Apple is reportedly preparing to launch a new OLED iPad mini by October, bringing the tablet its biggest update since the current design arrived in 2021. The new model should offer better picture quality, deeper blacks, and stronger contrast, although Apple has not announced the device yet.
Bloomberg reports that Apple has code-named the new iPad mini J510 and plans to unveil it as early as this fall. The report says the company wants to release the device by October, which gives buyers a clearer timeline after months of OLED display rumours.
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The OLED screen will mark a major change for the iPad mini, which currently uses an 8.3-inch LCD panel. However, a recent leak claims the display will remain limited to a fixed 60Hz refresh rate, so buyers should not expect the smoother ProMotion technology found on the iPad Pro.
Apple recently increased the iPad mini’s starting price from $499 to $599, and the OLED upgrade could make the next model even more expensive. OLED panels cost more than standard LCD screens, while ongoing memory shortages have also increased production costs across Apple’s device lineup.
Bloomberg also says Apple is working on an OLED iPad Air for a later release, although the company plans to keep using cheaper LCD screens in the entry-level iPad for the foreseeable future.
More iPad updates are planned for next year
Apple reportedly plans to release a new entry-level iPad during the first quarter of next year. The model, code-named J581, should receive a faster processor without a major design change.
The company also plans refreshed 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models for spring, alongside new iPad Pro models during the same period. Apple is also preparing updated Apple Pencil models, which may include replaceable batteries.
The OLED iPad mini remains the most significant update in the upcoming lineup because it will bring a major display improvement to Apple’s smallest tablet while keeping its compact and travel-friendly design.
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