OLED iPad Mini Display in Testing Reportedly Made by Samsung

Apple is currently evaluating a new small-sized OLED display for its next iPad mini model, according to a Chinese leaker with sources in Apple's supply chain.

ipad mini 7 feature red and blue
Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station today made the claim in a brief preview of upcoming tablets from different brands. The leaker went on to say that the OLED display in question is made by Samsung, but that they remain unsure if it features a higher refresh rate than the 60Hz LCD display used in the existing iPad mini 7.

Reports last year claimed that Apple had requested OLED display panels designed for future iPad mini models from its suppliers.

In May 2024, it was reported that Samsung Display had started developing sample 8-inch OLED panels for a future ‌iPad mini‌, with plans to initiate mass production at its facility in Cheonan in the second half of 2025. The same report claimed that Apple will bring an OLED panel to the iPad Air alongside the ‌iPad mini‌ in 2026.

That outlook differs slightly from a December report by analyst firm Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) that said an 8.5-inch OLED iPad mini is planned for a 2026 launch, while 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Air models are expected to follow in 2027.

OLED panels can individually control each pixel, resulting in more precise color reproduction and deeper blacks compared to other common display technologies. They also provide superior contrast, faster response times, better viewing angles, and greater design flexibility. All of Apple's flagship iPhones use OLED panels, and in May 2024 the company brought the display technology to the iPad Pro for the first time.

Unlike Apple's ‌iPad Pro‌ models, which feature two-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels‌, the ‌iPad mini‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ may have single-stack low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panels, meaning that they may be dimmer and continue to lack ProMotion.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Neutral)
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Top Rated Comments

dominiongamma Avatar
25 weeks ago

well, Apple has been putting off OLED for the iPad Mini (and other LCD devices in the lineup for one of two reasons…
- cost
- technical hurdles

Either Apple is just now figuring out how OLED screens work, or the displays have come down in price to the point where it meets their expected margins.
Took way too long honestly when other companies been using OLED for years
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
winxmac Avatar
25 weeks ago
Will it fix the jelly scroll?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
25 weeks ago
I am excited to see the OLED but hope the physical shape and size stays the same so it will continue to fit my dash mount.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
profets Avatar
25 weeks ago
Please don't give us hope. But if we're going for it please also 120Hz and Face ID.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xmarcuswildx Avatar
25 weeks ago
This is an instant buy for me even if it costs an extra $100. Sit it between the iPad mini and iPad Air prices.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rikki_t Avatar
25 weeks ago

An iPad mini is not a phone, and doesn't fit in your pants pocket. And as you say, it's not ergonomically suited for 1-handed use.

While I definitely wouldn't pay the rumoured ~US$2500 for an Apple foldable, I would consider paying say $1600 (which is in line with what Android foldables cost).
Actually I did buy my sister one of these in pink for her birthday some years back, she kept it in her handbag (like most women would) and proffered it to her regular phone, this may shock you but not every one on the planet is male and has the luxury of pants pockets?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)