Apple Accelerates Transition to OLED Screens: Production of Panels for the New iPad Mini and More Has Started

Apple continues its journey of adopting OLED displays across an increasing number of devices. According to a new report published by the South Korean newspaper ETNews, Samsung Display has started mass production this month of the panels intended for the future iPad mini with OLED technology, a model that has been awaited for several years.

The Cupertino company had already introduced OLED screens in the iPad Pro range in 2024 and, according to numerous industry analysts, the next step will be the iPad mini, before extending this solution to the iPad Air family. The new display will replace the current LCD panel used in iPad mini 7, offering superior contrast, deeper blacks, and better energy efficiency.

The report adds that production of OLED panels intended for the next MacBook Pro will begin in July, coinciding with the launch of Samsung Display's new eighth-generation OLED production line (Gen 8.6).

Not only the iPad mini: MacBook Pro will also feature OLED displays

According to rumors previously circulated, the future MacBook Pro, which may be marketed under the name MacBook Ultra, will represent the next major Apple product to abandon mini-LED technology in favor of OLED panels. Some sources from the supply chain also suggest that this model could be the first Mac computer equipped with a touchscreen display.

Analysts Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo believe that the launch could take place between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027, depending on the evolution of global memory chip availability.

ETNews further claims that Samsung Display and LG Display will jointly supply the OLED panels intended for Apple products expected in the second half of the year. The two companies will collaborate on the production of screens for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, while LG Display will be the sole supplier of panels for Apple Watch Series 12.

Samsung Display, on the other hand, is expected to be the exclusive supplier of OLED displays used in the foldable iPhone, iPad mini OLED, and MacBook Pro OLED. Finally, the report states that BOE will not be part of the supply chain for the iPhone 18 series. The Chinese company was reportedly excluded after some quality issues.