next iPad Pro?
As for the next iPad Pro, expect a redesigned appearance for both 11 and 12.9-inch models. These tablets will run the M3 chip and sport other improvements. Apple will also offer a redesigned, sturdier Magic Keyboard featuring a larger trackpad.
What is a two-stacked OLED design?
The two-stack OLEDs consist of two layers stacked together, resulting in a panel that’s as bright as a single-stack one but consumes much less battery power.
This is what the next iPad Pro will use. The iPad Air will probably use a single-stack OLED design, similar to the iPhone, to keep costs down.
The next iPad Pro is rumored to bring a redesigned and thinner appearance, run Apple’s latest M3 chip, sport improved rear cameras along with a landscape FaceTime camera and offer MagSafe wireless charging.
Apple will also offer a redesigned, sturdier Magic Keyboard featuring a larger trackpad to make the whole setup more like a laptop.