OLED iPad mini display prototypes sent to Apple, says leaker

Prototypes of an OLED iPad mini display are currently being evaluated by Apple, according to a leaker with a decent track record.

It seems pretty clear by this point that the next model will have an OLED screen, and it will definitely be worth waiting for if you currently have an older model …

Apple is gradually rolling out OLED screens across all its devices. That process began with the Apple Watch, moved onto the iPhone, and continued with the iPad Pro. Future MacBooks are also in line to get OLED screens.

The iPad Air and iPad mini will be no exception, with previous reports suggesting that the new models will enter production late this year, but not go on sale until 2026. An OLED MacBook Pro is expected to launch the same year.

While Apple uses advanced tandem OLED panels for the iPad Pro models, the iPad Air and iPad mini are expected to get cheaper conventional ones.

In a brief Weibo post, leaker Digital Chat Station says that Apple is currently evaluating a Samsung-made display for the iPad mini. As usual, the machine translation is awkward, but the meaning is clear.

Asked whether the display supports ProMotion, aka 120Hz refresh rates, they say they don’t yet know.

Anyone currently looking to upgrade from an older iPad mini would be well advised to wait. The most recent refresh, in October of last year, was a relatively minor one.

We noted at the time better Apple Pencil support, connectivity upgrades, support for Apple Intelligence, and a doubling of the base storage to 128GB – but said it was mostly unchanged from its predecessor.

The next model will be a much better buy.