The OLED iPad mini may not include the most anticipated upgrade that fans desired.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
If you've been waiting to purchase an iPad mini, hoping that Apple's first OLED model would feature a smoother display, you might want to adjust your expectations.
A more attractive display, but not necessarily a more responsive one
A recent rumor from Korean leaker yeux1122 suggests that the forthcoming OLED iPad mini will still have a 60Hz display, despite the upgrade from LCD to OLED. This is somewhat unexpected, as many fans anticipated that Apple would coincide the highly anticipated OLED enhancement with a higher refresh rate. For typical activities such as reading, streaming Netflix, or surfing the web, a 60Hz refresh rate is quite adequate. However, once you experience a 120Hz display—whether on a premium Android phone or an iPad Pro—it becomes difficult to overlook the improved performance. Scrolling is significantly smoother, animations feel more fluid, and simple actions like swiping between apps seem quicker.
Prakhar Khanna / Digital Trends
The leak indicates that instead of using the more advanced LTPO OLED technology found in the iPad Pro lineup, Apple is opting for an LTPS OLED panel. This distinction is important because LTPO displays can dynamically adjust their refresh rate up to 120Hz, providing more fluid visuals while conserving battery life. Conversely, LTPS panels typically maintain a fixed refresh rate, which in this case would be 60Hz.
Apple may believe that aesthetics take precedence over smoothness
This doesn't imply that the new iPad mini wouldn’t be an improvement. Transitioning from LCD to OLED is likely to yield deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, better contrast, and enhanced power efficiency. Movies will appear more lively, and dark mode should appear genuinely black instead of a dark gray. That said, a 60Hz OLED screen might leave some consumers puzzled. Apple has gradually incorporated high-refresh-rate displays across an increasing number of its products, so many expected the upcoming iPad mini to also adopt this trend. Nonetheless, Apple has demonstrated a willingness to release visually appealing devices with 60Hz screens when it aims to manage costs, making this rumor plausible.
Apple
The positive aspect is that this leak is not definitive. Thus, even if mass production has started, it doesn't necessarily confirm the display technology Apple has ultimately selected. Recent reports from Korea indicate that the OLED iPad mini is set for a late 2026 release, although Apple hasn't officially verified any details yet. If the rumors turn out to be accurate, the most significant upgrade may simply be the switch to OLED instead of the smoother 120Hz experience many fans were anticipating.
Shimul is a contributor at Digital Trends, with over five years of experience in the tech field.
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