Just When the iPad Air Looks Like a Better Deal, Apple May Be Pulling the Same Old Trick That Makes Buying an iPad So Frustrating

Apple is preparing to bring OLED displays to both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air in the first half of 2027, giving its midrange tablets a significant screen upgrade.

The upcoming OLED iPad Air models are expected to arrive in early 2027, replacing the LCD panels used in the current M4 versions.

That would make the iPad Air the third product line in Apple’s tablet lineup to adopt OLED, following the iPad Pro and the recently released 8.5-inch iPad mini.

OLED Will Make the iPad Air Look Better, but Not Smoother

The switch to OLED should bring deeper blacks, richer contrast, and better picture quality, particularly when watching movies or using apps in dark mode.

However, Apple is expected to keep the iPad Air’s refresh rate at 60Hz, reserving its smoother 120Hz ProMotion technology for the iPad Pro.

The difference comes down to the display technology.

The iPad Air will reportedly use a single-stack OLED panel with an LTPS backplane, similar to the new iPad mini.

By comparison, the iPad Pro uses a more advanced tandem OLED display with two light-emitting layers and an LTPO backplane that supports adaptive refresh rates between 10Hz and 120Hz.

That gives the Pro an advantage in brightness, scrolling smoothness, and power efficiency.

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Samsung Could Supply Most of the New Displays

Samsung Display is expected to produce most of the OLED panels for the upcoming iPad Air.

BOE is also competing to supply panels for one of the two sizes, although it still needs to complete Apple’s qualification process.

Industry shipment estimates suggest Apple could ship:

• iPad Air: 4 million to 5 million units in 2027.
• iPad mini: 4 million to 5 million units.
• iPad Pro: 3 million to 4 million units across both sizes.

The lower iPad Pro forecast reflects concerns about demand for Apple’s more expensive tablets, particularly after the price increases that accompanied the OLED models in 2024.

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Will the OLED iPad Air Cost More?

That’s still unclear.

OLED would eliminate one of the biggest display differences between the iPad Air and iPad Pro, making the Air more appealing to buyers who want better picture quality without paying for Apple’s highest-end tablet.

But with ProMotion and the brighter tandem OLED panel remaining exclusive to the Pro, Apple would still have reasons for buyers to spend more.

For anyone considering an iPad Air today, the expected 2027 upgrade could be worth waiting for, especially if display quality matters more than having the latest tablet right now.