iPad Mini With OLED Screen to Reportedly Launch in October as Apple Prepares Base iPad, iPad Air Refreshes

Apple is said to be preparing one of the biggest upgrades to the iPad mini in years. According to a report, the Cupertino-based tech giant could launch a refreshed version of its compact tablet equipped with an OLED screen. The purported device is reportedly slated to debut as early as this fall, with a release expected by October. Separately, Apple is also said to be working on refreshed versions of the entry-level iPad and iPad Air with updated hardware.

New iPad Models in Development

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the purported iPad mini is codenamed J510 and would be the first major upgrade to the compact tablet since 2021. It is expected to arrive as the first non-Pro iPad that has an OLED screen. So far, Apple has reserved the display technology for its iPhone lineup, although it did expand it to the iPad Pro models in 2024.

The report states that Apple could unveil the new iPad mini as early as this fall, with availability expected by October. The tablet is expected to retain its compact form factor while focusing primarily on the upgraded display technology.

A refreshed entry-level iPad is also in the works, which has been internally codenamed J581. The purported tablet is reported to be launched in Q1 2027. But unlike the iPad mini, which is due for major upgrades, the vanilla iPad is only said to get a new processor, without any major design changes expected.

Separately, the tech giant could also refresh its iPad Air lineup with 11-inch and 13-inch models, reportedly codenamed J807 and J837, respectively. Although the expected upgrades remain under wraps, the report mentions that these tablets are reportedly set to launch in the spring alongside refreshed iPad Pro models.

Gurman said that Apple is planning to eventually bring OLED technology to the iPad Air as well. However, the standard model could stick to the conventional LCD screen it has featured since its first iteration debuted to keep costs lower. The report also notes that Apple is working on new Apple Pencil accessories.