Apple’s iPad mini may get OLED in 2026

Apple is reportedly preparing its biggest iPad mini upgrade in five years, with supply-chain rumors pointing to an OLED display for the first time on the company’s smallest tablet. The current model uses an 8.3-inch LCD Liquid Retina panel, so a move to OLED would bring deeper blacks, higher contrast, better HDR, and potentially better power efficiency.

According to the report, the next iPad mini could arrive as early as fall 2026, likely around October 2026. It’s also rumored to switch to Apple’s A19 Pro chip. The current model runs the A17 Pro, which already supports Apple Intelligence, but the newer chip would offer more performance for heavier workloads such as photo and video editing, gaming, and on-device AI features.

That combination could push the iPad mini beyond its current role as a compact entertainment tablet and make it more capable for work-oriented use as well. For users who stream video, read, game, or edit media on the smaller screen, the display upgrade would likely be the most visible change.

There is one notable limitation: the rumored OLED panel is still expected to top out at 60Hz. That means Apple is apparently not bringing ProMotion to the iPad mini, leaving the 120Hz refresh rate exclusive to the iPad Pro. So while image quality may improve significantly, motion and Apple Pencil responsiveness would remain in line with the current model.

Pricing could also move up. The new iPad mini is rumored to cost $100 more than the current version, which would put the starting price at $699.

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Apple is also said to be working on a new entry-level iPad for early 2027. That 12th-generation iPad is expected to use an A18 or A19 chip and likely include 8GB of RAM, bringing Apple Intelligence support to Apple’s cheapest tablet without otherwise changing its place in the lineup.