Rumor: iPad mini to get an OLED refresh in 2026 but without ProMotion
Apple has kicked in motion a planned display tech switch for the iPad mini, which should drop LCD IPS screens and adopt OLED panels as soon as 2026.
ZDNET Korea reports that the iPhone maker commissioned Samsung to kick off mass production of eight-inch OLED panels at its Cheonan facility in the second half of 2025. Samsung apparently produced samples for Apple last month. An OLED-based iPad mini should launch in 2026, claims the report.
The device is expected to use a single OLED panel instead of the tandem OLED technology from the latest iPad Pro, which uses two separate OLED panels for enhanced brightness and power efficiency.
OLED iPad mini won’t support ProMotion
These are reportedly LPTS, not LTPO panels, which suggests the OLED iPad mini won’t support ProMotion. This is Apple’s technology that allows the display refresh rates to adjust dynamically depending on onscreen content.
For instance, ProMotion on the iPad Pro drops to 10Hz for static content, ramping up to 120Hz for fast-moving content like rapid scrolling, playing games, etc.
OLED enables such perks as deeper blacks, higher brightness, higher resolutions and lower power consumption. OLEDs also don’t suffer from the blooming effect experienced on devices that use mini-LED backlighting, like some iPad Pros.
Apple’s roadmap to OLED
Apple Watch was the first Apple device to use OLED technology. The iPhone X adopted OLED in 2017. In 2020, the iPhone 12 family marked Apple’s first OLED-only smartphone lineup. The Vision Pro headset with micro-LED panels for each eye followed in January 2024. In May 2024, we got the first OLED iPad Pros.
Apple eventually plans to replace LCDs with OLEDs on all devices. Earlier rumors suggested an OLED-equipped iPad Air might not arrive until 2028. However, ZDNet Korea and ET News are now saying that the iPad Air will get an OLED treatment alongside the iPad mini in 2026.
As for OLED on Mac laptops, analysts predict that Apple will save this technology for a rumored foldable MacBook that could arrive as soon as next year. It should file as Apple’s first touchscreen Mac, but don’t get your hopes too high because the Vision Pro-level price tag may put off most consumers except for early adopters.
So far, there have been no rumors about OLED iMacs or OLED updates to the Pro Display XDR and Studio Display.
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2024/05/24/apple-oled-ipad-mini-rumor-samsung-display-production/
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