Apple's iPad Air may get a sharper OLED screen in early 2027

Apple is expected to give both sizes of the iPad Air a new OLED screen in the first half of 2027, according to a report from DigiTimes. Today's M4 iPad Air uses LCD screens in both sizes. If you are thinking about buying an Air, this is a change worth knowing about first.

What is being reported

An OLED iPad Air has been rumored for over a year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in October 2025 that Apple was working on one and that it was unlikely before 2027. Earlier this month, he narrowed that to the first half of 2027. The new DigiTimes report adds shipment estimates and details on who may make the screens. None of this is confirmed by Apple.

Where Apple stands on OLED

The Air would be the third iPad line to get OLED. The iPad Pro got it in 2024. The 8.5-inch iPad mini with an OLED screen went on sale November 6.

DigiTimes says the Air should use the same screen design as the iPad mini. The iPad Pro uses a more advanced design with two light-emitting layers, which is meant to boost brightness.

What it may not have

The report says the OLED iPad Air would stay at 60Hz. That means the screen refreshes 60 times a second. The iPad Pro's ProMotion display can vary its refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz. A lower rate when the image is still saves power. According to DigiTimes, that feature would stay exclusive to the Pro.

The supply side

• Samsung Display is expected to supply most iPad Air screens.
• BOE wants orders for one of the two sizes but must still qualify as a supplier.
• LG Display is expected to stay the top supplier for the iPad Pro.
• Industry estimates put 2027 shipments at 4 million to 5 million Airs.

The same estimates show 3 million to 4 million iPad Pro units. That is well below the Pro's reported pre-launch target of around 10 million a year. Industry sources point to price as a factor in weaker demand.

What to do

If you need an iPad now, buy one. If you can wait and want an Air, the first half of 2027 may bring a new screen. Timing and pricing are not known yet, so treat the date as a rumor until Apple says otherwise.