Apple is set to transition its popular iPad Air tablet to OLED technology in 2027, marking another major step in the company’s shift away from traditional LCD panels across its lineup, Korean site ETNews reports.
According to industry sources, Samsung Display plans to begin mass production of the new OLED panels for the next-generation iPad Air as early as the end of 2026 or January 2027. The updated device is expected to launch in the first half of 2027, with industry observers pointing to a possible March or May release.
The current iPad Air models, released earlier this year, continue to use LCD displays with mini-LED backlighting. The 2027 version will feature cost-optimized OLED panels with single-stack emission layers, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFT), and hybrid substrates. This lower-spec approach is designed to keep pricing competitive while delivering the superior contrast, color accuracy, and thinness associated with OLED.
With this change, Apple’s entire tablet range except the entry-level standard iPad will use OLED displays. The company first introduced OLED to the iPad Pro (11-inch and 13-inch models) in 2024, followed by the iPad mini (8.5-inch) and MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch) this year. Samsung Display has been a key supplier for the iPad Pro, iPad mini, and MacBook Pro OLED panels, often sharing iPad Pro supply with LG Display.
Analysts project strong growth in the tablet OLED market, with global demand rising from an estimated 11 million units in 2025 to 13 million in 2026 and 21 million in 2027, according to market research firm Omdia. Apple’s devices are expected to account for a whopping two-thirds of that demand.
One industry insider noted that the iPad Air has historically outsold the higher-end iPad Pro. “Specific volumes are unknown, but iPad Air sales have typically exceeded those of the iPad Pro,” the source said. “While the OLED iPad Pro launched at a premium price and saw softer-than-expected demand, the iPad Air will use a lower-spec, lower-cost OLED, which should result in stronger sales compared to the Pro.”
MacDailyNews Take: The move is anticipated to boost overall iPad shipments and further solidify Apple’s position in the premium tablet segment, as OLED offers significant advantages in power efficiency and form factor over LCD technology.
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