An insider reports: Samsung is developing OLED panels for new iPad mini

Apple is currently testing a new OLED display for the upcoming iPad mini, and Samsung is likely to supply the panels. According to Chinese insider Digital Chat Station, the display for the new iPad mini will be a small OLED, but it is not yet known whether it will have a refresh rate of more than 60 Hz, as in the iPad mini 7 with LCD display.

Here's What We Know

This announcement confirms previous reports in 2024 that Apple has requested OLED panels from its suppliers for future iPad mini models. Samsung Display has started developing 8-inch OLED panels for the iPad mini with plans to launch mass production by the end of 2025.

According to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), the iPad mini may receive an OLED display as early as 2026, along with other iPad Air models. According to their data, the 8.5-inch OLED iPad mini could be released in 2026, and larger iPad Air models with OLED will be available in 2027.

OLED displays have many advantages over traditional LCD panels, including the ability to individually control each pixel, which results in better colour accuracy, deeper blacks, better contrast and faster response times. These benefits are already being used in the flagship iPhone and iPad Pro, which features dual-layer OLED panels. However, the iPad mini and iPad Air are expected to have single-layer OLED panels, which will be slightly dimmer and not support ProMotion.

Source: Digital Chat Station