Apple to Transition iPad Air to OLED Displays in 2027
Apple is poised to make a significant upgrade to the iPad Air by replacing the current LCD screens with OLED displays in both sizes, slated for the first half of 2027. This anticipated shift is based on information from DigiTimes, adding momentum to ongoing speculation about Apple’s future display technologies.
An OLED iPad Air has been rumored for over a year. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in October 2025 that Apple was developing one and that it was unlikely to arrive before 2027. He narrowed that window to the first half of 2027 earlier this month. The latest report adds shipment estimates and details on how panel orders could be split.
OLED iPad Air: Supplier Dynamics
Samsung Display is poised to be the primary supplier for the iPad Air’s OLED panels. Meanwhile, BOE is in contention for orders of one of the two sizes, although it has yet to qualify as a supplier. If successful in securing orders for both the iPad Air and the iPad mini, Samsung could potentially become the largest supplier of OLED panels for Apple’s iPads, surpassing LG Display, which is expected to continue leading in the iPad Pro segment.
Market Projections and Industry Estimates
According to industry estimates cited by DigiTimes, the projected shipments for 2027 are approximately 4 million to 5 million units each for the iPad Air and iPad mini, and 3 million to 4 million for the iPad Pro. These estimates encompass both screen sizes for the iPad Air and iPad Pro. Notably, the iPad Pro’s forecast falls short of its pre-launch target of around 10 million units per year, with high pricing cited as a potential factor for the reduced demand.
Technological Advancements in iPad Displays
Currently, the M4 iPad Air models utilize LCD screens. The transition to OLED displays would make the iPad Air the third iPad line to adopt this technology, following the iPad Pro in 2024 and the 8.5-inch iPad mini released on November 6. This marks a significant advancement in display technology for Apple’s tablet lineup.
Per DigiTimes, the iPad Air is anticipated to employ a single-stack OLED design with a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) backplane, similar to the iPad mini. In contrast, the iPad Pro uses a dual-stack OLED configuration to enhance brightness and reportedly features a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) backplane.
Display Features and Power Efficiency
LTPO technology in the iPad Pro aids in power efficiency by allowing pixels to retain their charge longer, reducing the need for frequent refreshes when the image remains static. The iPad Pro’s ProMotion display can dynamically adjust its refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz. DigiTimes previously reported that the OLED iPad Air would maintain a standard 60Hz refresh rate, thereby keeping the ProMotion feature exclusive to the iPad Pro within Apple’s tablet offerings.
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