Apple is accelerating its OLED rollout beyond the iPad Pro, with the iPad Mini getting upgraded displays as early as 2026 - but it'll cost consumers up to $100 more. The move signals Apple's broader strategy to bring premium display technology across its entire tablet and laptop lineup, though some devices won't see the upgrade until 2028.
Apple just mapped out its OLED future, and it's going to hit your wallet before it hits every device. The company's planning a systematic rollout of upgraded displays across its tablet and laptop lines, starting with a pricier iPad Mini next year.
The iPad Mini will be first up for the OLED treatment in 2026, but consumers should expect to pay up to $100 more for the privilege, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. That's a significant jump for a device that currently starts at $499, potentially pushing the base model toward $600.
This pricing strategy isn't surprising given Apple's track record. The company already demonstrated the premium it places on OLED technology when it launched the M4 iPad Pro earlier this year, followed by the M5 model this month. Those devices showcase what OLED brings to the table - dramatically improved brightness, deeper contrast ratios, and the true blacks that make content pop.
But Apple's OLED ambitions extend far beyond tablets. The company's planning to bring the display technology to its MacBook lineup, though that transformation will take years to complete. An OLED-equipped MacBook Air "isn't likely" to arrive before 2028, Gurman reports, giving Apple time to work through the technical and cost challenges of scaling OLED production for larger screens.
The staggered rollout reveals Apple's calculated approach to premium technology adoption. By starting with the iPad Mini - a device with a smaller, more manageable 8.3-inch display - Apple can test market acceptance of higher OLED pricing while refining its supply chain partnerships.
Meanwhile, the iPad Air will apparently be last in line for the OLED upgrade, according to Gurman's sources. That decision likely reflects the device's position as Apple's volume tablet, where cost considerations weigh more heavily than cutting-edge display tech.
The most intriguing development might be the rumored touchscreen MacBook Pro with OLED, potentially arriving in late 2026 or early 2027. suggest is experimenting with touch functionality on its high-end laptops, breaking from years of resistance to the concept.
