Next year, many reliable leakers predict that Apple will produce its first OLED tablet, which Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman calls "the first major update to the product since 2018"

While it is not surprising that the more expensive Pro models will be the first to debut this screen technology, the question arises as to when it will spill over to less expensive models Also, as we have seen with Apple's purported OLED roadmap for the Mac, we can now see when the iPad mini and iPad Air will follow the Pro with higher quality panels

This schedule comes from Korean site ET News and is pretty much what we have been hearing for some time, but a bit more specific After the introduction of OLED in two iPad Pro models next year, the report claims, it will be two years before the next tablet upgrade in 2026

It appears that two tablets will get the OLED treatment that year: the 87-inch iPad mini and the 109-inch iPad Air

The first measurement is not a typo: the current iPad mini has an 83-inch LCD screen, but ET News suggests that LCD screens will get bigger in the next few years Whether that will be accomplished by eliminating the bezel of the iPad mini 6 over its 79-inch predecessor or by actually increasing its footprint remains to be seen

Finally, in 2027, the rumored larger 129-inch iPad Air will feature an OLED panel along with its little brother, the iPad, and only the basic entry-level iPad will have LCD screen technology That makes sense if Apple wants to maintain a low-cost option to ensure its dominance in the global tablet market

No deception: if you want an OLED iPad and don't mind an iPad Pro in 2024, you'll have to wait a long time But that doesn't mean the mini and Air won't have improved internals in the interim In fact, according to analyst Minqi Kuo, all four iPad models will be refreshed next year

Kuo expects the Air to arrive in Q1 2024, followed by the Pro model in the spring or summer mini and the regular iPad are expected to arrive later this year aside from the Pro, these will not be major changes