If the latest leaked display roadmap is to be believed, Apple may make significant changes to the displays of the iPad mini, iPad Air, and MacBook Air, including transitioning these models to OLED starting in 2026.
Apple has gradually added OLED to its products, but so far it has only used the display technology in its high-end iPad Pro series. While it's expected to eventually produce more OLED products, it's unclear exactly when that will happen.
The next update will likely happen in 2026. The roadmap comes from Omdia and was shared by "@Jukanlosreve" and outlines Apple's next steps in OLED.
The chart shows that the iPad will change as early as 2026, with the iPad mini getting an 8.4-inch hybrid OLED display with rounded corners. It is determined to have a single RGB layer, rather than the Tandem method in the iPad Pro, and will also use LTPSTFT.
In the same year, the MacBook Pro series is expected to switch to hybrid OLED Tandem displays and be equipped with oxide TFT. The displays are also said to be slightly larger, at 14.3 inches and 16.3 inches instead of 14.2 inches and 16.2 inches.
By 2027, the iPad Air is said to have its own 11-inch and 13-inch hybrid OLED displays with a single RGB layer and LTPS. The timeline suggests there will be plenty of changes in 2028, with iPad Pro models continuing to use 11-inch and 13-inch hybrid OLED tandem displays and LTPOTFT, but also using TSPonTFE (touch sensor panels on thin film packages) and polarizer-free designs. The MacBook Air, meanwhile, will use slightly larger 13.8-inch and 15.5-inch hybrid OLED displays with LTPO or oxide TFT and TSP over TFE.
Finally, for 2028, the rumored foldable device will consist of an 18.8-inch foldable tandem OLED with LTPOTFT, TSP on TFE, and no polarizer.
The source of the leak does not come directly from Apple or a supplier. Omdia is an analytics company that confuses whether to believe the timeline. The analysts who wrote the report likely researched the topic by analyzing supply chains and other factors, so this is probably an educated guess at best.
However, this is an educated guess and consistent with what others think. When asked to discuss the roadmap, Ross Young of DSCC, which specializes in displays, agreed.
In response to X, Young said he "demonstrated something similar yesterday at the OLED World Summit." He noted that one difference he made in his version is that the MacBook Air will "feature an oxide backplate." Previous rumor reports about OLED displays have generally been consistent with the schedule.
A report in November claimed that the MacBook Air's OLED display was delayed to 2028 from a rumored 2027 release. Meanwhile, in May, it was reported that Apple supply partner Samsung Display was developing a new iPad mini screen using OLED, which is expected to be released in 2026.