Apple is progressing towards integrating OLED screens into the next-generation iPad Air, with Samsung leading as primary supplier and Chinese manufacturer BOE vying for a role in the redesigned device’s supply chain ahead of its 2027 launch.
Apple is moving closer to bringing OLED displays to the iPad Air, and Samsung Display is set to be the lead supplier for the first model in the line. According to The Elec, the company is also considering a second manufacturer, with BOE of China seeking a place in the supply chain as Apple works on a redesigned version of the tablet expected in early 2027.
The new iPad Air would mark a notable change for Apple’s mid-range tablet. Instead of the LCD panels used today, the device is expected to adopt OLED in 11-inch and 13-inch versions. Industry reports say the panel design will be simpler and cheaper than the tandem-stack OLED used in the iPad Pro, relying on a single-stack RGB structure with a glass substrate and thin-film encapsulation. That approach should improve contrast and black levels while keeping costs under control, although the screen is expected to remain at 60Hz.
Samsung’s role appears to be secure for now. MacRumors reported last year that Apple had selected Samsung Display as the primary supplier because of its larger manufacturing capacity, and later reports said Samsung was preparing to start mass production around the end of 2026 or early 2027. Apple has also been broadening the wider OLED iPad supply chain, with LG Innotek and LX Semicon approved to provide display components for future models.
BOE’s pitch is still subject to Apple’s qualification process. The Elec said the company is ramping up production at its B12 plant in Chongqing, where it is preparing sixth-generation lines to make sample panels for Apple’s testing. A final decision is expected between November and December. Even if BOE wins approval, initial volumes are likely to be limited, with early shipments possibly restricted to units sold in China or to refurbished devices.
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