Apple tests OLED displays for iPad and Mac, iPad mini to lead in 2026

Apple is testing organic light emitting diode displays for several iPad and Mac models, with the iPad mini likely to be the first to receive the upgrade as early as 2026, people familiar with the plans said. The company is also preparing OLED versions of the iPad Air and its Mac lineup, though those changes are expected to roll out more gradually and may not arrive until later in the decade.

According to those familiar with the development, the iPad mini project, internally codenamed J510, is under active testing and may include a redesigned, more water resistant casing and a new vibration based speaker system that would allow Apple to remove open speaker holes. The company is exploring the change as an alternative to the gasket and adhesive approach used on recent iPhones. The OLED iPad mini could carry a price premium of roughly 100 US dollars, the sources said.

Apple already uses OLED displays in some products, including the iPad Pro, iPhone and Apple Watch, and the Vision Pro uses a micro OLED variant. People familiar with the plans say the next iPad Air, expected to be refreshed in spring 2026, will retain an LCD panel, with a transition to OLED appearing in a subsequent...