There's finally a good reason for Apple enthusiasts who have been delaying purchasing an iPad mini, as the compact tablet has not received a meaningful upgrade since 2021, and its next version is shaping up to be the most significant one in years.
The device is expected to arrive as early as October 2026 and carries the internal codename J510, and if the report holds true, this would be the first time Apple brings OLED technology to a non-Pro iPad which makes the small tablet considerably more appealing for everyday reading, streaming, and creative work.
Check out everything we know so far about the upcoming updates to Apple's OLED iPad mini and the refreshed iPad Air.
The iPad Mini’s Long-Awaited Display Upgrade
The upcoming iPad mini is reportedly set to close that gap in a meaningful way.
According to Mark Gurman's report, the new model will feature an OLED panel which is a significant step up from the LCD technology the iPad mini has used since its first generation.
OLED screens work differently from LCD screens because each pixel produces its own light rather than relying on a backlight behind the screen and this means blacks are purely black, colours appear richer and the display will handle contrast far better in a range of lighting conditions.
New iPads and iPad Airs Coming in 2027
The iPad mini is getting the most attention in this report, but it is not the only tablet Apple is working on. Two other product lines are reportedly in active development, and they cover different ends of the market in a way that makes the overall lineup more complete.
The iPad Air update is a more interesting story, and Apple is reportedly preparing both an 11-inch model codenamed J807 and a 13-inch model codenamed J837, with both expected to launch in spring 2027 alongside refreshed iPad Pro models. Apple tends to time these two lineups close together, and that pattern appears to be continuing here.