Mass Production Timing For iPad Air OLED

The report comes from the Korean site ETNews, which says that Apple will begin mass production of the upgraded iPad Air at the end of this year or January 2027.

“This is to supply display panels for the next-generation iPad Air, which Apple is scheduled to release in the first half of next year. The industry anticipates the iPad Air will be released in March or May of next year,” it reported.

The Move Away From LCD In The iPad Lineup

Currently, only the iPad Pro has an OLED display. The site went on to say that the change will mean that all iPads apart from the entry-level one will have OLED screens next year — though this assumes the iPad mini will gain an OLED display in the coming months, which has been reported but has not happened yet.

“An industry insider stated, ‘Although specific volumes have not been determined, sales of the iPad Air have typically been higher than those of the iPad Pro." The insider added, "Unlike the iPad Pro, which saw lower-than-expected demand due to its high launch price featuring OLED, the iPad Air is expected to outsell the Pro as it utilizes an OLED with lower specifications and manufacturing costs,’ ” the report went on.

According to ETNews, the especially bright tandem OLED found on the iPad Pro won’t be what makes it to the iPad Air. Instead, the iPad Air is “scheduled to feature an OLED display characterized by a single-stack light-emitting layer, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFTs), and a hybrid substrate,” it’s claimed.

This is a major upgrade which would mean that the Air would become much closer in capabilities to the iPad Pro — though without boosting the price, it will be hoped.