OLED iPad mini could arrive in October

Apple is reportedly preparing its first OLED-equipped iPad mini for release as early as October, according to Bloomberg. The device, code-named J510, would be the compact tablet’s biggest update since 2021, replacing the LCD panel in the current 8.3-inch model with an OLED display.

That would give the iPad mini deeper blacks and stronger contrast than the current screen, but Bloomberg said it could also raise the price. Apple already increased pricing across much of its hardware lineup in June. In the U.S., the iPad mini now starts at $599, while the entry-level iPad starts at $449 after both models got $100 price hikes.

According to Bloomberg, the OLED mini is part of a broader iPad refresh stretching into 2027. The report says Apple is also developing:

• A refreshed entry-level iPad, code-named J581, expected in the first quarter of 2027 with a faster processor but no major redesign
• New 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models, code-named J807 and J837, targeted for spring 2027
• Updated iPad Pro models expected around the same period
• New Apple Pencil models, which Bloomberg previously reported are also due around that timeframe

Apple’s iPad display strategy

Bloomberg also reported that Apple is working toward bringing OLED to the iPad Air in the future, while keeping the entry-level iPad on LCD to control costs. That points to a gradual rollout rather than a top-to-bottom display shift across the entire lineup.

The iPad mini, first introduced in 2012, now serves a narrower role as larger smartphones have eaten into demand for small tablets. Even so, it has remained popular with travelers and users who want a lighter device. Bloomberg noted that Apple’s expected foldable iPhone could offer a screen close to the iPad mini’s size when unfolded, though at a much higher price — potentially preserving the mini’s place as Apple’s most affordable larger portable display.

Recommended reading

PennyLane packs quantum dev tools into one open platform