Hello, I’m Technology Today Now. The iPad Air, which will be released in 2026, is foreshadowing a big change in the tablet market. According to recent news, OLED displays will be introduced in the next iPad Air, and in this article, we’re going to look at the expected changes in OLED iPad Air.
OLED iPad Air is expected to be released in 2026
Why we’re excited about the iPad Air changes
Starting with the iPad Air lineup this year, a 13-inch model was added to the lineup. This gave consumers the option of a larger screen at a relatively low price point. However, with the iPad Pro’s weight and thickness savings, the iPad Air’s “air” moniker has become somewhat irrelevant. In addition, while the iPad Air with Apple’s Silicon M2 chip is still a great performer, the Galaxy Tab series has reached a point where it’s no longer a pushover in terms of performance, so the iPad Air’s position is not as strong as it once was.
Transitioning to OLED displays
The iPad Air has been using a Liquid Retina display until now, but the 2026 model will switch to an OLED display. As a tablet PC, the iPad Air’s liquid retina LCD IPS display is a major weakness, and Apple seems to have realized this and is making the switch to OLED.
Adapting Samsung Display’s OLED technology
According to Korean IT media outlet The Elec, the OLED display for the upcoming iPad Air in 2026 will be produced by Samsung Display. This seems to be Apple’s strategy to bring high-definition OLED technology to more consumers, as the iPad Air sells more units than the iPad Pro, and the Pro is significantly more expensive.
The two-stack Tendum OLED, which is currently installed on the iPad Pro, has more supplies of LG displays than Samsung displays, and from 2026, Apple plans to expand its OLED range further, including iPad Air, iPad mini, and foldable iPhone, so it will entrust the main supplier of iPad Air to Samsung displays with proven production capacity.
Equipped with OLED display like iPad Pro
The OLED iPad Air is expected to be released in 2026 and will feature single-stack OLEDs and LTPS OLEDs, just like the iPad Pro.
OLED iPad Air refresh rate can be maintained at 60Hz
However, there’s a catch: the 2025 iPhone 17 series is expected to feature LTPO OLEDs with a 120Hz refresh rate on all models, but the 2026 iPad Air will likely still have a 60Hz refresh rate. This is likely to keep the iPad Air differentiated from the iPad Pro.
If the image quality is good even at a lower refresh rate, 60Hz might be comfortable, but since the iPad Air has had a 60Hz refresh rate since the first generation, I think it’s time to upgrade the refresh rate. Still, we’re two years away from the OLED iPad Air’s release in 2026, and plans can change, so we’ll have to wait for more news.