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OLED iPad mini could arrive by October
Bloomberg says Apple is planning its biggest iPad mini update in years, with an OLED screen and A19 Pro chip targeted for October.
Image: TNW
Apple is reportedly preparing its biggest iPad mini update in five years, with a new model featuring an OLED display and an A19 Pro chip targeted for October, according to Bloomberg.
The report says the device, codenamed J510, would mark a more substantial upgrade than the current iPad mini, which has kept the same design since 2021 and only received a faster chip two years ago. Bloomberg says Apple is opting for an LTPS OLED panel rather than the more advanced LTPO technology used in the iPad Pro, which means the new mini would run at 60Hz instead of offering a variable refresh rate.
Apple has not commented, and Bloomberg attributed the details to unnamed sources.
The iPad mini is only part of a broader tablet roadmap. Bloomberg reports that Apple is also testing an updated entry-level iPad, codenamed J581, for early 2027. That model is expected to get a faster processor, but no major redesign. New iPad Air models in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes are also said to be planned for spring 2027, while the standard iPad will keep LCD screens for now.
If Apple hits the October window, the launch would come shortly after what Bloomberg describes as a packed September for the company. Apple is expected to introduce a foldable iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, new Apple Watch models, and updated Macs.
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Bloomberg projects iPad revenue will rise 6% to nearly $30 billion this fiscal year. But the move to OLED could also raise the mini’s price. The current model starts at $599, up from $499 before Apple increased hardware prices in June during the global memory chip shortage.
Bloomberg also says Apple is preparing redesigned iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models for 2027. Meanwhile, the foldable iPhone is expected to start at around $2,000 and offer a screen of roughly eight inches when open — putting it far above the mini in price despite a similar display size.
That could leave the iPad mini as Apple’s cheapest large-screen portable device, if OLED does not push it further upmarket. The unanswered question, according to Bloomberg’s report, is whether Apple can ship it by October while dealing with the same memory constraints that have affected Mac and iPad production throughout the year.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via TNW
