Apple appears to be testing a Samsung-made OLED display for a future iPad mini, signaling a long-awaited update to the compact tablet lineup.
A new report aligns with earlier claims that Samsung had begun 8-inch OLED panels tailored for an iPad mini refresh.
According to Digital Chat Station, a leaker on Weibo who has had accurate predictions about iPhone cameras, Apple has started evaluating a small-sized OLED panel supplied by Samsung Display. The screen under testing is likely destined for the iPad mini.
Samsung Display reportedly started creating sample 8-inch OLED panels in May 2024, with plans for mass production in its Cheonan facility in the second half of 2025. With mass production expected in late 2025, industry analysts anticipate an OLED iPad mini debut in 2026.
A difference in OLED panels
OLED screens offer distinct advantages over the traditional LCD panels used in previous iPad mini generations. Users can expect improved contrast, richer colors, deeper blacks, faster response times, and wider viewing angles.
Apple already uses OLED technology extensively in its flagship iPhones, and notably, the company extended it to the iPad Pro series in May 2024. However, there’s a key difference between the OLED panels in the current iPad Pro and those expected for the iPad mini.
The iPad Pro features a more advanced two-stack LTPO OLED display that supports high refresh rates via ProMotion. The iPad mini, by contrast, is expected to use a simpler single-stack LTPS OLED panel — likely limiting its brightness and refresh rates.
These signs point to a likely OLED upgrade for the iPad mini. For now, the growing supply chain activity suggests a 2026 release window is plausible, but not guaranteed.
