Want to know which iPad models will get revamps in the next year? The answer is easy: all of them. Every single one.
An iPad mini upgraded with an OLED is reportedly at the top of the list, and we can look forward it being followed by new versions of the basic iPad, iPad Air and iPad Pro… each before the end of spring 2027.
Here’s what is coming down the line.
iPad rumors reveal Apple’s big plans
Don’t underestimate how important iPad is to Apple. Apple shipped more than twice as many iPads as Macs last year — 60.2 million tablets vs. 25.6 million macOS notebooks and desktops. And the financial contribution is huge.
“The iPad’s sales are projected to grow 6% to nearly $30 billion this fiscal year,” noted Bloomberg on Thursday.
To continue increasing iPad’s popularity, Apple needs to keep the models fresh. That means updating them with faster processors whenever needed, and with the occasional redesign thrown in.
That’s happening in a big way. Every version of Apple’s tablet is expected to get a refresh within the coming 12 months, starting with the iPad mini.
2026 iPad mini 8 with OLED
Photo: Cult of Mac/Apple/Paul Inkles
It’s been an open secret for many months that the iPad mini 8 will adopt OLED display technology by late this year. The new screen should deliver deeper blacks, higher contrast and more vibrant colors than the current LCD panel, bringing image quality closer to the M5 iPad Pro.
Reports also point to an A19 Pro processor, up from the A17 Pro that’s in the current version, which debuted in fall 2024. The upgrade should make the computer better at handling Apple’s new artificial intelligence features, like Siri AI.
Other than these changes, however, the overall design is expected to remain largely unchanged.
As for price at the fall 2026 launch, Apple recently hiked the cost of the current version by $100 to $699. It’s possible the iPad mini 8 will stay there, though the OLED screen might push it even higher — these traditionally cost more than LCDs.
Budget iPad 12: Apple Intelligence at last
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
For those looking for a somewhat larger tablet, keep your eyes open for the iPad 12, a modest refresh on the outside but a major upgrade where it counts. Rumors point to Apple equipping its entry-level tablet with an A18 or A19 chip and 8GB of RAM, finally bringing support for Apple Intelligence to the company’s most affordable iPad.
But the design will reportedly remain largely unchanged.
The new model has been rumored to launch in the fall alongside the OLED iPad mini 8, with a starting price around $449 following Apple’s recent price increases. That said, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman predicted on Thursday that the next budget iPad won’t launch until “the first calendar quarter next year.”
- For much more detail: iPad 12 rumors: Apple AI finally coming to affordable tablet
OLED iPad Air in 2027
The iPad mini 8 isn’t the only Apple tablet that rumors indicate will get an OLED upgrade — the next-gen iPad Air will too. And that’s supposedly happening in early 2027. While the panel isn’t expected to match the iPad Pro’s premium tandem OLED technology, the single-stack OLED screen should still deliver a noticeably better viewing experience.
In addition, current rumors suggest the 2027 iPad Air will move up to Apple’s M5 processor from the current version’s M4 chip.
Despite the OLED upgrade change, expect the tablet to stick with its 11-inch and 13-inch size options. Really, no other significant hardware modifications are rumored.
After price hikes in June, the current version of the iPad Air starts at either $749 or $949, depending on the display size. It’s possible the 2027 iPad Air M5 will stick with those prices, though the OLED panels might come with further increases.
M7 iPad Pro in 2027?
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Recent reports and insider leaks indicate that Apple is also planning a refreshed iPad Pro for spring 2027, focusing primarily on internal performance. The current version runs an Apple M5 chip, and there’s an ongoing debate whether the replacement will sport the M6 chip expected this fall or leap directly to the next-generation M7 chip, which is reportedly launching next spring.
To handle the boost in processing power without throttling, Apple is reportedly testing a vapor chamber cooling system designed to manage heat dissipation during sustained professional workloads.
The iPad Pro line already got high-end OLED displays back in 2024, and leaks indicate that no external hardware changes are deemed necessary for the 2027 version.
With the current M5 iPad Pro starting at $1199 for the 11-inch version and $1499 for the 13-inch one, the M6/M7 iPad Pro is not expected to get a price hike.
New Apple Pencil models, too
tablet aficionados have more to look forward to than simply new iPads. According to current rumors, Apple is developing redesigned versions of both the Apple Pencil Pro and the entry-level Apple Pencil (USB-C) for release alongside the 2027 iPad Pro.
- For much more detail: Apple preps pair of redesigned Apple Pencils for iPad
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
