It looks like it might finally be happening, folks. According to a new rumor, Apple is planning on upgrading both its iPad Mini and iPad Air with OLED display tech. That's a pretty big deal, as you don't have to be a hardware obsessive to know that OLED displays offer more vivid colors and deeper blacks than their LCD equivalents. Unsurprisingly, though, this much-needed upgrade is likely to come at a cost.
These new details are courtesy of one of the most reliable sources in the game, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, and suggest that an iPad Mini with an OLED screen could launch as soon as next year. As for the iPad Air, another top pick from our guide to the best iPads, we're not likely to see an OLED version as soon, at least not for the next generation, but it does seem to be in the works.
There is a caveat to this exciting display development, though. According to Gurman, the addition of OLED panels to both the iPad Mini and iPad Air could boost the prices of both tablets by up to $100. Personally, I think the advantages of an OLED screen are worth spending that much money on, especially for those of us who spend more time than we should playing the best iPad games, but some more budget-conscious users might not be as welcoming of the price increase.
It makes sense that Apple is finally switching to offer OLED displays for more of its iPad lineup, as more and more of the best gaming tablets from Android brands are offering the same screen technology at a similar price point. It's also worth pointing out that Apple started exclusively using OLED screens for its iPhone devices back in 2020, so we've been waiting for it to adopt a similar approach for its iPad lineup since then.
Of course, we'll have to wait for confirmation from Apple to know for sure whether we can look forward to checking out OLED versions of the iPad Mini and iPad Air, but it seems quite likely at this point. If you want to check out some more top-end hardware while we wait, take a look at our guides to the best iPhones for gaming and the best handheld consoles while you're here. Or, if you need something new to play, see our list of the best mobile games.