The iPad Air is a great device with a thin, lightweight design, powerful performance, long battery life, and support for games, videos, and work. However, its LCD screen has a 60Hz refresh rate, which can feel slower and less modern compared to the iPad Pro.
This might change in 2026. According to The Elec, Samsung Display is expected to supply OLED panels for the iPad Air, which is exciting because earlier reports suggested that OLED screens wouldn’t arrive until 2028. Getting them two years earlier will likely please Apple fans.
Samsung Display has a large production capacity, capable of producing 135,000 OLED panels a month for iPhones and iPad Pros. In comparison, LG Display can produce 60,000 OLED panels monthly for iPhones and iPads. Last year, Samsung shipped between 150 million and 160 million iPhone OLED panels, while LG shipped 52 million. LG plans to increase its production by 10 million units in 2024.
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The Elec also speculates that Apple might introduce OLED screens to other devices, like the iPad Mini and a future foldable. While the iPad Pro uses a more advanced Tandem OLED setup, the iPad Air might use a simpler OLED technology, which could help lower its cost.
Keep in mind that while this report comes from a reliable source, it should be taken with some caution. The Elec is strong on supply chain news but less accurate on features for unreleased products, especially those years away. We should get more details starting next year.
