Apple Planning Water Resistant iPads with Better Displays, Says Report

Apple is preparing to bring higher-end OLED displays to the iPad and Mac, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The company is currently testing updated versions of the iPad mini, iPad Air, and MacBook Air, each equipped with OLED screens that promise deeper contrast and richer colours compared to the current LCD panels.

People familiar with Apple’s plans told Bloomberg that the iPad mini will likely be the first to get the OLED treatment, possibly launching as early as 2026. Internally known as J510, the upgraded model may also feature a redesigned, water-resistant casing and a new vibration-based speaker system that removes open speaker holes. The iPhone’s speaker is a gasket-sealed design.

The new screen tech is expected to come with a price bump, with the OLED iPad mini costing up to $100 US more than the current version. The existing iPad mini, refreshed at the end of 2024, already includes a faster processor and support for Apple Intelligence. But recent code has hinted at an A19 Pro chip refresh and also OLED tech.

The iPad Air will continue to use an LCD panel in its next refresh, expected in spring 2026, but a later model will switch to OLED. Apple has no current plans to bring the display upgrade to its entry-level iPad, while the iPad Pro, updated in May 2024, already features an OLED screen.

On the Mac side, the next MacBook Pro is expected to be Apple’s first Mac with an OLED display, with early work also underway on an OLED MacBook Air. That upgrade, however, isn’t expected before 2028, Bloomberg said. The current Air design will instead get the M5 chip in spring 2026 while keeping its LCD screen.

The iPad line up is still too confusing and has way too many models. Apple needs to simply the line up and stop churning out the same designs year after year. What about the regular iPad? Has that been left for dead? It still doesn’t even support Apple Intelligence.